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HALLS TUNING UP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AUCTION IN 2012
January 3, 2012
Leading Shropshire fine art auction house Halls is tuning up for a musical instruments sale in the new year.
The company is keen to establish itself as a leading regional auction centre for vintage and classic musical instruments, the value of which continues to rise. An auction with a dedicated musical instruments section is planned for May 2, 2012, with entries needed by April 10.
Stewart Orr, one of a team of specialists at Halls, holds a free weekly valuation surgery for musical instruments at the company’s Welsh Bridge head office every Monday from 10am to 1pm.
He is particularly keen to see Gibson, Fender, Hofner, Burns of London, Wem and Rapier electric guitars in addition to acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins and other stringed and woodwind instruments.
Acoustic guitars he would especially like to view are by Gibson, Martin, Hofner, Levin and Ovation.
Mr Orr revealed that Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster electric guitars, which date to the 1950s, can now be worth in excess of £20,000. “They are particularly rare because they didn’t arrive in the UK until 1960 when Cliff Richard bought a Fender Stratocaster for Hank Marvin,” he said.
“The first mass produced electric guitar was marketed by Fender in 1951 as the Fender Telecaster and its sister the Stratocaster arrived in 1954. As time passes, Fender guitars from the 1970s and even the 1980s are becoming collectable or loosely termed vintage.
“As with vintage cars, most guitars need to be stored carefully, as they need to be kept dry and at an ambient temperature. An attic is definitely the worst place for them as modern insulation in attics can make the temperature very cold in winter and very warm in summer. It is this change in temperature that causes wood to shrink and expand causing movement that can ruin a good instrument.”
Pick of the instruments already consigned to the May auction is a Burns of London 12-string electric guitar of the type used by Elvis Presley, The Searchers and The Troggs. The guitar, which us valued at in excess of £500, is in its original case and in good condition.
“We have grown up with pop music over the past 50 years and, whilst the instruments that we play have changed very little, they have become extremely valuable,” explained Mr Orr.
Anyone wishing to receive an evaluation or to discuss selling their musical instruments is asked to contact Mr Orr at Halls on Tel: 01743 284777.
Picture caption:
A Hofner Committee, semi acoustic jazz guitar, circa 1959, a type two series guitar with flamed maple back and frondaise headstock with original pickups.
