7322

Les Paul’s Personally-owned and -donated 9/11 Guitar

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:60,000.00 - 80,000.00 USD
Les Paul’s Personally-owned and -donated 9/11 Guitar

Bidding Over

The auction is over for this lot.
The auctioneer wasn't accepting online bids for this lot.

Contact the auctioneer for information on the auction results.

Search for other lots to bid on...
Auction Date:2015 Jul 23 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
One-of-a-kind Les Paul Standard Plus electric guitar personally-owned by Les Paul and donated by him for a New York charity auction fundraiser for the families lost in the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. Known as ‘The 9/11 Les Paul,’ the beautiful premium maple flamed top was painted by retired NYC fireman Paul Ortel to honor the occasion, rendering a poignant scene against an American flag background, most prominently featuring two firefighters planting a flag at Ground Zero, as well as firemen in a ladder bucket fighting the fire, a badge draped in a mourning ribbon, a candlelight vigil, and a banner reading, “New York’s Bravest, Sept. 11, 2001.” The black backplate was signed and inscribed in silver ink to the original purchaser, “To Mark, Keep Pickin’!, Les Paul.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original Gibson hardshell case as well as a packet of provenance information including news articles about the charity auction with photos of Mayor Michael Bloomberg holding the guitar and a letter from the Gibson company.

On April 3, 2002, musician Marc Anthony, Gibson board member Tommy Mottola, and Mayor Bloomberg introduced this guitar to the media at the same press conference where they announced Madison Square Garden as the venue for the 2003 Grammy Awards. The guitar was then displayed in the arena’s rotunda for eight months before being sold at auction in December, with proceeds donated to the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widows and Children Fund. Overall, this is an absolutely unique guitar combining elements of American cultural history to create an extraordinary historical piece. Oversized.