Johnny Ramone CBGB’s-era Rickenbacker Guitar Up For Sale

Johnny Ramone's Guitar up for auction

 

Exceptionally rare stage-used CBGB’s-era Rickenbacker guitar

Johnny Ramone’s 1966 Rickenbacker 450 ‘Fireglo’ finish guitar will be featured in an upcoming live auction event from Boston-based RR Auction.

Frequently used on stage and adjusted to his personal preferences, including a replaced higher output pickup to accommodate the Ramones’ punk rock sound.

The bridge is stamped with the serial number FA180, and secured with small brads in order to keep it in place due to Johnny’s aggressive playing style. The guitar features its original Kluson Deluxe tuners. The guitar exhibits extensive wear from use, including dings and wear to the finish, and a large area of buckle rash to the back.

"Johnny displayed this guitar on stages across the world, and rather than house it in the band's storage facility, this Rickenbacker was stored safely under both Johnny's 10th Street and then later his 22nd Street apartment beds when the band was in between tours and after the guitar's retirement," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

Additionally, its retirement before a major 1983 tour theft affirms that this guitar was used throughout the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and is a CBGB’s -era piece of Ramones gear viewable during performances on the DVD, ‘Ramones It's Alive 1974-1996.’ This guitar is the second-oldest documented guitar of Johnny’s, all earlier guitars having been stolen in 1977 (aside from Johnny’s famous white Mosrite, which was purchased in 1977 as was this guitar).

In accordance with Rickenbacker factory logs, only sixty-four of these model-450 guitars were produced in this finish, making the instrument collectible in its own right. While not original to the Rickenbacker guitar, the accompanying tour-used carrying case prominently stenciled on the front and back by the Ramones’ trusted art director Arturo Vega is indicative of the earliest era of Ramones gear, as the band soon acquired rolling cases for gear protection. The Chris Lamy Collection.

Includes Ramone’s original hard case for the guitar, stenciled “Ramones” on both sides by famous Ramones art director Arturo Vega.

Accompanied by letters of provenance from longtime Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick, Johnny Ramone’s guitar technician Matt Loyla, Ramones crew member and tour assistant Warren Cohen, Ramones photographer and gear expert Ian Harper and Chris Lamy, close friend of The Ramones and guitarist of The Jabbers, formerly GG Allin & The Jabbers.

Highlights from additional featured lots:

Jimi Hendrix signed note during the summer of 1967.

Jerry Seinfeld’s hand-corrected biography from 1989—the year Seinfeld’s sitcom debuted.

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller signed photograph of the honeymooners from 1957. 

James Dean original oil painting from 1954. 

Bidding on the Remarkable Rarities Auction from RR Auction begins September 17-27, followed by a live auction event on September 28 that will take place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA. More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com    

The Ramones - Needles and Pins - 12/28/1978 - Winterland San Francisco, CA that features Johnny Ramone playing the Rickenbacker guitar.