Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Brian Jones Guitars to be Auctioned

by Staff.

On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, the London branch of Christie's will conduct a Pop Culture, Rock and Pop Memorabilia Auction that includes a 1970 Fender Stratocaster associated with Jimi Hendrix; a 1958 Hofner Senator acoustic guitar owned by John Lennon in "the early days of Liverpool" according to documentation from the late George Harrison; and a Harmony Stratotone electric guitar owned and played in the early '60s by founding member of the Rolling Stones, Brian Jones. The sale is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Christie's South Kensington facility (85 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LD), though a personal appearance is not required for bidding as Christie's offers a number of alternate methods for bid placing (see the auction ecatalogue for details). The instruments, along with other items from the 193 lots to be auctioned, will be available for viewing at Christie's in South Kensington from June 27 through two hours prior to the auction during hours set-forth in the catalog.

While the Hendrix Stratocaster is bound to garner interest from collectors of celebrity-related instruments, guitars associated with Jimi Hendrix often raise a number of issues for the savy investor. The two primary concerns are: was the guitar in fact owned or possessed by Hendrix, and, if so, to what extent, if any, was it used by him. A sunburst Stratocaster is a notoriously generic instrument and Hendrix is reputed to have had a somewhat nonchalant attitude toward them. Christie's is well aware of this situation and has made every effort to provide as much documentation as possible with respect to ownership. As to possible use by Hendrix, Christie's is to be applauded for the circumspect disclaimers set-forth in the catalog description, such as: "This guitar appears to have been one of the Strat's [sic] Hendrix purchased before his death in September 1970 and it seems probable that it would have been used by him during recording sessions at the Electric Lady Studios...It is not known on which if any [of] the above sessions Hendrix used this sunburst Strat as he would undoubtedly have had more than one guitar at the Studios." [auction catalog, page 9]

The auction estimate for the 1970 Stratocaster has been set at £70,000-90,000 (US $110,000-140,000, €79,000-100,000).

The situations with the John Lennon and Brian Jones guitars are more straightforward, though still on the speculative side with respect to John Lennon's actual use of the 1958 Hofner Senator (due mainly to a lack of photographic support showing Lennon actually using the instrument). However, the Hofner's ownership by Lennon is supported by none other than George Harrison who wrote a letter to Lily Evans in 1982 stating, "...[this] Hofner is one of the first guitars of John's going back to the early days in Liverpool (1960-ish)..." [auction catalog, page 36]

The auction estimate for the 1958 Hofner Senator has been set at £100,000-150,000 (US $160,000-230,000, €120,000-170,000).

The circa 1960 Harmony Stratotone electric guitar once owned and played by Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones is supported by photographic evidence of Jones using the instrument in 1963 on stage at the Marquee Club in London. Research also indicates that Jones used the Stratotone on early unreleased Stones recordings and on their first released single, "Come On"/"Want To Be Loved."

The auction estimate for the circa 1960 Harmony Stratotone has been set at £30,000-50,000 (US $46,000-75,000, €34,000-56,000).

Related Links
Christie's Pop Culture, Rock and Memorabilia Auction ecatalogue (auction number 5871)
Seven Fender Stratocaster Models That Pay Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

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