The Ultimate Guitar Shop

Christie’s Jeff Beck Auction offers a revealing look at numerous iconic instruments from the legendary guitarist’s entire career from the Yardbirds to Johnny Depp

- CHRIS GILL

MOST SUCCESSFUL GUITARISTS inevitably become guitar collectors, eventually amassing dozens or even hundreds of instruments during their careers. Many famous and acclaimed guitarists have owned some of the world’s most impressive collections, such as legendary veterans Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and Pete Townshend, as well as relative newcomers like Joe Bonamassa and Slash, who acquired some of the rarest and most highly desirable vintage instruments.

These hoarding proclivities were expertly spoofed in the timeless rock mockumentary comedy This Is Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel showed off his guitar collection to director Marty Di Bergi and refused to let Di Bergi even look at a mint, unplayed Seafoam Green 1963 Fender Bass VI that still had its hang tags. But even though actor Christopher Guest based Tufnel on Jeff Beck, this was one of the few scenarios that wasn’t very much like Beck at all. Beck certainly owned more than his fair share of guitars, but his collection was more about well-worn, used and abused tools of his trade than untouched trophies, consisting almost entirely of items that he played on stage and in the studio on a nearly daily basis.

Recently, Beck’s wife Sandra felt that his guitars had sat idle too long and she decided that they belong in new homes with players who can continue to make music with them. On January 22, 2025, about 90 guitars and string instruments and various amps, pedals and other music wares from Beck’s collection — a total of 130 lots — will be sold in auction by Christie’s in London.