Guitar Collectors Are Anxious

^{The heavy-weight guitar collectors are beefed up for a bidding war in September. Eddie Van Halen’s touring guitar from 1982-1983 is going up for auction. The original “Frankenstein” was made from various guitar parts, but this was built by Kramer in 1982. The headstock says, “#1 Edward Van Halen Model.” It has Eddie’s signature with a note to his guitar tech, Rudy Leiren, “Rude - Its been a great 10 years - Let’s do another ten.”}

^{Mick Mars of Motley Crue bought the iconic axe from Leiren and he used it on several studio cuts including the 1989 album “Dr Feelgood.” The guitar comes with a case that has a note from Mars that says, “ hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also it’s a great piece of history.” It is expected to bring between $2-3 million.}

^{We love these stories. The excitement and media that surrounds guitars like this has an aura effect on the guitar community.}

^{You can see some historic guitars at The KC Guitar Show at Ward Parkway on Oct 11-12. Two significant collections will be there. Steve Scorfina, one of the founders of REO Speedwagon and future Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer will be there to offer some of his oversized collection. You can also see and buy from Hal Hammer. He has an amazing collection that includes the Mosley Gospel. It has been seen on Pawn Stars and is appraised at $130,000. I have held this guitar and enjoyed the story behind it.}

Collector's Guitar

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Early 2000's Heliarc B52 Alonzo Beardshear

Heliarc means welded aluminum. Originally seen at the NAMM show, this rare guitar has been a journey. The owner, Alonzo Beardshear was attracted to the shiny looks and patterns in the guitar body, but also felt an attraction to the B52 reference to the WWII airplane.

2000 Heliarc B52

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Trademark Guitars

^{A few guitars became so famous they are the trademark of the player.}

^{This seems like a timely observation with the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne. When Ozzy picked Zakk Wyld to be in the band, Zakk turned a 1981 Les Paul Custom into an icon by painting black concentric circles on it. He always said it was supposed to look like the poster from the Alfred Hitchcock film “Vertigo,” but it came out looking like a bulls-eye.}

^{Another obvious trademark guitar was Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstein.}

^{The “parts” guitar with crossing lines was so iconic, it is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.}

^{To throw down a power chord on the idea of the Trademark Guitar,}

^{just say the word “Lucille” and you will think “BB King.” You can’t help it.}

^{We found a rare “Lucille” that Gibson produced for BB King’s 80th birthday. Only 80 were made.}

BB King's 80th Birthday Lucille

^{Watch this episode of Every Guitar Has A Story.}