Lennon purchased his natural finish Rickenbacker Capri 325 in Hamburg in 1960 after his interest in the model was sparked by seeing Jean 'Toots' Thielemans using one with the George Shearing Quintet in 1959.

The modifications soon began, and the large TV-style control knobs were replaced by smaller units from Hofner and Burns. On Lennon's return to Liverpool, the unreliable Kauffman vibrola was replaced with a Bigsby installed on the counter of Hessy's music store.

By December 1962, the most significant part of the guitar's makeover had been carried out: a new black paint job. Only the small matter of taking over the world remained...

Lennon would have two more 325s including a one-of-a-kind 12-string, but his first will always be the most iconic.

Next page: George Harrison