Jeff Beck’s Guitar Collection Heads to Christie’s Auction Block

Christie’s announces January 2025 auction of Jeff Beck’s legendary guitar collection, featuring iconic instruments from six-decade career including famous ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul.
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Key Takeaways

  • Jeff Beck’s extensive guitar collection, featuring over 90 instruments spanning six decades, heads to Christie’s London auction
  • Legendary 1954 ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul headlines sale with estimate reaching £500,000
  • Collection honors Beck’s wish for instruments to be played and loved by future generations

Will You Be Bidding?: Loudersound reports that Christie’s London announces the auction of Jeff Beck’s extensive guitar collection, featuring over 90 instruments from the late guitarist’s illustrious career. “The Ultimate Guitarist’s Guitar Hero” sale, scheduled for January 22, 2025, fulfills Beck’s wish that his instruments find new homes with future players.

Historic Instruments Featured: According to Artnet, the collection’s crown jewel is Beck’s 1954 ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul, immortalized on his “Blow by Blow” album cover. Acquired in Memphis after a theft in 1972, the guitar carries an estimate of £350,000-£500,000 ($442,000-$631,000).

  • Collection spans six-decade career
  • Over 130 items including amps and effects

Widow Honors Legacy: “These guitars were his great love,” shares Sandra Beck, explaining the decision to auction the collection. “He never lusted after commercial success, and I hope the future guitarists who acquire these items are able to move closer to the genius who played them.”

Public Exhibition Planned: Before the London auction, the collection travels to Los Angeles in December for public display. The exhibition offers fans and collectors unique access to instruments that shaped modern guitar playing. For guitar fans, this is the best news since Gibson unveiled Jimmy Page’s 1964 SJ-200 guitars.

Musical Heritage Preserved: Christie’s head of private collections, Amelia Walker, emphasizes Beck’s “balance between fluidity and aggression,” noting how these instruments channeled his distinctive voice. 

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