HARPTONE, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CIRCA 1968

It's believed that George Harrison purchased this guitar in the late 1960s, before the recording of the Beatles' White Album in 1968. Although it doesn't appear to have been used during any Beatles recording sessions, Harrison certainly seems to have played it during recording sessions for his solo albums in the 1970s. He is believed to have used it during the recording of his third solo album All Things Must Pass, recorded and released in 1970 following the break-up of the Beatles, although no photographs are known to exist. Badfinger member Tom Evans played the guitar on stage at The Concert for Bangladesh at New York's Madison Square Garden on 1 August 1971. Later, footage seen in the promotional video for The Apple Years box set shows that the guitar was also in the studio at Friar Park during recording sessions for Harrison's fourth solo album Living In The Material World, recorded between October 1972 and March 1973.

According to a letter sent to Bobby Purvis from George Harrison's brother Harold, the guitar was gifted to Bobby Purvis, of the band Splinter, in August 1974. Splinter was the first band signed to George Harrison's new record label, Dark Horse Records, which he set up after Apple Records had begun to disintegrate. Splinter was a two-man vocal group consisting of Bobby Purvis with Bill Elliott who came to Harrison's attention via Mal Evans. Harrison invited the band to Apple Studios in mid-1973 after hearing their song 'Lonely Man', with the song slated for an Apple Records release. Harrison felt that the song could be perfect for a film he was producing under the banner of Apple Films, Little Malcolm, and Bobby Purvis can be seen playing this guitar in the club scene in the movie, as well as in photographs of recording sessions for the movie. As Apple Records started to implode, Harrison formed Dark Horse Records and invited Splinter to record an album, the first band signed to the new label. Recording sessions began at Harrison's home studio at Friar Park resulting in the band's debut album The Place I Love, with Harrison playing various instruments and producing the album. This guitar was given to Bobby Purvis on completion of the album and the letter accompanying the guitar from Harrison's brother, Harold Harrison, states that This guitar originally was owned by Mr. George Harrison and had been used by him for several years...