Strum-thing very special
INSTRUMENT FROM 1933 MAY FETCH £120,000 AT AUCTION
IT has been in the hands of rock legends Mark Knopfler, Brian Johnson and even footballer David Ginola.
Now, a guitar owned by influential bluesman Booker White is set to fetch up to £120,000 at auction.
The 1933 National Duolian resonator guitar, named Hard Rock, was owned and played for more than 30 years by White.
Booker, known as Bukka, met then 24-year-old English photographer Keith Perry at a blues festival in Newcastle in 1967.
In 1976 – a year before White’s death – he sent the photographer his prized guitar in return for postage and packing costs.
After its arrival in Newcastle, the guitar was played by the likes of Knopfler of Dire Straits, Johnson of AC/DC and former Newcastle United star Ginola.
Bluesman BB King – who was White’s cousin – also played the guitar and dubbed it a “holy relic”.
In 2010, American blues singer and guitarist Eric Bibb released an album called Booker’s Guitar – recorded using the instrument.
Luke Hobbs, auctioneer from Gardiner Houlgate, said it is the only authenticated Booker White-owned guitar to come to market to his knowledge.
“This is a truly astounding guitar backed up by masses of documentation and historic evidence,” Mr Hobbs said.
“Not only does it come with its own incredible story, it’s also a direct connection to the mythic bluesman of 1920s and 30s America. It’s no wonder we’re expecting interest from right across the world for this sale.
“Today, Booker White is not commercially known, but if you ask performers like Robert Plant or Mark Knopfler, they’ll tell you how important he was.
“When I heard his guitar was coming in, I was instantly excited. I first came across Booker’s inspiring style of blues from an old Delta Blues album compilation I acquired whilst studying guitar.
“He’s a proper legend – one of the archetypal bluesmen. His story is full of poverty, women, guns, prisons and even a late career revival.
“We’ve not auctioned anything like this guitar before. You simply don’t see guitars on the market linked to this era of blues greats.
“We really are talking about a relic of a bygone age before the British blues invasion of the 1960s turned it into the international musical force it is today.”
The guitar, expected to fetch between £80,000 and £120,000, comes with letters from White, his guitar case with hand-written tag and some of his metal slides used for playing it.
It is a unique transitional model, featuring the larger body and “rolled in” f-holes that are found on subsequent Nationals made from 1934 onwards.
There are heart and sunray charms – added by White himself – on the headstock.
Hard Rock’s fretboard features some wear from White’s technique of slapping the guitar at both ends while he played.
Mr Perry, who has owned the guitar since being given it by White, said he was selling it after 42 years.
“It was a great pleasure to know Booker White as a friend and I’ve treasured his guitar for many years, but now feels like the right moment to pass it on,” Mr Perry, of Newcastle, said.
“It’s time for the next chapter in Hard Rock’s long and memorable story.
“I only hope the guitar will be bought by someone who loves and respects it. To me, it embodies the soul of Booker White and music of the blues like nothing else.”
The auction will take place at Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, Wiltshire, on March 13 and 14.
Hard Rock and other guitars will be available for viewing on March 11 to 13.