John Lennon's Gretsch Guitar

This guitar, the Gretsch Double Cutaway 6120, s/n 53940 was owned and played by John Lennon during recordings for the Paperback Writer/Rain single session. It was also used by John during the Revolver sessions which took place in Abbey Road Studios in 1966.  A family member of John's was given the guitar by John in 1967. He tells the story of how he received the guitar, 'Upstairs in John's house in Weybridge he had his den and music room, it was full of tape decks, keyboards, guitars etc. The two guitars I remember were the Blue Fender Stratocaster and the Gretsch 6120. It may have been cheeky but I asked him did he have any spare guitars as I was trying to get a group together while staying with Mimi in Bournemouth. I really fancied the Fender but that was a no no but he said I could have the Gretsch. I was over the moon as you would expect.'  This is the first time that this guitar has been exhibited and it is temporarily on display at The Beatles Story for the Lennon Season 2010.