Les Paul’s Number 1 Guitar Is Going Up For Auction, But It Should Be In A Museum

More than Fender, more than Paul Reed Smith, hell probably even more than Gibson itself, the most recognizable name is guitars is Les Paul. His is the most iconic guitar ever created. And its probably the most used guitar in recording history, although it would be difficult to verify that. Most any guitar player has owned one, played one, or dreamed of owning one since they first picked a note. And now, the original Les Paul, the very first Gibson Les Paul, owned and approved by Les himself, is going up for auction. IT will go under the hammer at Christie’s in New York on October 13, 2021.

This is a 1952 gold-top. Its being sold by Les Paul’s son Gene, and Tom Doyle, the guitar builder who worked with Les for 45 years. According to Gene, Les worked for almost 3 decades of guitar building experiments before he finally received this very first Gibson Les Paul. Which, doing the backwards math, means Les had been building guitars since the 1920′s!

Check out some pics of number 1, and Les holding it back in the day.

According to Christie’s the estimated final bid could be from $100,000 to $150,000. Personally that seems insanely low for the very first of its kind, especially considering that the most expensive guitars ever sold went for upwards of $1-2 million. Of course those were owned and played by the greats such as Hendrix, Cobain, Gilmour, and Richards.

You can read more about the guitar at guitar.com, and they will soon launch an in-depth piece they did with Gene and Tom about Les and his guitars. Plus they have a really cool close up of the neck pick-up where you can still see the guide lines Les drew when he rebuilt it and drilled the holes.

Check out some pics of Les and his guitars with just a few of the superstar players who rock the world’s most iconic guitar.

Christies Auctions Off Rock N Roll Memorabilia NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: A guitar, once owned and used by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, stands on display at Christie's December 10, 2004 in New York City. Christie's, in a partnership with Julien's, will hold a Rock & Roll and Entertainment Memorabilia auction Friday, December 17, 2004. The sale, which will include such items as guitars owned by Beatle George Harrison, an Academy Award from 1941 for Best Picture, interview tapes of John Lennon, letters from Kurt Cobain to Courtney Love and numerous Elvis memorabilia, is expected to realize in the region of $3 million. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Icons Of Music - Photocall LONDON - APRIL 11: A Gibson Les Paul guitar owned by The Edge of U2 goes on display at "The Icons Of Music" Auction Benefiting Music Rising held at The Hard Rock Cafe on April 11, 2007 in London. The auction will take place on Saturday April 21st, 2007 in New York. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

39th Annual Country Music Association Awards - Show NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Singer Kenny Chesney performs at the 39th Annual Country Music Association Awards at Madison Square Garden November 15, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (Scott Gries/Getty Images)

2003 MusiCares Person of the Year Tribute to Bono- Show NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Musician The Edge performs on stage during the13th Annual MusiCares Person Of The Year tribute at the Marriott Marquis February 21, 2003 in New York City. Grammy winning artist Bono will be honored for his musical and humanitarian accomplishments. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Live 8 London - Stage LONDON - JULY 2: Singer Scott Weiland (L) and guitarist Slash from the band Velvet Revolver perform on stage on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs thet are held in Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raise awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images) (MJ Kim/Getty Images)

The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards - Awards Room LONDON - JUNE 13: Zakk Wylde poses in the awards room winner of Riff Lord Award at The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards at the The Astoria June 13, 2005 in London, England. The annual tongue-in-cheek awards ceremony is organised by Metal Hammer magazine. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images) (Jo Hale/Getty Images)

Music Stars Record "Tears In Heaven" Tsunami Relief Single LONDON - JANUARY 20: Guitarist Slash of Velvet Revolver records the charity cover of Eric Clapton's "Tears In Heaven" Tsunami Relief Single at Whitfield Studios on January 20, 2005 in London. Other stars to contribute to the single will include Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Pink, Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Robert Downey Jr., Phil Collins, Josh Groban and Aerosmith's Steve Tyler. The single is an initiative of Sharon Osbourne, and proceeds will go to benefit aid organization Save the Children's operations in tsunami-affected regions. (Photo by Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)

VH1 Rock Honors - Show LAS VEGAS - MAY 25: Musicians Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Paul Stanley of Kiss perform during the VH1 Rock Honors at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 25, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Metallica Play Dublin DUBLIN, IRELAND - AUGUST 20: US Heavy Metal band "Metallica" play at The RDS, band member James Hetfield is seen on stage August 20, 2003 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by ShowBizIreland.com/Getty Images) (ShowBizIreland/Getty Images)

Miller Rock Thru Time Concert - Show NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 17: Guitarist Slash and musician Lenny Kravitz perform on stage at the Miller Rock Thru Time Celebrating 50 Years of Rock Concert at Roseland September 17, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images) (Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)

Rock Star Supernova In Concert At The Joint LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 01: Rock Star Supernova guitarist Gilby Clarke performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino January 1, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The band is touring in support of its self-titled debut album. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Whitney Contemporaries Host ARTPARTY NEW YORK - MAY 11: Musician Moby performs at the Whitney Contemporaries hosted ARTPARTY, benefiting the Whitney Museum of American Art's Independent Study Program and sponsored by Calvin Klein, at Skylight May 11, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Journey In Concert At Mandalay Bay LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 18: Journey guitarist Neal Schon (L) and singer Jeff Scott Soto perform during a sold-out show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center August 18, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rock group is touring in support of the album, "Generations." (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Robert Plant Signs His 10 Foot Gibson Les Paul Guitar LONDON - SEPTEMBER 05: Robert Plant signs his 10 foot Gibson Les Paul Guitar as part of the Gibson Guitartown London charity campaign at More London on September 05, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images) (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

The David Gilmour Guitar Collection Press Preview NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top, part of The David Gilmour Guitar Collection, displayed during a press preview at Christie's on June 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Live 8 Philadelphia - Show PHILADELPHIA - JULY 02: Singer Adam Levine and drummer Ryan Dusick of Maroon 5 perform on stage at "Live 8 Philadelphia" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art July 2, 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including London, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images) (William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Empire Ballroom Grand Opening LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 22: Camp Freddy (L-R) drummer Matt Sorum, guitarist Billy Morrison and singer Donovan Leitch, performs during the grand opening of the Empire Ballroom October 22, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ace Frehley Listening Party For Upcoming New Album "Space Invader" NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 13: Ace Frehley holding a 12-string Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar attends the Ace Frehley listening party for upcoming new album "Space Invader" at Gibson Guitar Studios on August 13, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images for Ace Frehley) (Michael N. Todaro)

Les Hear It 16th September 1952: Popular guitarist Les Paul serenades his wife and singing partner Mary Ford (1928 - 1977). (Photo by Express/Express/Getty Images) (Express/Getty Images)