History

Music

Music Legends Live On at Julien’s with History of Celebrity-Played Instruments

Explore the history of celebrity-played instruments auctioned at Julien's. From Lennon's Hootenanny to Cobain's Stratocaster, these pieces shaped music history.

August 2, 2024

a colorful electric guitar on a black background .

Throughout our storied 20-year history, we’ve graciously established ourselves as a premier auction house specializing in the best and rarest music memorabilia – including instruments owned and played by legendary musicians.

Stage-Played Instruments: These instruments have witnessed the energy and passion of live performances. They bear the marks of countless shows, capturing the essence of a musician's artistry and connection with the audience.

Album-Played Instruments: The instruments used in studio recordings are integral to the creation of timeless albums. They contribute to the unique sonic signature of each record, shaping the sound we associate with specific artists and genres.

Song-Played Instruments: Some instruments become iconic due to their association with specific songs. Think of the iconic riff of "American Woman" played on Randy Bachman's 1971 Fender Hardtail Stratocaster. These instruments become inseparable from the song's identity.

Historical Preservation: Instruments owned by legendary musicians are not just objects but vessels of musical heritage. Auctions ensure their preservation and allow future generations to appreciate their significance.

Our high-profile auctions provide a fascinating glimpse into music history and the personal lives of the most iconic artists you know and love. Let's delve into just a few of the notable instruments we’ve had the pleasure of auctioning off and their impact to the world of pop culture.

John Lennon's "Help!" Hootenanny Acoustic Guitar

The Beatles

John Lennon "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" Acoustic Guitar

Sold Price

$2,857,500

Estimate:

$600,000 - $800,000

A 1964 Framus Hootenanny 5/024 12-string acoustic guitar, natural finish. This guitar was owned by John Lennon and used by both Lennon and George Harrison during the recording sessions for The Beatles albums Help! (1965) and Rubber Soul (1965). It has been matched to photos taken during sessions for both records as well as stills from the movie Help!

John Lennon acquired this Framus Hootenanny in late 1964, and it made recording debut during the 1965 Help! sessions where it was photographed in the hands of both Lennon and Harrison along with the Maton case it was originally paired with at the store.

Eric Clapton's "Fool" Guitar

ERIC CLAPTON

CREAM STAGE-PLAYED 1964 "FOOL" GIBSON SG ELECTRIC GUITAR (WITH MAGAZINE)

Sold Price

$1,270,000

Estimate:

$1,000,000 - $2,000,000

This psychedelically painted Stratocaster, used during Clapton's time with Cream, is a symbol of the late 1960s rock scene. Its sale at Julien's Auctions reaffirmed its status as a cultural artifact and a testament to Clapton's influential career.

Kurt Cobain's "Skystang I" Fender Stratocaster

NIRVANA

KURT COBAIN STAGE-PLAYED "SKYSTANG I" FENDER MUSTANG ELECTRIC GUITAR

Sold Price

$1,587,500

Estimate:

$1,000,000 - $2,000,000

This guitar, played by Cobain during Nirvana's "In Utero" tour, is synonymous with the grunge movement. Its auction not only fetched a high price but also highlighted the enduring legacy of Cobain and his impact on alternative music.

Prince's Yellow Cloud 3 Electric Guitar

Prince

Stage Played Yellow Cloud 3 Electric Guitar with Magazine, Box Set and Photo Prints

Sold Price

$910,000

Estimate:

$400,000 - $600,000

A Yellow “Cloud” guitar built by Dave Rusan for Prince, completed in early 1985 for the Purple Rain tour. Distinctive Cloud shape, multiple layers of paint, 25” scale length neck-through-body construction, 22 frets on a painted fretboard with dry transfer “Love Symbol” position markers, a mix of brass and gold-plated hardware, EMG pickups, Schaller 457 wraparound bridge, West German Schaller tuners, and a brass nut. Used by Prince on stage along with three other such instruments from 1985-1993.

