Rare Beatles' guitar played by John Lennon goes to New York auction For sale: Rare guitar played by Beatles members at Julien's Auctions in New York City. THIS guitar may not quite gently weep, but it could at least make a well-heeled Beatles fan cry with happiness. The VOX guitar played both by John Lennon and George Harrison is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000 at auction in New York's Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday. The custom-made instrument is the main lot in the Julien's Auctions sale. Harrison used it while practicing I am the Walrus and Lennon while recording a video session for Hello, Goodbye. It was given by Lennon to Apple Records electronics engineer Yanni "Magic Alex" Mardas in 1967, Julien's said. It's a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the rarest pieces of Beatles memorabilia ever to be offered," the auction house said.