“It’s time to part with them as Jeff wished”: 90 of Jeff Beck’s guitars, including his ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul, are headed to auction

Over 130 pieces of gear – including 90 guitars – belonging to the late Jeff Beck are set to go under the hammer next year (22 January).

Hosted by Christie's, the auction sale will give fans and collectors alike the chance to get their hands on the various 'tools-of-the-trade' that Beck played through his almost six-decades-long career, from joining The Yardbirds in the '60s, to his last tour in 2022.

The sale is led by one of Jeff's most recognisable guitars – his iconic 1954 'Oxblood' Gibson Les Paul, purchased in November 1972 in Memphis. The instrument saw extensive live action in the 1970s with the short-lived power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice, and was used during Beck's performance alongside David Bowie and Mick Ronson at London's Hammersmith Odeon on 3 July 1973.

Oxblood also famously featured on the cover of his Grammy-winning 1975 solo album , and was used on tracks including the Beck-Middleton original composition . It is estimated to fetch between £350,000 and 500,000.

Another highlight of the collection is Beck's 'Yardburst', a 1959 Gibson Les Paul the guitarist played while making a name for himself in The Yardbirds. Purchased at Selmer's in Charing Cross for £175 in early 1966, the LP was used to record on The Yardbirds' album , the Beck-Jimmy Page co-written track , as well as his debut studio solo album, .

In late 1967, Beck removed the guitar's black pickguard, switch surround and original sunburst finish, leaving the six-string in its natural raw blonde state. The Yardburst is estimated to sell for up to £60,000.

Also up for sale is Beck's Telecaster-Gibson hybrid 'Tele-Gib' that was put together specifically for him by Seymour Duncan in 1973 (valued at £100,000-150,000), his 1954 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster (valued at £50,000-80,000) and 'Anoushka', the late legend's longest-serving Fender White Stratocaster, master built by J.W. Black of the Fender Custom Shop (valued at £20,000-30,000).

"These guitars were his great love and after almost two years of his passing it's time to part with them as Jeff wished," Beck's wife Sandra said of the upcoming auction.

"After some hard thinking I decided they need to be shared, played and loved again. It is a massive wrench to part with them but I know Jeff wanted for me to share this love. He was a maestro of his trade. He never lusted after commercial success. For him it was just about the music... I hope the future guitarists who acquire these items are able to move closer to the genius who played them."

Highlights will be on public view in Los Angeles from 4-6 December, followed by the full collection being on show in the presale exhibition at Christie's London headquarters, from 15-22 January 2025.