The Artistry of the Guitar - Day 2 2014-04-03 Auction - 128 Price Results - Guernsey's in NY
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1931 Martin OM-281955 D’Angelico New Yorker1941 Gibson SJ-200
Done
New York, NY, United States
Auction Details

The Artistry of the Guitar - Day 2

Every so often, a remarkable collection is sold at auction. In this way, paintings by Picasso, historic racing Ferraris and other forms of the most sought after items get dispersed to passionate collectors seeking the rarest and best. Such is the case with Guernsey's April 2 & 3 Auction of a stunningly beautiful collection of the finest guitars. Assembled by a gentleman over a period of four decades, there is little in the way of precedent when looking for a comparison to the extraordinary instruments that soon will be sold. The event will be held live at New York City's stylish Bohemian National Center with multiple accommodations for those unable to attend.

Imagine a broad array - nearly three hundred instruments in all - of historic Martin, Gibson, Epiphone, Gretsch, Washburn, Stromberg and Larson Brothers guitars. Bid on treasures created by such talented craftsmen as Torres, D'Angelico and Simplicio. The fifty extraordinary Martins include an 1840s Martin & Coupa, various OM-28, F-9, 00-45, D-28, and D-45 models and the rarest of the rare, a 1930 OM-45 Deluxe. Of the many Gibsons are Super 400s, SJ-200s, L-5s, Nick Lucas models and a one-of-a-kind Super 400 Flattop. The dozen D'Angelicos include New Yorkers, Excels, a Special, a Style A and a mandolin. And then there are instruments made noteworthy by the legendary musicians who played them. But this is just a taste, a sampling of the excitement in store for those who take part in what certainly will be a memorable event.

Guernsey's has produced a comprehensive, handsomely photographed catalogue documenting the many instruments in the auction. Several noted experts have provided detailed descriptions. To acquire the auction book and receive more complete details about this important auction, please contact Guernseys.

