Get your hands on Neil Finn's guitar

A rare chance has come up to get your hands on a guitar once owned by one of New Zealand's music greats - Neil Finn.

The Maton EBG 808 acoustic electric guitar was the one Finn strummed in a tribute he played to his late friend Paul Hester in 2005 at the Australian Aria Awards and would come signed by Finn himself.

Finn, 59, was in the band Split Enz with his brother Tim Finn and founded Crowded House with the former band's drummer Paul Hester before embarking on a solo career in the 1990s.

One of his old guitars is now being auctioned on Trade Me for charity. The proceeds of its sale will go to The New Zealand Music Foundation, a charity that works on musical projects for those facing serious illness, hardship or distress.

The auction, which was only open to people in Australia and New Zealand, has had 109 potential bidders add it to their watchlist.

So far only one person has bid $7500 on the singer's old guitar.

The auction description said while the guitar was owned by Neil Finn, all of the family including his brother Tim, sons Elroy and Liam, and other musicians have had a go strumming its strings in the studio and in concert.

The guitar has been well-used, but remains in a good condition barring some superficial cracks in its varnish after it was left slightly too long in the sun.

"The guitar plays beautifully as you would expect and carries all the spirit of its life as part of the Finn family collection of instruments."

As proof of its authenticity the auction listing said the strap featured technical markings and identification.

The guitar would also come with a signed note from Neil's guitar technician attesting to its provenance.

Until recently it's been on display in an exhibit in the acclaimed "Volume: Making Music in Aotearoa" exhibition.