A rare 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 electric guitar, once given away by Led Zeppelin’s legendary guitarist Jimmy Page as a competition prize over 50 years ago, is set to be auctioned with an estimated value of up to £50,000.
The guitar was originally awarded as the top prize in a contest run by the New Musical Express (NME) magazine. The promotion featured a striking cover photo of Jimmy Page dressed in cricket whites, wielding the guitar like a cricket bat. In an accompanying interview, Page revealed he purchased the guitar in Nashville for £200 back in 1972.
The upcoming auction, hosted by Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, Wiltshire, on September 9, expects the guitar to attract bids between £30,000 and £50,000. Contestants of the original competition were challenged to match six guitars with their famous owners. Charles Reid of Hornsey, North London, submitted the winning entry and took home this iconic instrument.
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Recalling his win, Reid said, “Page must be mental giving away such a terrific guitar as this. It’s the kind of instrument every guitarist dreams of owning but can rarely afford.” Reid owned the guitar until 1990, when he sold it for £2,000 to Phil O’Donoghue, guitarist of the 1970s rock band Wild Angels. After O’Donoghue’s passing earlier this year, the guitar is now being sold by his family.
Auctioneer Luke Hobbs highlighted the guitar’s significance: “Jimmy Page is a rock legend, and his guitars rarely come up for auction. When they do, they generate exceptional interest from collectors, investors, and Led Zeppelin fans alike. The added provenance of original NME magazines, receipts, and correspondence makes this guitar even more remarkable.”
Jimmy Page, founder of Led Zeppelin, helped shape the sound of rock from the late 1960s through the 1970s. Rolling Stone magazine named Led Zeppelin “the biggest band of the seventies.” The band disbanded in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham.