A 1962 Rickenbacker 425 purchased by George Harrison in ’63 sold for $657,000 during an auction event May 17 hosted by Julien’s Auctions at the Hard Rock Cafe, New York.
The guitar, originally finished in the company’s Fireglo, was repainted in black at the request of Harrison so it would match a similar Rickenbacker played by John Lennon. Other items at the sale included a Höfner bass played by Paul McCartney, which sold for $125,000, a Martin acoustic that once belonged to Johnny Cash, the organ used by Steve Tyler to write “Dream On,” a guitar used onstage by Joni Mitchell, and Elvis Presley’s white jumpsuit, which brought $197,000.