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Les Paul Estate Goes Up for Auction

Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills—the world’s premier entertainment and celebrity estate auction house—and the Les Paul Foundation have partnered for an auction of extraordinary property and collection of guitars, equipment and musical artifacts from the legendary musician, engineer and inventor Les Paul. The auction event will take place on June 8-9, 2012, in honor of what would have been Paul’s 97th birthday, on June 9, 2012.

On June 8, Session I will take place at 10 a.m. PST and Session II at 2 p.m. PST. On June 9, Session III will take place at 10 a.m. PST and Session IV at 2 p.m. PST.

Gibson LP1 guitar amplifier/preamp controller

Les Paul’s efforts produced one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which went on to become one of the most widely played and recognized guitars in the world, the Gibson Les Paul. Paul helped to define the sound of the electric guitar, as well as the technology behind modern-day sound recording. Les Paul pioneered innovative techniques with sound-on-sound recording and commissioned the first 8-track tape recorder, which would become the core technology behind multitrack recording still used today. In 2005, Paul was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his achievements and in 2006, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Highlights of the auction include a late 1960s API recording/mixing console (estimated at $40,000 to $60,000), which is a 28×16 console believed to be one of the first few made with the configuration of 28 mic line input channels and 16 buses. It was originally a 20-channel mixer with an 8-channel side car added later, three 12-point patchbay main console and 144 patchbay on the side car. A 16-track Ampex MM1000 2-inch tape machine from the early 1970s (serial number 260), with custom VSO, AC cable and side block, re-built and in good condition, is estimated at $3,000 to $5,000. Plus, Les Paul’s touring rig, which is estimated at $5,000 to $7,000, and includes a Gibson LP1 guitar amplifier/preamp controller (serial number 1038)—a prototype designed by Les Paul featuring a Plexiglas panel on the front with “Les Paul” 2-channel amplifier with a Normal and Box switch, Crossover switch, and Vibrola switch.

1968 Prototype Gibson Les Paul Custom Recording Model

Other auction highlights include a 1968 Prototype Gibson Les Paul Custom Recording Model, whose estimated worth is $60,000 to $80,000; a 1951 Fender Nocaster serial number 1751 whose estimated worth is $40,000 to $60,000; a 1927 Gibson L-5 Sunburst Cremona, serial number 87230, whose estimated worth is $10,000 to $15,000; a 1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop whose estimated worth is $14,000 to $16,000; a Boss BCB-6 Pedal Effects In Case, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000; and a 1955 Steinway & Sons Grand Model B in Ebony, estimated at $20,000 to $30,000.

Registration is required to bid in this live auction and can be done either in person at the exhibitions and auction or by visiting JuliensLive.com before the sale, or by calling 310/836-1818.

For more information, and to register to bid, go to Julien’s Auctions Les Paul Estate Auction page.

Visit the Les Paul Foundation at www.lespaulfoundation.org.

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