Legendary singer-songwriter parting with 1969 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar played at Woodstock in 1969
For more than 60 years, Graham Nash was the voice of a generation. Through collaborations with the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, Nash & Young became a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, however, few know of his passion for the historic collection of guitars he amassed over the years.
On July 20th, Heritage Auctions will present a group of 19 guitars from Nash’s important collection at auction for the first time, including the iconic 1969 Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar, which he played at Woodstock.
“I’ve always collected only what touches me,” Nash states. “It’s like being close to the fire. I like holding Duane Allman’s guitar. I like holding Don Everly’s guitar. It’s been played on all these incredible records and you can feel it.”
“I don’t collect just any type of guitars.”
Johnny Cash. Stephen Stills. Charlie Gracie. Buddy Holly. Bo Diddley. All live on in Nash’s collection and each guitar has a tale to tell.
- The 1969 Martin D-45 acoustic guitar Nash played at Woodstock in 1969, offered the year of the festival’s 50th anniversary. Nash paid for the guitar using some of the advance Crosby, Stills, and Nash received from their first recording contract with Atlantic Records. “I felt so great when I could afford to buy this,” Nash said. ($75,000 opening bid).
- Duane Allman’s Circa 1961/1962 Gibson SG. This is best known as the guitar Allman played on the live recording of “Statesboro Blues,” the opening track of At Fillmore East. This was the first guitar Graham purchased when he began his collection of other guitarists’ guitars ($125,000 opening bid).
- Nash’s Own 1960 Fender Esquire Custom Sunburst Solid Body Electric Guitar. The exact guitar played at the very last performance of Crosby, Stills, and Nash ($15,000 opening bid).
- Stephen Stills’ 1964 Gibson Firebird Sunburst Solid Body Electric Guitar, gifted from Stills to Graham. Stills wanted some early Stratocasters that Graham owned and the Firebird was included in a trade ($30,000 opening bid).
- Johnny Cash’s 1937 Martin 000-28 Natural Acoustic Guitar. From Graham’s personal collection, this guitar belonged to the Man in Black. ($25,000 opening bid), and Johnny Cash’s 1934 Martin 0-17 Mahogany Acoustic Guitar ($20,000 opening bid).
- The 1961 Guild X350-B Natural Hollow Body Electric Guitar played by Charlie Gracie, a major rock ‘n’ roll influence on a young Graham Nash. “Charlie Gracie was one of the founders of American rock ‘n’ roll,” Nash said.
- From Graham Nash’s personal collection, the Buddy Holly/Everly Brothers 1951 Gibson J-185 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar, was passed around and played on the tour bus on the second-to-last tour that Buddy Holly did before his passing ($17,500 opening bid).
The collection also includes:
- Stephen Stills 1960 Gretsch 6120 Orange Hollow-Body Electric Guitar
- Nash’s Own 1954 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst Solid Body Electric Guitar
- The 1963 Gibson J-180 Black Acoustic Guitar formerly owned by Don Everly of The Everly Brothers, and much more.
Heritage Auctions’ presentation of The Graham Nash Collection takes place July 20-21st during the firm’s Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Auction. Live auction bidding is available from the house’s Dallas showroom with worldwide, real-time bidding available via HA.com.
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Hong Kong.
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