Guitar played by George Harrison sells for $485,000

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A guitar that once was briefly borrowed by George Harrison, has found a new home and the new owner has paid a small fortune to get it.

The instrument referred above is a Maton Mastersound guitar and was sold at an auction on the 15th of May as part of an array of rock-related items, including a glove worn by Michael Jackson, a tank top worn by Madonna and Elvis Presley's wedding certificate.

The winning bid was for $485,000 and Harrison's guitar was the top-selling memorabilia of the day.

Harrison borrowed the guitar during the summer of 1963, taking it from a music store because one of his other guitars was undergoing repairs. Although the repairs were completed the same day, Harrison held onto the Maton a while longer and played it in concert at Margate (July 8-13), in Liverpool (August 2), at a photocall at the Cavern (August 3) and also when the Beatles played at Guernsey, Channel Islands (August 6-10).

After Harrison returned the guitar, it was purchased by Dave Berry and the Cruisers guitarist Roy Barber, who had it in storage when he passed away; it was first auctioned by his estate in 2002.

Not long ago another of Harrison's former guitars was also sold. His 1962 Rickenbacker-425 was auctioned by Sotheby's fetching an incredible $657,000!