Lennon gave his Gretsch 6120 guitar to his cousin, David Birch, in November 1967 – a year after the hit was recorded in April 1966 at London’s Abbey Road studios. Mr Birch said he had fancied forming his own band. “I was just cheeky enough to ask John for one of his spare guitars,” he said. “I had my eye on a blue Fender Stratocaster lying in the studio, but John suggested the Gretsch and gave it to me.”