A Jimmy Page guitar has sold for £100,000 at auction to become the most valuable known guitar played by the Led Zeppelin man.
The guitar, a 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120, was given away by Page in a music paper competition.
Auctioneers Gardiner Houlgate, who sold the instrument this week, said before the sale that only two Page guitars had previously been auctioned: a Martin D-28 for £26,250 in 2013 and a 1969 Gibson Firebird that made just under £60,000 in 2024.
Alongside the Gretsch, a Burns 12-string owned and played by Mark Knopfler live and on the Dire Straits album Communique, sold for £30,000, its lower estimate.
The Page guitar well exceeded its predicted sale price of £30,000 to £50,000.
It had a great story. Page reportedly bought the instrument for around £200 in a Nashville store called GTR around 1972.
The original artwork for Led Zeppelin’s first album by George Hardie sold for over £300,000 in 2020. Image courtesy of Christie’s.
Two years later it was – along with some smart new amplification gear – the top prize in a fan competition in the NME music paper.
That means Page spoke extensively about the instrument, telling journalist Nick Kent: “Eddie Cochran had one very similar to this. I think he customised it, though some people say it was made specially for him. It had an old block Gibson pick up by the neck and a branded G … an earlier version.”
He said he bought this instrument because, “it’s a good all-rounder with good acoustics when it’s strung up properly.”
A Charles M Reid won the guitar, which was handed to him by Page.
He subsequently sold it to Surrey musician Phil O’Donoghue, who put together the evidence needed to solidify the link to Page. Extensive, published photography of much of the crucial transaction was a big plus to back up this rich story.
Luke Hobbs, of Gardiner Houlgate, told LedZepNews: “[This is] a fantastic result that exceeded all expectations.
“The guitar was fiercely contested by collectors worldwide, with bids coming in via both telephone and internet,” he added. “It was a true privilege to offer an ex-Jimmy Page guitar. Of all the artist-associated instruments I’ve been involved with, this has been my favourite journey, both for the remarkable story behind it and the rarity of the artist. Above all, I am delighted for the family.”
Page is one of the most revered guitarists of the rock era, and Led Zeppelin an extraordinarily popular act even today. The reason why he is so poorly represented at the top end of the guitar collecting market is explained in his interviews with Nick Kent for the guitar giveaway – he simpy didn’t keep many guitars.
Anyone who thinks they may own one of those few instruments should consider their plans for it now.
