Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
One of the most iconic guitars in rock history is Jimmy Page's "Number One" - his 1959 Gibson tobacco sunburst custom Les Paul. Bought from legendary Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh in 1969, Page's '59 Les Paul remained his go-to axe for decades. In 1998 Page commissioned Gibson's Custom Shop in Nashville to create three exact replicas of his Number One. The three prototypes were produced under the watchful eye of Gibson's reproduction master Tom Murphy who perfectly matched the specific traits of Page's original, specifically the uniquely thin neck profile. Once completed to his satisfaction, Page took two of the guitars to England and left the remaining one (serial number 0-9056) in care of Gibson's New York City office for his use when he needed one in the States. A year later Gibson's New York rep sold this guitar to Wayne Isaak, head of music programming at VH1. When Jimmy Page returned to America in the fall of 1999 for a tour with The Black Crowes, he asked Gibson for his replica '59 for publicity photos and playing on tour. Much to his dismay the rock superstar was told that the spare guitar he had held in reserve for just this occasion had been sold! Luckily Isaak lent the guitar to Page to use for a week. Page posed for photographs, magazine covers and most of all played it. On the second night of his tour at New York's Roseland Ballroom, a slightly miffed Page returned the guitar to Isaak.
We present here, that very guitar used by Page serial #0-9056. The guitar shows nice use and the hard case has the expected travel and storage dings and scuffs. This lot not only includes Gibson Les Paul Prototype 0-9056 and hard case, but a copy of the set list from the second night at Roseland, all area backstage pass, after show pass, 2 tickets, July 2000 Guitar World magazine with Page and this guitar, an original 8x10 of the shot used and various letters attesting to the guitar's provenance. You can't get any closer to the most famous guitar in rock history than this! Perfectly crafted by the Gibson factory, this is one of only three prototypes ever made. Letter of Authenticity from Jimmy Archey, Artist relations Executive at Gibson.