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Although these plastic guitars are small at 21" long, they were still 6 string models and the smallest of the 6 string models at that. They came originally sealed on a custom backing card (which is worth at least as much as the guitar by itself !). Current value of the standard version of the guitar without backing card would be near $2500. The display models would be worth at least 30% more. There were a total of thirteen different Beatles memorabilia Guitars (plus variations and display models) manufactured in the 1960s, five by Mastro in the U.S., seven U.K. models manufactured by Selcol, and a unlicensed 5" model made in Hong Kong.
The Mastro bongos shown above are the smaller model # 360 "Beat Bongos", measuring 5-1/4" tall with one 5" and one 5-1/4" head. Each head has a die-cut style group sticker. Originally sold in a custom Beat Bongo's box (valued at least as much as the bongos) and an instruction booklet (value $100). The company also issued "Big Beat Bongos" (model # 370), which were 6 1/4" tall with a 6-1/4" & 7-1/4" heads. Stickers on this one are round group shots, and it also came with a box and instructions. Both bongos are extremeley rare and in today's market could easily bring $2500-$3000. Boxes would easily bring the same. In fact, there is only one confirmed known box in private hands (Big Beat version).
Other memorabilia instruments issued in the 60's were a banjo, several different drum sets, drumsticks, harmonicas, a hummer, and even guitar strings. We may feature some of these items in the future...Below is a list of the known original guitars issued in the U.S. and the U.K. Scans will be added as we get them.
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| Company | Name | Description | Value (packaging) | Value (guitar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastro (US) | miniature guitar | 5-1/2" pink plastic guitar, Beatles faces on front, two rubber bands for the four "strings." | $25 | $125 |
| Mastro (US) | 14-3/4" junior guitar | 14-3/4" pink and bergundy four-string plastic, Beatles pictured on body and crown, sealed with backing board and instruction booklet. | $1000 | $1500 (add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Mastro (US) | 14-3/4" junior guitar | 14-3/4", similiar to above, but this is the promotional display version.* | $1000 | $2000 (add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Mastro (US) | "Four Pop Guitar" | 21" red and pink four-string plastic, Beatles faces and autographs on body, sealed on backing board with instruction booklet. | $500 | $750 (add $75 for manual. Most also issued w/ red generic toy pick) |
| Mastro (US) | "Yeah Yeah Guitar" | 21" red and bergundy six-string, faces and autograph on body, faces on crown, promotional display version.* | $1000 | $3250 |
| Mastro (US) | "Yeah Yeah Guitar" | 21" red and bergundy six-string, faces and autograph on body, faces on crown, sealed on backing board with instruction booklet. | $1000 | $2500 (add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Mastro (US) | "Beatle-ist Guitar" | 30" pink and bergundy six-string plastic, faces and autographs on body, sealed on backer board with instruction booklet. | $1500 | $1500 (add $75 for instruction manual) |
| * NOTE: More than likely the "display" or "promo" version guitars exist for all the U.S. guitars. Although there are many differences between the versions, the most distinctive is the fact that the "display" versions feature a WHITE background to the print and head print on the bodies of the guitar (standard versions only feature black print directly to the body with no background fill). The plastic used in the guitars is colored different as well. | ||||
| Selcol (UK) | 14" Junior Guitar | 14" orange body with color paper photo, sealed with backing board. | $1500 | $2000 (deduct $250 if crown sticker is missing, add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Selcol (UK) | "Big Beat Guitar" | 21" red and orange plastic, four-string model, color photo sticker, autographs on front. | $1500 | $1750 (deduct $250 if crown sticker is missing, add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Selcol (UK) | "New Sound Guitar" | 23" orange (or red) and creme, four-string plastic, Beatles faces and autographs on front. | $1500 | $1500 (deduct $200 if crown sticker is missing, add $75 for instruction manual) |
| Selcol (UK) | "Cutaway" | 29" orange body with bergundy neck, four string cutaway, Beatles color picture and autographs on front. | ---- | $600 |
| Selcol UK) | "Beatles Red Jet Electric" | 31" red and white six-string electric guitar with Beatles sticker and autographs on front, issued in coffin-shaped cardboard box. | $1200 (box, deduct $400 if sticker missing) | $2500 (w/ "wah-wah" arm - w/o arm $2000) |
| Selcol (UK) | "Cutaway" | 31", similiar to the New Beat with different body style. Lower part of front body is not the traditional "curved to the neck" style, referred to as the "cutaway style", going straight down and flat in that area. | $1200 | $1800 |
| Selcol (UK) | "New Beat Guitar" | 32-1/2" red and bergundy 4-string plastic, color Beatles picture and autographs on front, issued in coffin-shaped cardboard box. | $550 (deduct $200 if sticker missing) | $750 |
| Selcol (UK) | "Big Six Guitar" | 32-1/2" orange, red, and bergundy six-string plastic, also issued in coffin-shaped box. | $750 (deduct $150 if sticker missing) | $1000 |
| (Hong Kong) | miniature guitar | 4-7/8" plastic guitar with "Beatles" and their first names printed on guitar, rubber bands for "strings." | $10 | $80 |
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