1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst Sells for $781,250 at Heritage Auctions
On October 15, a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst, noted for its remarkable preservation, fetched $781,250 at Heritage Auctions during the Vintage Guitars and Musical Instruments Signature Auction. This amount sets a new world record for a vintage guitar without celebrity association, surpassing the previous record of $611,000 by $170,250, or approximately 28 percent, established by a 1958/63 Gibson Explorer at Skinner on October 15, 2006. The auction, which featured 201 lots, amassed a total of $2.15 million and attracted 848 international bidders. Aaron Piscopo, the Director of Vintage Guitars & Musical Instruments at Heritage Auctions, hailed the result as a historic milestone for the vintage guitar market and the department.
Key facts
- A 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Sunburst sold for $781,250 at Heritage Auctions on Oct. 15
- The price set a world auction record for a vintage guitar without celebrity provenance
- The prior record was $611,000 for a 1958/63 Gibson Explorer at Skinner on Oct. 15, 2006
- The new result surpassed the old benchmark by $170,250, about 28 percent
- The auction totaled $2.15 million across 201 lots
- 848 international bidders took part in the sale
- Aaron Piscopo is Director of Vintage Guitars & Musical Instruments at Heritage Auctions
- Piscopo described the sale as a landmark result for vintage guitars and the department
Entities
Artists
- Aaron Piscopo
Institutions
- Heritage Auctions
- Skinner
Locations
- United States