Completed for the Purple Rain tour in 1985, Cloud 3 began life as an O’Hagan Nightwatch guitar and presents with correct three-piece neck-through-body construction. Its body was cut down and maple wings were attached and re-shaped to create the signature Cloud shape, based on a bass guitar acquired by Prince in the late 1970s that was designed and built by luthier Jeff Levin under the name Sardonyx. The shape of that bass was an extrapolation of the Gibson F-style mandolin, upscaled for the much larger instrument.

Bob Dylan & Robbie Robertson's 1965 Fender Telecaster Guitar

Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson

1965 Fender Telecaster Guitar with Book

Sold Price

$635,000

Estimate:

$500,000 - $700,000

A 1965 Fender Telecaster solid body electric guitar, serial #L97811, finish stripped to natural. Formerly owned, recorded, and stage played by Robbie Robertson of The Band, and stage played by Bob Dylan. From the collection of Robbie Robertson.

When Bob Dylan went electric, this guitar was there. Side one of "Bringing It All Back Home" featured an electric backing band, with Dylan further embracing the sound on 1965’s Highway 61 Revisited, and 1966’s "Blonde on Blonde."

Robbie Robertson of The Hawks (the band who would later come to be known as “The Band”) ordered this Telecaster after suggesting that it would be a good fit for Dylan as he integrated the sound and use of the electric guitar into his performances. The Telecaster, a model lovingly referred to as a “workhorse” for many years, was routinely praised for its simplicity of design, great sound, light weight, and stable tuning due to the lack of a vibrato bridge, as is common for Fender’s other revolutionary guitar design, the Stratocaster.

Jerry Garcia's "Winterland Ballroom" Travis Bean Electric Guitar

The Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia Stage-Played "Winterland Ballroom" Travis Bean Electric Guitar (TB 500 #11) and Stage-Used Slavedriver Synth with Photo

Sold Price

$520,000

Estimate:

$200,000 - $300,000

A 1976 Travis Bean TB500 solid body electric guitar, stamped 11 on the headstock, in white finish. Owned and extensively played by Jerry Garcia, songwriter, vocalist and lead guitarist for The Grateful Dead. Paired with the Slavedriver 360 guitar synthesizer, the first-ever guitar synth played in-studio. Used at numerous Grateful Dead concerts including The Dead's three night stint at the Winterland Ballroom in 1977.

Garcia’s dissatisfaction with then-current production guitars lead to him commissioning something very different with Travis Bean. The brand, helmed by Gary Kramer, Marc McElwee, and namesake Travis Bean, forged a new path in guitar making with unique body shapes and the use of aluminum for the necks, which isn’t susceptible to changes in heat and humidity like traditional wood necks. Equally unique were the company’s pickups, which were incredibly hot, or overwound, for the time. This yielded a bigger, bolder sound which gave Bean an advantage over Fender and Gibson of the 1970s.

This barely scratches the surface of the long list of legendary axes we've brought to so many passionate fans through our auctions.

These instruments are not just objects; they are imbued with the spirit of the music they helped create. They represent a tangible connection to the artists and their creative process. Preserving and celebrating these instruments through auctions and exhibitions is essential to understanding and appreciating the rich tapestry of music history.

Philanthropy

Proceeds from many of our auctions often benefit charitable causes, supporting music education, humanity research, children initiatives, artist assistance programs, and other initiatives our consignors are passionate about.

Julien's continues to play a pivotal role in preserving music history and celebrating the contributions of legendary musicians. Our auctions provide a platform for fans, collectors, and historians to connect with the instruments that shaped the music industry.

Register now for our current REMIX: No Reserves Auction -- an online-only auction experience designed with you in mind, offering a diverse array of items spanning music, Hollywood, animation, sports, and history. Whether you're seeking a piece of cinematic history, a memento from your favorite band, or a unique artifact from a bygone era, REMIX has something to ignite your passion!

Live Auction

REMIX

No Reserve Online Auction

Aug 26, 2024

11:00 AM PDT