Charred Hendrix Guitar Set to Beat Auction Record

Aug 27, 2002 12:00 PM

           
 

LONDON (Reuters) - A charred guitar set alight on stage by rock legend Jimi Hendrix could become the most expensive guitar ever sold when it goes under the hammer in London next month, auctioneers said on Tuesday.

The 1963 Fender Stratocaster is being offered for sale by the son of rock guitarist Frank Zappa.

One of Hendrix's roadies had given it to Zappa, who used it on his own 1976 album "Zoot Allures" after making it again playable. His son Dweezil became owner of the instrument upon his father's death.

London auction house Cooper Owen said the instrument was expected to fetch between $534,000 to $610,000, which would make it the most expensive guitar ever sold.

"You really get quite a sense of history from the guitar, particularly knowing that two of world's greatest guitar virtuosos have played the same instrument. It is very cool," Ted Owen, co-founder of Cooper Owen, told Reuters.

Frank and Dweezil Zappa had restored the guitar, putting a new neck and electrical gear on the body of the instrument, which still bears the scars of flames from one of Hendrix's flamboyant stage shows.

Dweezil told the Cooper Owen Web site: "Just by looking at the guitar you can sense the history behind the music. It's very inspiring."

Owen said Dweezil was selling the guitar to help fund the refurbishment of his father's recording studio.

The auction house said it was not clear whether the guitar was damaged during a festival in Miami in 1968 or during a gig at London in 1967.

The auction of rock and roll memorabilia is on September 24 in London.