In 1971, Jimmy Page provided a remarkable guitar in a magazine contest; this very same instrument, valued at over $67,000, will be auctioned now.
Jimmy Page's iconic 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar, a treasure from the Led Zeppelin legend's past, is set to be auctioned off on September 9, 2025, in the UK. The announcement was first made by the New Musical Express, the same magazine that ran a competition over 50 years ago, where Page gave away the guitar as a prize.
The guitar, purchased by Page in Nashville for about £200 in 1972, has a rich history. It was originally bought for a cover interview with the New Musical Express. After the competition, Charles Reid of Hornsey, North London, correctly matched six guitars with their famous owners, earning him the coveted prize. Page himself handed over the guitar to Reid, a moment immortalised in copies of the New Musical Express that are now available.
The Gretsch is significant due to its rarity, history, and association with Jimmy Page, making it highly desirable to collectors. With an estimated auction value between £30,000 and £50,000 (approximately $70,000), the guitar is expected to attract interest from collectors, investors, and Led Zeppelin fans alike.
After Charles Reid's ownership ended in September 1990, the guitar changed hands. It was later owned by Phil O'Donoghue, a guitarist in a '70s band called Wild Angels. The guitar is now being sold by the family of Phil O'Donoghue.
Charles Reid, reflecting on the competition and his win, once told The Independent that Page must be "mental" for giving away such a terrific guitar. However, the upcoming auction offers a unique opportunity for someone to own a piece of rock and roll history.
The auction of Jimmy Page's 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar is being conducted by Gardiner Houlgate. The exact selling price could exceed the upper estimate depending on collector interest. The guitar is not the only recent news from Jimmy Page. He recently announced the Sundragon Nymph, a boutique, Page-co-founded brand's smallest-footprint, low-wattage combo.
As the date of the auction approaches, the anticipation grows. The auction of Jimmy Page's guitar is set to be a significant event in the world of music memorabilia, offering a chance to own a piece of rock and roll history.
- Jimmy Page's iconic 1957 Gretsch Chet Atkins 6120 guitar, a rare electric guitar, is set to be auctioned off by Gardiner Houlgate in the UK on September 9, 2025.
- The Gretsch, initially purchased by Page for £200 in Nashville, was previously owned by Charles Reid and later by Phil O'Donoghue, a guitarist from the '70s band Wild Angels.
- With an estimated auction value between £30,000 and £50,000, this significant guitar, associated with Jimmy Page and rich in history, is expected to attract interest from collectors, investors, and Led Zeppelin fans.
- The auction of this Gretsch guitar is expected to be a major event in the world of music memorabilia, offering a unique opportunity for someone to own a piece of rock and roll history.
- Jimmy Page, alongside co-founding a boutique brand called Sundrigan Nymph, is also introducing the smallest-footprint, low-wattage combo, adding to the latest news from the music entertainment industry.
