LONDON.- The final hammer has gone down in the globally anticipated auction of trailblazing guitar icon and legend Jeff Beck. The sale was 100% sold, realising a total of £8,727,284, including buyer’s premium, which is more than eight times the pre-sale estimate. A celebration of the ultimate guitarist’s guitar hero, the sale welcomed registered bidders from 40 countries, who bid fiercely throughout, resulting in the 128 lot sale lasting almost seven hours.

Having opened with a bang, intense competition was clear from lot 1 which sold for more than 10 times its pre-sale estimate, swiftly followed by the ‘Yardburst’ which realised £403,200 (estimate: £40,000-60,000) and the top lot: Jeff Beck’s iconic 1954 ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul, which doubled its pre-sale high estimate, selling for £1,068,500, after a bidding battle that lasted over 4 minutes (estimate: £350,000-500,000). Three new world auction records were set: for a Gibson Les Paul – as above; for a Jackson guitar when ‘Tina’ sold for over 36 times its pre-sale high estimate realising £441,000, after 7 intense minutes (estimate: £8,000-12,000); and for a pedalboard, which comprises the arrangement used on Jeff Beck’s last tour in 2022, sold for £126,000 (estimate: £3,000-5,000). 100% of the hammer price of the final four lots in the sale will benefit Folly Wildlife Rescue in Tunbridge Wells, a charity proudly supported by Jeff Beck during his lifetime alongside his wife Sandra and close friend Johnny Depp, who continue to act as patrons.

Sandra Beck: “I am so happy that Jeff’s guitars have been so popular amongst his fans and friends. Thank you so much for your belief in Jeff’s legacy."

Amelia Walker, Christie’s Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections, London: “We are thrilled with the results of Jeff Beck’s incredible collection, which pay testament to the legacy of a genius – a globally-revered true rock legend. Passionate bidders competed for every lot in the sale, with each achieving many multiples of their pre-sale estimate. The power of Jeff’s live performances and the emotional connection between him and his fans is perfectly exemplified by the exceptional result for ‘Anoushka’ his main performance white Stratocaster, which sparked a 9-minute bidding battle, achieving £1,008,000 – 50 times the pre-sale low estimate. It has been an honour to have been entrusted with this collection.”