Musicians across the world could contribute thousands of pounds to a Belfast songwriting festival by bidding on the internet for a one-off guitar depicting the Titanic.
Avalon Guitars, whose instruments have been used by some of music's biggest names, such as Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison and David Gray, have created the guitar celebrating Belfast's shipbuilding heritage with the image of the liner.
The Avalon Belfast guitar is being auctioned to help finance the five-day Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival which takes place later this month, featuring 28 concerts and workshops.
Singer-songwriters Nanci Griffith, former Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross and Chris Difford from Squeeze are among those who will take part in the festival on February 20th-24th.
The Premier Series Jumbo guitar produced by the Newtownards based firm normally sells for stg£3,400 (€4,550). But the unique guitar is expected to fetch much more thanks to the use of rosewood, mahogany and redwood on the body of the guitar and a beautiful headstock inlay made of ebony, mother of pearl and abalone shell.
Hungarian master craftsman Balazs Prohaszka, who has worked at the factory for more than five years, is responsible for depicting the Titanicon the guitar which has clearly struck a chord with festival director Colin Magee.
"I've never seen anything like it. The guitar is stunning." Mr Magee said.
Songwriters Don Schlitz, who wrote the Kenny Rodgers hit The Gambler, and Pat Alger, whose songs have been recorded by James Taylor, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, have also been lined up for the festival.
The Avalon Belfast Guitar goes on sale this Wednesday and the bidding will close at 5pm on March 31st.
Photographs of the Special Edition Guitar can be viewed at www.belfastnashville.com where bids can be made.