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The Only Known Beatles Signed Hofner Guitar...

Hofner bass guitar (circa 1959) originally signed in black ink by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison on June 6, 1964. Absolutely unique, and the only surviving guitar signed by multiple members of The Beatles during the 1960s. In very good condition, with dings to the body and surface loss along the edges. Originally offered by Christie's in South Kensington, London, on May 29, 1997, as lot 383.

The autographs were procured by Oscar Rexhauser, a member of one of The Beatles' support acts, The Hot Jumpers, at Velinghal in the Dutch village of Blokker outside Amsterdam, where The Beatles performed two concerts on June 6, 1964. Besides Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, the instrument also includes autographs of Chet Atkins, Jim Reeves, Chubby Checker, Cliff Richard, and Joe Frazier all dating to the 1960s. Rexhauser later etched over the ink signatures of the three Beatles as well as the other artists as a means of preserving the autographs. Nonetheless, the guitar, with a later replaced neck, is the only known surviving guitar signed by The Beatles (sans Ringo Starr) during the 1960s. As Jimmy Nicol was acting as the group's substitute drummer during Ringo's recovery from a serious bout of tonsillitis, he was not asked to sign the Hofner.

The only other documented example known to have been signed by all four group members was destroyed in a flood many years ago. Much like the Hofner, the lost guitar was also signed by other performers, most notably The Rolling Stones. Additionally, a Rickenbacker guitar purported to have been signed by all four Beatles in Baltimore on September 13, 1964, was many years later found to have been signed by road manager Neil Aspinall; the story perpetuated by none other than the late Beatles publicist Derek Taylor in his book Fifty Years Adrift.

Tags: auction, authentication, authenticity, autograph, epperson, roger, rr, rrauction

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Permalink Reply by pierre pascal geurts on March 16, 2014 at 12:50pm

Hope to bring this bass from my father Oscar one day back in the family.Pierre- Pascal

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Permalink Reply by Eddie Scott on May 29, 2014 at 6:42pm

I just hope this one doesn't end up like that...it's a shame

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Permalink Reply by george enrique on May 7, 2018 at 11:33am

Just out of interest Alvin Stardust had his guitar signed by all the Beatles and others does anyone else remember the pics

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Permalink Reply by KarlKeaton on May 9, 2018 at 7:34pm

I have only ever seen one picture which was very low resolution and you couldn’t make out any of the signatures , I might have posted it on this forum once, I have certainly mentioned it before though.

He would certainly have been in a position to get all of the signatures and even married Rory Storms sister.