Collectors of electric guitars have discovered that Kerrang! can turn into Ker-ching! as the value of some rare items has soared in recent years.
London-based auctioneer Coys, better known for its motoring-related sales, has now added a department dedicated to rock and roll ephemera that will have its first sale on March 12th at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Elverton Street, Westminster, London SW1.
Julius Thurgood, the man who created the Top Hat racing series and a prime mover behind more than one top-level concours d’elegance, will head up the department with guitar guru Melvyn Hiscock as the department expert.
An early consignment is the 1952 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top with a history of ownership and playing that includes legendary British bluesman Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Top Topham (early, pre-Clapton Yardbirds) and latterly Duster Bennett, a contemporary of Topham and Green who was an influential figure on the early British Blues scene.
Such was the sharing of musical instruments in those days, it may well be that Clapton himself has played the distinctive,
trapeze-tailpieced electric guitar.
Coys is offering some 40+ iconic guitars in this inaugural sale.
Peter Green reunited with Duster’s Les Paul 1996
For further information on consignments and items in the sale, please contact Julius Thurgood: landline +44 (0)1926 885835, mobile +44 (0)7850 361159 or email [email protected].
Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: COYS
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