GARY MOORE's Guitar Collection To Be Auctioned This Month

More than 35 guitars and amplifiers from the collection of late Irish guitarist Gary Moore will be offered at Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia sale, which will take place on June 29 at the auctioneer's location in Knightsbridge, London.

Moore made a name for himself in the late 1960s with the Dublin-based SKID ROW, before following bass player Phil Lynott in 1974 to play with classic rockers THIN LIZZY.

Throughout his career, Moore recorded numerous solo albums, and shared the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Albert King, Jack Bruce, Albert Collins and George Harrison.

"Before his death, Gary Moore had amassed an incredible collection of instruments," said Stephen Maycock, Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia consultant specialist. "Some 35 guitars, as well as a selection of vintage amplifiers, will be offered at auction for the first time in Bonhams Entertainment Memorabilia sale. As you'd expect from such a great musician, there's a lot of interesting guitars in the collection, including several Gibson Les Paul models."

Leading the collection is a 1963 Fender Stratocaster, estimated at $12,000–17,000. The guitar was a gift from the late Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival. It can be seen on live footage of the Fleadh festival in Finsbury Park, London in 2001, and the "Blues For Jimi" DVD in late 2007.

Also featured is a Fritz Brothers Roy Buchanan Bluemaster guitar, estimated at $3,600–5,100. Moore ordered the guitar after borrowing a similar instrument from George Harrison, who was his friend and neighbor in the Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames. Moore used Harrison's guitar when recording a track on the 1989 album "After The War", and he later decided to purchase his own to use for live performances.

Other highlights from the Gary Moore collection include:

* Warwick Thumb Bass guitar, 1987, estimated at $1,500–2,200
* National Model 1104 Town and Country guitar, circa 1957, estimated at $1,700–2,200
* Fender Twin amplifier, 1950s, estimated at $7,300–8,700
* Gibson Les Paul '59 Standard Historic Reissue guitar, 2004, estimated at $3,600–4,400
* Gibson Les Paul Standard Hot Rod 58 guitar, 2008, estimated at $2,900–4,400
* Fender Vibroverb amplifier, 1964, estimated at $4,400–5,800
* Gibson Firebird 1 guitar, 1964, estimated at $12,00–15,000
* Gary Moore Tribute Model Les Paul Standard Initial Prototype, 2012, estimated at $3,600–4,400
* Gibson Les Paul Standard VOS Collector's Choice No.1, 2011, estimated at $5,800–7,300

Additional information can be found at the auctioneer's web site.

Moore passed away in his sleep on February 6, 2011, hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, Spain with a female friend. He reportedly suffered a heart attack brought on by a massive amount of alcohol he consumed prior to being found dead in bed.