Prized guitars from Albert King, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix go under the hammer
The sale marks the first time any of King and Marley’s guitars have ever gone up for auction
Guitars from Jimi Hendrix, Albert King and Bob Marley are set to go under the hammer as they headline the forthcoming Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ’N’ Roll auction from Julien’s Auctions.
In particular, Albert King’s 1967 Gibson Flying V is notable for being the first of the blues legend’s guitars to ever go to auction.
It was his main guitar for studio and live performances between 1967 and 1972, and used on Born Under a Bad Sign, and I’ll Play the Blues For You.
The V is signed “Love / you / Albert King” and was given to King by Gibson to replace his original Flying V, named ‘Lucy’, which went missing.
It’s expected to sell for $300,000-$500,000.
Also going under the hammer for the first time is one of Bob Marley’s guitars, a 1975 Ovation 1612-4 Custom Balladeer acoustic-electric.
It features a natural spruce top and shallow back and ebony fingerboard, and is estimated to fetch between $80,000 and $100,000.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Two Jimi Hendrix guitars are up for sale, the first of which is a left-handed 1969 Olympic White Fender Stratocaster, kept and played by the guitar hero when he was in New York. It’s expected to sell for $300,000-$500,000.
The other is a 1960s WM. C. Stahl Style 8 acoustic made by the Larson Brothers, and owned and played by Hendrix.
It features a spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, and mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, and comes with a copy of Life Magazine that features a photo of Hendrix with the guitar in question, as well as a handwritten letter from Experience bassist Noel Redding vouching for its authenticity.
Its estimated sale price is $200,000-$500,000.
Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ’N’ Roll is scheduled to take place on December 1 and 2. For more information, head over to Julien’s Auctions.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.