Pete’s Gear: Classical Spanish Acoustic Guitar
Pete Townshend’s Classical Spanish Acoustic guitar
Christie’s to auction this guitar. See below for more information on this auction.
Pete Townshend’s classical Spanish acoustic guitar, of unknown vintage or make, as used in demo recordings of Behind Blue Eyes and seen in Pete’s home studio photographs beginning in 1967. This guitar was auctioned in 2000 by Pete for the Oxfam auction to a private collector for £15,000.
Pete Townshend (May 2000) for Oxfam auction:
“I used this guitar to compose Behind Blue Eyes, and a number of other important songs. My daughter Minta used it to learn on, and I got it back from her about 3 years ago. It is a very good guitar which I bought in L.A. from West LA Music.”
Photo Gallery
Home studio, Twickenham, ca. 1969, with this guitar visible on wall at right.
Christie’s auctioned this guitar 10 July 2008 for £13,750 ($27,115)
Christie’s offered this guitar in auction on 10 July 2008 as part of its Pop Culture: Rock and Pop Memorabilia auction, being sold on behalf of the Alliance For Sustainability. It realised £13,750 ($27,115), from an estimated £10,000 – £15,000 ($19,720 – $29,580)
The lot description, from Christie’s:
Pete Townshend/The Who
A classical acoustic guitar, with rosewood fretboard and spruce top, 1960s, signed and inscribed on the body in black felt pen Pete Townshend, May 19, 2000 — owned by Pete Townshend 1967–2000 and used by him to compose Behind Blue Eyes, released on the Who’s Next album, 1971; accompanied by a document concerning the provenance signed by Townshend (2)
Estimate: £10,000 – £15,000 ($19,720 – $29,580)
See christies.com for more information.