George Harrison’s iconic Futurama guitar could reach $800,000 at auction

The electric guitar that helped George Harrison rise to fame is ready for another musician.

The vintage Futurama, which the late Beatle favored during his band’s formative days, will be auctioned at Julien’s Auctions this fall. Dubbed a “holy grail” by the auction house, the instrument is expected to eclipse the already high pre-sale estimate of $600,000 to $800,000 at a November sale in Nashville.

Harrison purchased the guitar from the Hessy music store in his hometown of Liverpool, England, in 1959. The British musician reportedly wanted a popular Fender Stratocaster like Buddy Holly, but American-made guitars were impossible to obtain in the Kingdom -United at that time, according to Julien. Futurama was the best solution. Harrison later admitted in a 1987 issue of Guitarist magazine that the guitar was “a dog” to play, but “it had a great sound” and “a really good way to switch all three pickups and all the combinations.” He also liked its “futuristic” look, with a sunburst finish covering the solid body.

The Futurama was Harrison’s most played guitar during the early days of the Beatles, according to the auction house. He used it for more than 324 of the band’s performances, including their audition for manager Larry Parnes, their legendary Hamburg tour in 1960 and ’61, and their later concerts at the Cavern Club. He also played Futurama on the band’s first official recordings for Polydor from 1959 to 1961, with guitar featured on songs such as “Ain’t She Sweet” and “Cry For A Shadow”. In 1964, Harrison donated Futurama to Beat instrumental magazine for a competition, but no one claimed it, so it stayed with editor Sean O’Mahony.

“George Harrison’s Futurama guitar was the Beatles’ North Star and one of his most beloved instruments in his collection of legendary and prized guitars,” Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien’s, said in a statement. “This legendary guitar, aptly named Futurama, was played during countless groundbreaking performances by the early Beatles, from their quiet evenings at the Cavern Club in Liverpool to their famous Hamburg Days where they perfected their sound and style and where the The future of Beatlemania literally took off.”

Futurama will likely fetch a pretty penny, with Beatles memorabilia being a hot commodity. John Lennon’s long-lost Hootenanny recently fetched a record $2.9 million at Julien’s, making it the most expensive Beatles guitar ever sold at auction. Futurama could very well win this title next month, however. The guitar will be on display at Beatles Story in Liverpool until October 17. It will then be exhibited throughout Europe, before arriving in Nashville for a three-day auction, November 20-22. Julien’s is also auctioning a photographic print by the photographer. Astrid Kirchherr showing Harrison with the guitar (estimate: $300-500) — a good option if you don’t have a million to spare.