George Harrison and Eric Clapton’s Historic 1913 Gibson ‘Pattie’ Acoustic Heads to Auction After Nearly Hitting $1 Million on Reverb

A Rare Guitar With a Long Musical Past

The unique 1913 Gibson acoustic guitar that Eric Clapton and George Harrison used while writing some of their most well-known songs is headed to auction this week. The unusual Style-0 archtop, nicknamed “Pattie,” has been listed by Heritage Auctions and is waiting for an opening bid of $150,000.

This sale comes only a few months after the same guitar appeared on Reverb with a price close to $1,000,000. Whether it will reach anything near that amount at auction is still unknown, as the listing is set to close in nine days.

Harrison, Clapton, and the Guitar’s Artistic Impact

Not much is known about the earliest years of this Gibson Style-0 Archtop, which carries serial number #14106. Its story, however, changed in the late 1960s when Harrison and Clapton began using it during a creative period that shaped several major works.

The guitar’s nickname, “Pattie,” comes from Pattie Boyd, the woman both musicians married at different points in their lives. Heritage Auctions described the instrument as “not only a testament to Gibson’s golden era, [but] an icon of late 1960s rock history.”

A Tool for Legendary Songwriting

The guitar entered their collection during a productive stretch in 1968, including their collaborative songwriting sessions in Los Angeles. Harrison was photographed playing the acoustic in October of that year beside Clapton at Alan Pariser’s garden in Los Angeles. Reports say this is where early ideas for some of Harrison’s most meaningful songs — “Here Comes the Sun,” “I Me Mine,” and “All Things Must Pass” — first formed. It is also believed to have played a part in inspiring Clapton’s “Layla.”

Because of this, the guitar remains tied closely to the personal and musical connection between the two artists, reflecting how their shared creativity shaped the era.

Later Ownership and Current Condition

Clapton later gave the guitar to Delaney Bramlett around 1970. Bramlett was important in both musicians’ early solo careers. The instrument was first auctioned in 2013, five years after Bramlett passed away.

Despite being more than a century old, the acoustic is in strong condition, though it shows expected signs of long use. Those interested can find more details through Heritage Auctions.