Rock legend Jeff Beck's guitars to be auctioned

Jeff Beck died at his home in Wadhurst in 2023

Guitars and equipment owned by the legendary rock musician Jeff Beck will be auctioned in London on Wednesday.

He died at his home in Wadhurst, East Sussex, at the age of 78 in 2023.

Over 130 guitars, amps and pedals from his six-decade career will be auctioned at Christie's, where the collection has been on display for a week.

One instrument, autographed by a selection of other famous musicians, will raise funds for a Kent wildlife rescue centre.

Jeff Beck (r) rose to international fame as a member of the Yardbirds

Jeff Beck was born in Wallington, then part of the county of Surrey, in 1944.

He rose to fame as member of the Yardbirds in the mid-Sixties, a band which also featured Surrey guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

One of the guitars for sale is the famous Oxblood Gibson

One of the guitars to be auctioned is an Oxblood Les Paul.

"Originally it was not an Oxblood" said Amelia Walker from Christies, "it was a Gold Top.

"Fans will know it from the cover of his debut solo album Blow By Blow, released in 1975, recorded with George Martin.

"He used it for the encore at the end of David Bowie's final performance as Ziggy Stardust in July 1973."

A custom Fender Stratocaster signed by many rock legends, will raise funds for a Kent animal rescue centre

The last guitar to be sold will be a white Fender Stratocaster, with the money from that sale going to Folley Wildlife Rescue in Tunbridge Wells, a charity that Jeff Beck was a patron of.

The instrument is covered with autographs, having been signed by all the performers at a tribute concert to the musician at the Royal Albert Hall, organised by Eric Clapton in May 2023.

Jeff Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 by fellow Surrey guitar legend Jimmy Page

"This is a moment in time of that tribute" said Ms Walker, "it's really special, it's a Jeff Beck signature Stratocaster as well.

"We've got Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Kirk Hammett and Johnny Depp."

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