Lot Number: Lowest
24
Sold
1959 José Ramírez Classical: NO RESERVE. After José Ramírez II died in 1957, José Ramírez III assumed control of the family workshop, but he was forced to work as more of a supervisor than the luthier’s role he previously
0138: 1959 José Ramírez ClassicalEst. US$30,000-US$40,000
See Sold Price
1928 Martin 00-40H: Martin introduced this fancy style 40 instrument, which was designed for Hawaiian or steel playing, in 1928, the same year this example was made. The timing was unfortunate for introducing a new
0139: 1928 Martin 00-40HEst. US$55,000-US$65,000Lot Passed
1934 Gibson L-5: Here is an interesting, rare, and very early example of the first “Advanced” L-5 models that Gibson made featuring a larger 17-inch body. Gibson introduced this new, larger version of the L-5 at
0140: 1934 Gibson L-5Est. US$85,000-US$95,000Lot Passed
Sold
1931 Martin OM-28: The Martin OM-28 is highly coveted by collectors and players alike for its outstanding tone and contemporary features. This is the model that plectrum banjo player Perry Bechtel helped Martin develop
0141: 1931 Martin OM-28Est. US$125,000-US$150,000
See Sold Price
1939 Vega C-71: NO RESERVE. The Vega C-71 is also a 17-inch guitar like the C-66 also in this auction, but it is a fancier instrument. This model came with a standard natural blond finish, and the top on this
0142: 1939 Vega C-71Est. US$25,000-US$30,000Lot Passed
C. 1927 Supertone Artist: NO RESERVE. Supertone was a brand name of stringed instruments sold by the Sears & Roebuck Company during the 1920s and 1930s. (Around 1940 the brand name was changed to Silvertone.) Most Supertone
0143: C. 1927 Supertone ArtistEst. US$20,000-US$25,000Lot Passed
1893 Martin 0-42: During the 1880s and early 1890s, the only Style 42 guitar listed on Martin’s price list was the small size 2 model 2-42. However, during this period numerous customers ordered larger size 1 and
0144: 1893 Martin 0-42Est. US$100,000-US$125,000Lot Passed
Sold
C. 1937 Washburn Style 5244 Inspiration Extra Super: NO RESERVE. With its 16-inch wide, 4 ½-inch deep body and 25 ½-inch scale, this Regal-made Washburn Style 5244 is an impressive jumbo guitar with huge sound to match. This 5224 Inspiration is as
0145: C. 1937 Washburn Style 5244 Inspiration Extra SuperEst. US$15,000-US$20,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1956 Marcelino López Flamenco: NO RESERVE. Marcelino López Nieto is one of the most respected Spanish luthiers alive today, renowned for both his classical and flamenco instruments. Born in 1931, he opened his own guitar
0146: 1956 Marcelino López FlamencoEst. US$20,000-US$25,000
See Sold Price
1954 Gibson L-5C: The Gibson L-5 Premiere/L-5C certainly is one of the most visually elegant archtop guitars ever conceived. This 1954 example is particularly dazzling thanks to its beautiful sunburst finish and
0147: 1954 Gibson L-5CEst. US$85,000-US$95,000Lot Passed
1955 D’Angelico New Yorker: John D’Angelico made very few true electric guitars with the pickups mounted directly to the top instead of floating above the top. The single-coil pickups on this 1955 D’Angelico New Yorker were
0148: 1955 D’Angelico New YorkerEst. US$250,000-US$275,000Lot Passed
C. 1899 Maurer Presentation: Little is known about the years 1893 when August and Carl Larson established their stringed instrument building workshop and 1900 when August and some investors purchased Maurer and Company. It
0149: C. 1899 Maurer PresentationEst. US$110,000-US$135,000Lot Passed
Sold
1929 Martin 00-40H: Unlike the other 00-40H in this auction, this 00-40H features the catalog specification-correct ebony pyramid bridge. The main distinguishing feature between a Martin style 40 guitar like this one
0150: 1929 Martin 00-40HEst. US$60,000-US$70,000
See Sold Price
1918 Gibson Style O: This 1918 Style O guitar has several features that differ from the 1917 Style O in this auction. The headstock features a pearl inlaid diagonal “The Gibson” logo and smaller fleur-de-lis design.
0151: 1918 Gibson Style OEst. US$85,000-US$95,000Lot Passed
Sold
1953 Gretsch 6040 Synchromatic: Gretsch hadn’t yet adopted the Cadillac-inspired Eldorado name for the 6040 model shown in their 1952-53 catalogue. This 1953 6040 looks so close to the guitar shown in that catalogue that it
0152: 1953 Gretsch 6040 SynchromaticEst. US$55,000-US$65,000
See Sold Price
1933 Epiphone De Luxe Masterbilt: The De Luxe Masterbilt was Epiphone’s flagship guitar model from 1931 until late 1935, when the company introduced its Emperor model. Epiphone designed the De Luxe Masterbilt to compete with the
0153: 1933 Epiphone De Luxe MasterbiltEst. US$55,000-US$65,000Lot Passed
1963 José Ramírez Classical: Many of the world’s greatest classical guitarists, including Andrés Segovia, have played José Ramírez III guitars, but Ramírez guitars are also very popular with rock and pop players. Sometime
0154: 1963 José Ramírez ClassicalEst. US$60,000-US$70,000Lot Passed
Sold
C. 1905-06 Washburn Style 340 Grand Concert: NO RESERVE. This Style 340 Grand Concert provides further evidence that no other company was mass-producing guitars fancier than Washburn’s various models around the turn of the century. By 1905
0155: C. 1905-06 Washburn Style 340 Grand ConcertEst. US$50,000-US$60,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1960 Gibson J-200N: NO RESERVE. The 1960 J-200 is the last of the great ’50s-era J-200 guitars, as in late 1960 Gibson began to change the saddle design in ways that adversely affected the instrument’s tone. This
0156: 1960 Gibson J-200NEst. US$30,000-US$40,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1941 Gibson ES-300: NO RESERVE. When it comes to pre-war electrics, few guitars are more beautiful than this blonde ES-300. Its design is simple and elegant, and the natural finish highlights every detail of the grain
0157: 1941 Gibson ES-300Est. US$25,000-US$35,000
See Sold Price
Sold
C. 1939 Recording King Model 1027 Ray Whitley: Recording King was Montgomery Ward’s in-house brand name for guitars and other stringed instruments they sold in the 1930s. Kay and Regal made Recording King instruments, but the highest quality
0158: C. 1939 Recording King Model 1027 Ray WhitleyEst. US$110,000-US$135,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1941 Gibson SJ-200: Here is a very rare pre-war Gibson SJ-200 with the desirable East Indian Rosewood back and sides. Gibson made only about 100 rosewood SJ-200 guitars before the maple version went into production, so
0159: 1941 Gibson SJ-200Est. US$500,000-US$600,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1952 Edgar Mönch Classical: NO RESERVE. Edgar Mönch started building classical guitars in the 1940s in Munich, Germany. In 1965 he moved his workshop to Toronto, Canada, where he trained Jean Larrivée (of Larrivée Guitars)
0160: 1952 Edgar Mönch ClassicalEst. US$15,000-US$20,000
See Sold Price
Sold
1953 Martin D-18: NO RESERVE. Martin D-18 guitars from the mid-1950s like this one are the dreadnought flattops of choice for many pros. Country stars Brad Paisley and Keith Urban are just a few recent examples of
0161: 1953 Martin D-18Est. US$20,000-US$25,000
See Sold Price
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