Lennons Gretsch Guitar at auction

[fretplay]

The outcome of Lennons Gretsch 6120 auction in London yesterday was surprising. The Estimate was £400.000 to £600.000 but it went for £380.000. As far as I could see there was only three bidders all on line. At that money it was a bargain, not only an iconic instrument but in as new condition.

 

When you take it the Clapton's Strat went for close on a million usd and that was at least ten years ago. Clapton said it was played out too.

 

Perhaps there was not enough exposure for the auction, it will be interesting to see if the guitar comes up again with maybe one of the big auction houses in the near future at a higher price or it's just hidden away in someones Beatles memorabilia collection!

[IanHenry]

That's funny, because on the local news last night, they said it didn't sell because it hadn't reached it's reserve price!

 

Ian

[stein]

I don't think Clapton's Strat is a good comparible.

 

For one, "Clapton said it was played out" is a bit of an understatement. This was THE Strat that was commonly seen by everyone, and the very same guitar associated with him, AND the one that made Clapton fans want to play a Strat by "association".

 

In other words, 2 things: it IS the guitar fans are familiar with, and it has very, VERY solid "provenence", or whatever the word is.

 

This particular Lennon guitar is one most knew nothing about until it came up for auction. And it isn't really a type, or one of "the" types he was usually associated with.

 

Another thing on that, the actual "provenence" of the guitar isn't really all that solid. One guy's memory or statement is really all there is, and that states he only used the guitar a little and gave it away. It's not a matter of it being true or false, just that it isn't very easy to prove or disprove.

 

I think estimates were way, way too high.

[Dennis G]

Here's the latest I saw:

 

http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/1013/john-lennon-paperback-writer-guitar-fails-to-sell-at-auction/49602

 

so let me get this, no one wanted to pay more than 380, I wanted 400, so now I'll shop it around to see if I can get more? What's wrong with this picture? Only a huge JL fan and moron would pay this dolt anymore than 380, if you paid him that, no?

 

Edit: Forgot to mention, that on another forum a while back this was a topic and consensus of opinion was that this guitar was waaaaaaay overvalued. It's not like it was his Ric, Gibby a/e, etc. I also think the fact that the cousin wanted the Strat but JL gave him the Gretsch, supposedly used on only one song, spoke volumes about how he thought about the two guitars, IMHO.

[fretplay]

That's funny, because on the local news last night, they said it didn't sell because it hadn't reached it's reserve price!

 

Ian

 

 

You are right Ian it didn't sell. I watched it live and took it that the sale had gone through. I still think that it will sell for a lot more, even the pick guard went for £22.000.

 

People pay daft money for these things and the desire to own and win drives the price up. I don't think the auction gave it enough exposure. Christies New York would be a better venue. Harrison's first even cheapie guitar went for £70.000 at least with the Gretsch you get a nice guitar.

[fretplay]

I don't think Clapton's Strat is a good comparible.

 

For one, "Clapton said it was played out" is a bit of an understatement. This was THE Strat that was commonly seen by everyone, and the very same guitar associated with him, AND the one that made Clapton fans want to play a Strat by "association".

 

In other words, 2 things: it IS the guitar fans are familiar with, and it has very, VERY solid "provenence", or whatever the word is.

 

This particular Lennon guitar is one most knew nothing about until it came up for auction. And it isn't really a type, or one of "the" types he was usually associated with.

 

Another thing on that, the actual "provenence" of the guitar isn't really all that solid. One guy's memory or statement is really all there is, and that states he only used the guitar a little and gave it away. It's not a matter of it being true or false, just that it isn't very easy to prove or disprove.

 

I think estimates were way, way too high.

 

Yes I take your point Stein. I didn't know Lennon owned a Gretsch or that he played the intro to Paperback Writer, I would have thought that was down to Harrison. So yes not that iconic as to say Lennon's Casino. I would guess Gretsch gave it to Lennon as their answer to his Casino but they are different guitars hence John got rid of it.