1959 Gibson Les Paul Guitar Sells for Record $781,250 at Heritage Auctions
A remarkably preserved 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst has sold for $781,250 at Heritage Auctions, setting what the auction house says is a world auction record for a vintage guitar without celebrity provenance. The guitar, serial No. 9 0640, led Heritage’s October 15 Vintage Guitars and Musical Instruments Signature Auction, which realized a total of $2.15 million across 201 lots and drew 848 international bidders. The Les Paul’s $781,250 result surpassed the previous benchmark of $611,000 paid for a 1958/63 Gibson Explorer at Skinner in 2006 by $170,250, or about 28 percent.
What makes the guitar especially notable is not a connection to a famous musician, but how much of the instrument has survived in original condition. It retains its original Sunburst finish with virtually no finish checking and only slight fading on the lower bout of the top. The original double-black PAF humbucking pickups still carry both PAF decals, and their covers remain undisturbed. Heritage also noted that the solder joints on the guitar’s potentiometers and capacitors remain untouched. It retains its original non-wire ABR-1 Tune-o-Matic bridge, original HBI pickup rings and rare original tuning machines, which show no deterioration. The back has only a couple of very light scuffs that do not penetrate the lacquer finish. Even the accessories survived. The Les Paul came with its original hang tags, original strap and original Lifton-style hardshell case, which Heritage described as being in exceptional “time-capsule” condition with only minor flaws.
The guitar also carries a well-documented collecting history. It was formerly part of the collection of Ichiro Kato, whom Heritage describes as one of Japan’s most respected vintage Gibson collectors. Serial No. 9 0640 is also recorded in the Burst Serial Registry and has been documented in the vintage guitar community through reference works including The Beauty of the Burst, Burst Believers, Sunburst Alley and Burst Gang.
“This is a landmark result for vintage guitars and for our department,” says Aaron Piscopo, Director of Vintage Guitars & Musical Instruments at Heritage Auctions. “The 1959 Les Paul Standard has long been one of the most sought-after electric guitars in the world, and this example offered an extraordinary combination of originality, preservation and documented collecting history. Its record price speaks to the importance collectors place on finding an exceptional instrument.”
Another major guitar with a very different type of provenance also brought a substantial price in the same auction. Lonnie Mack’s 1958 Gibson Flying V “Number 7,” sold together with his 1962 Magnatone Custom 440 amplifier, realized $550,000. Mack used the guitar throughout decades of recordings, performances and international tours, and the lot also included his familiar stage strap.
Other notable results included a custom Telecaster-style guitar with artwork by Paul Karslake at $56,250, Keith Richards’ signed 1979 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst at $50,000 and a prototype Gibson Crossroads ES-335 signed by Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker at $45,000. The 1952 Fender Blackguard Telecaster known as “The Halloween Tele” sold for $42,500.