Back in the day, Jimmy Page, the legendary guitarist, handed out a highly valuable guitar in a magazine contest - and it's now estimated to sell for around $67,000 at auction.
Jimmy Page's Rare 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 Up for Auction
Jimmy Page's iconic 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar is set to be auctioned off on September 9, with an estimated selling price between £30,000 and £50,000 ($40,359 to $67,265 USD). The guitar, a prize in a 1974 New Musical Express (NME) magazine competition, has a rich history and is expected to attract huge interest from collectors, investors, and fans of Led Zeppelin.
The guitar was originally bought by Page in Nashville in 1972 for about £200. He gave it away as a competition prize to Charles Reid of Hornsey, North London, who correctly matched six guitars with the famous guitar players who owned them. Reid kept the guitar until September 1990 and later sold it to Phil O'Donoghue, a guitarist in a '70s band called Wild Angels. O'Donoghue's family is now consigning the guitar for auction.
The auction house, Gardiner Houlgate, has copies of the NME showing the competition for the guitar and even a photo of Page giving the guitar to Reid. The guitar was first featured in a cover interview with the NME. The Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 is a rare and historic instrument, making it the kind of instrument that every guitar player dreams of owning but can never really afford.
Charles Reid stated in The Independent that Page must be mental for giving away such a terrific guitar. The auction of this guitar is a unique opportunity for collectors and fans to own a piece of rock history. The exact final sale price beyond the expected range is not available in the provided sources.
In addition to this auction, Jimmy Page recently announced the Sundragon Nymph, a boutique, Page-co-founded brand's smallest-footprint, low-wattage combo. This new venture shows Page's continued love for music and guitars, making the auction of his 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 even more significant.
[1] The Guardian. (2021, September 6). Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch guitar to be auctioned for up to £50,000. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/06/jimmy-pages-1957-gretsch-guitar-to-be-auctioned-for-up-to-50000
[2] NME. (2021, September 6). Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins guitar to be auctioned off. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from https://www.nme.com/news/music/jimmy-page-1957-gretsch-6120-chet-atkins-guitar-auction-3634445
[3] Music Radar. (2021, September 6). Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar to be auctioned. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from https://www.musicradar.com/news/jimmy-pages-1957-gretsch-chet-atkins-6120-guitar-to-be-auctioned
[4] Ultimate Classic Rock. (2021, September 6). Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 Guitar to Be Auctioned. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jimmy-page-gretsch-guitar-auction/
[5] Classic Rock. (2021, September 6). Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar to be auctioned. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from https://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/jimmy-pages-1957-gretsch-chet-atkins-6120-guitar-to-be-auctioned/
- The 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 electric guitar once owned by Jimmy Page is slated for auction, with an estimated selling price ranging from £30,000 to £50,000.
- Known for its rarity and historical significance, the Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 is coveted by guitar enthusiasts, collectors, and investors alike.
- Originally bought by Page in Nashville for approximately £200, the guitar was eventually given away as a prize in a 1974 NME magazine competition.
- Charles Reid, the winner of the competition, kept the guitar until 1990 before selling it to Phil O'Donoghue, a member of the '70s band Wild Angels.
- The auction house, Gardiner Houlgate, has documentation supporting the guitar's history, including copies of the NME and a photo showing Page giving the guitar to Reid.
- Besides this notable auction, Jimmy Page recently announced the Sundragon Nymph, a boutique brand's smallest-footprint, low-wattage combo, demonstrating his ongoing passion for music and guitars.
- This upcoming auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and fans to secure a piece of rock history, adding to the broader narrative of entertainment, celebrities, and pop-culture as shaped by music and distinctive gadgets like electric guitars and amps.
