Jeff Beck: The Guitar Collection

Sale Overview

Christie’s is delighted to offer for sale Jeff Beck: The Guitar Collection, on 22 January 2025 in London. Comprising over 130 guitars, amps, pedals and ‘tools of the trade’, these are the instruments which the late, great guitar legend Jeff Beck (1944–2023) played through his almost six-decade-long career, from joining The Yardbirds in March 1965 to his last tour in 2022.

Highlights include the original ‘Yardburst’ — the 1958 Gibson Les Paul bought in London in 1966 whilst in The Yardbirds; the iconic ‘Oxblood’ Gibson Les Paul, depicted on the cover of the seminal 1975 solo instrumental album Blow By Blow; and several Fender Stratocasters, the guitar with which Jeff Beck’s playing became synonymous and which he described thus: ‘My Strat is another arm, it’s part of me. It doesn’t feel like a guitar at all. It’s an implement which is my voice.’

The ultimate guitarist’s guitarist, Jeff Beck was a rock pioneer, a maverick and mercurial virtuoso whose influence on his peers was unmatched. Christie’s is proud to present his instruments to the world — the guitars through which he shared his emotion and voice — and pay tribute to his enduring legacy.

Visit the pre-sale exhibition in London until Wednesday, 22 January. Entry is free and open to the public.

The Jeff Beck Guitar Collection - What is on

Auction times

22 Jan 01:00 PM (GMT) Lots 1-133

Our specialist’s selection

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker

Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections | Private & Iconic Collections

Amelia Walker is a Director of Christie’s and Specialist Head of the Private & Iconic Collections department, with over 18 years of experience in the organisation and sale of multi-category private, iconic and country house collections. Since joining in 2006, Christie's has sold countless Iconic, Royal, Aristocratic and Connoisseur collections including those of Mark Knopfler, The Princess Margaret, the Earl Spencer, Sting, Audrey Hepburn, Margaret Thatcher, Roger Federer, Charlie Watts, the Rothschild family, and many more. Amelia is interested in all aspects of collecting, both ‘fine’ and decorative art, from antiquity to the contemporary and has had privileged access to some of the world's most wonderful works of art. She loves nothing more than meeting collectors, researching and valuing their collections and unearthing the provenance and story behind each object, picture, or piece of memorabilia.

Venetia Jolly

Cataloguer and Sale Coordinator | Private & Iconic Collections

Venetia joined Christie’s in 2021 having previously worked at The Althorp Estate, The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and The British Museum. Venetia has worked in Private & Iconic Collections since 2022, during which time she has handled a number of notable iconic single-owner collection sales, including Sixty Years of James Bond, Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone, and The Mark Knopfler Guitar Collection.

Venetia holds a joint Bachelor’s degree in History and Art History from Newcastle University and a Master’s degree in History of Art from University College London.