Musical Instruments & Memorabilia

The craftsmanship involved in the most prized musical instruments affects the quality of sound they produce as well as their appearance. For example, string instruments made by the Italian Stradivari family – and particularly Antonio Stradivari – in the 17th and 18th centuries are said to produce a sound that has never been replicated even in similar designs.

Those instruments created by Antonio during his ‘golden period’ (1700-1720) command particularly strong prices. More recent instruments, such as electric guitars played by pop music giants of the 20th century also pull in large prices – such as Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock Stratocaster, which was bought for a Seattle museum for $2m.


Sex Pistols God Save The Queen 2653NEDI 12 07 2024

‘Holy grail’ Sex Pistols single makes record

12 July 2024

Rare copy of the most censored record in British history sells at Wiltshire auction

Eric Clapton guitar

Guitars used for 1970s classics a hit at auction

14 June 2024

Eric Clapton’s 'Wonderful Tonight' and Ian Bairnson’s 'Wuthering Heights' guitars sell at separate sales

John Lennon guitar

John Lennon’s lost Help! guitar sets auction record

31 May 2024

Guitar belonging to the Beatle was rediscovered in an attic after 50 years

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Classic turntables on the right track at Olympia Auctions

27 May 2024

Two classic 1970s record turntables have been consigned to the 20th Century Design sale at Olympia Auctions on September 20.

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Dealers' news in brief including launch of a dealer platform and a new BADA member

27 May 2024

In dealer news this week, a Kings Road trader retires, a London dealer launches a new platform and a Leeds firm joins BADA

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Spectacular Steinway grand piano goes under the hammer at Nadeau's

27 May 2024

A spectacular 19th century Steinway concert grand piano sold for $80,000 (£64,000) at Nadeau’s (23% buyer’s premium).

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Ian Bairnson’s Wuthering Heights guitar appears at Wiltshire auction

24 May 2024

Ian Bairnson’s guitar featured in Kate Bush’s debut 1978 hit 'Wuthering Heights' is being offered at Gardiner Houlgate in Wiltshire.

Eric Clapton guitar

Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight guitar set to rock auction

16 May 2024

The guitar on which Clapton wrote 'Wonderful Tonight' carries an estimate of £300,000-400,000

John Lennon guitar

Long-lost John Lennon guitar recovered from an attic comes to auction

23 April 2024

John Lennon’s long-lost Framus 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar has been rediscovered and is coming to auction next month.

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Rock on with a jukebox purchase

15 April 2024

Perfect to impress your friends and family – or annoy them – many vintage jukeboxes can be bought at auction for three or four figures depending on age, model and condition.

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Wurlitzer organ on a whirl in Staffordshire saleroom

15 April 2024

Around 28 American-built Wurlitzers were originally transported to Britain from 1925 until just before the Second World War.

Johann Sebastian Bach manuscript

‘A testament to elegance’: Bach manuscript goes to Bodleian in lieu of inheritance tax

15 March 2024

A rare autograph manuscript by composer Johann Sebastian Bach has been acquired by the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries.

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Album helped Rolling Stones to go on tour, not fade away

11 March 2024

In 1969 the Rolling Stones were ready to go touring again after a gap of more than two years. Featuring a new guitarist, the 17-date tour in the US began on November 7.

Vintage Gibson Les Paul Standard

Mark Knopfler guitar auction makes more than £7m at Christie’s

01 February 2024

A six-hour sale of 122 lots from the collection of singer-songwriter and Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler took £7.01m (or £8.84m including buyer’s premium).

Gibson guitar

Mark Knopfler's Gibson guitar and pair of torchère figures are among five lots to watch

29 January 2024

With estimates from £200, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.

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Signed Fab Four photos are big hits with bidders

22 January 2024

A c.1964 publicity photograph signed by all four members of The Beatles sold for £13,000 at Bristol auction house Auctioneum (21% buyer’s premium).

Guild Of Handicraft Piano Sworders Jan 16 2024

Rediscovered Ashbee piano with exhibition history sounds a £16,000 note

17 January 2024

A recently-rediscovered version of one of the best known Guild of Handicraft designs has sold at Sworders for £16,000.

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Bowie lyrics make a stellar result in Merseyside sale

02 January 2024

The music memorabilia sale at Omega (28.8% buyer’s premium inc VAT) on November 29 included the handwritten lyrics to two tracks on David Bowie’s 1972 classic The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Apple Boutique mural

Pioneering journalist with a ticket to ride

18 December 2023

She was the first female broadcaster to be heard on Radio 1 and the only journalist to accompany the Beatles during a four-day coach trip when they filmed their Magical Mystery Tour TV special.

Guqin

Pick of the week: Chinese instruments belonging to a Dutchman who was in tune with China

13 November 2023

The Dutch diplomat, musician, writer and sinologist Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-67), also known as Gao Luopei, was a great admirer of traditional Chinese literati culture.

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