A century-old guitar with a storied history has been listed for sale on Reverb with an asking price of $949,999.
The 1913 Gibson Style O Acoustic Archtop, dubbed “Pattie,” was played and owned by both Eric Clapton and George Harrison during their collaborations in 1968.
According to Melody Maker, Clapton had acquired the instrument earlier that year and brought it to a former Gibson employee for restoration. Clapton then brought it with him to play and write with Harrison during one of their earliest collaborations in October 1968.
That same week, their first co-written song, “Badge,” would be recorded at Wally Heider Studios. The bridge from that song would be re-used by Harrison months later in “Here Comes the Sun.”
The songs appear on the final albums of both Cream and the Beatles.
Clapton left the guitar in Los Angeles with Delaney Bramlett, a frequent collaborator and mentor. The guitar was also featured in the Clapton documentary “Life In 12 Bars.”
It was dubbed “Pattie,” presumably after Pattie Boyd, the English model who was married to Harrison at the time and who later married Clapton, inspiring songs including “Layla” and “Wonderful Tonight.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.