GEORGE HARRISON´S GIBSON 1958 "RANSOM" LES PAUL - USED TO RESCUE HIS STOLES LUCY MODEL- GOES UP FOR AUCTION

George Harrison with "Lucy", 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Burst was used as a bargaining chip along with a Fender Precision Bass to ensure the safe return of the Beatles guitarist's prized single-cut, which was stolen in 1973.

George Harrison’s 1958 Gibson “ransom” Les Paul – the same electric guitar that was used to rescue his cherished ‘57 Lucy model after it was stolen in 1973 – has hit the auction block.

We see our fair share of guitar auction stories here at Guitar World, but this one carries one of the most remarkable backstories of them all – one that involves theft, negotiations, international exchanges and the return of one of the most coveted Les Pauls in history.

 

Lucy’s story really began in the early ‘60s – once it passed through the hands of John Sebastian and Rick Derringer, the six-string was then gifted to Harrison by Eric Clapton in 1968, after Slowhand purchased it from Dan Armstrong’s guitar shop in New York.

Originally a Goldtop, the guitar had been refinished with a unique red colorway, and became one of Harrison‘s go-to instruments for the remainder of his time with the Beatles.

Alas, the guitar was one of a number of items that were subsequently stolen from Harrison’s Beverly Hills home in 1973, and not long after was sold to Whalin’s Sound City Music Store on Sunset Boulevard.

Before Harrison could reclaim Lucy, however, the ‘57 Les Paul was sold to a musician from Mexico called Miguel Ochoa, who took the guitar back to his home country with him.

 

 

 

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