The Telegraph reports Lennon gave his Gretsch 6120 guitar to his cousin, David Birch, in November 1967, a year after the hit single was produced in April 1966 at London's Abbey Road studios as part of the sessions for the band's "Revolver" album.

"I was just cheeky enough to ask John for one of his spare guitars," said Birch, who was trying to start his own band at the time. "I had my eye on a blue Fender Stratocaster that was lying in the studio but John suggested the Gretsch and gave it to me as we were talking."