Guitar Prices Hit High Notes at Auction
Bids soared to $450,000 for sought-after vintage and rare guitars in Webb’s online auction — sparking a new auction series as demand continues to grow among both collectors and sellers.
Lot 56, Gibson Les Paul.
Price Realised: $54,970
Webb’s Auction House has struck a chord with collectors across the country and beyond, following an auction on Tuesday 1 July, 2025 that saw vintage guitars sell well beyond expectations — with multiple instruments fetching five-figure sums and setting new benchmarks for music instruments in the local market.
Off the back of this success, a new auction series is being launched to meet growing demand from both buyers and sellers; taking place from December 2025 till January 2026.
“These guitars aren’t just tools for making music, they’re pieces of cultural history. To own a guitar like the ES 345TD or a classic Les Paul is to own a link to the audio narratives of yesteryear, to the musicians that were blending African American rhythms with European ones and inventing sounds that have come to define generations. They're masterfully built, steeped in legacy, and increasingly rare.”
— Leah Morris, Head of Decorative Arts at Webb’s.
Part of The Estate, Webb’s popular fortnightly auction series, this July edition featured a remarkable collection of nearly 40 guitars, including electric, acoustic, bass, and custom-built models from some of the world's most renowned brands.
The result was an electric pre-auction atmosphere and intense online bidding, with several instruments surpassing their lowest estimates by over 2,500%.
Among the standout moments was the sale of two Gibson vintage guitars: a black Les Paul with a serial number indicating a possible 1954 manufacture and a goldtop likely to be another vintage Les Paul. These rare instruments achieved a staggering $54,970 each. Likewise a 1969 Gibson ES-345TD followed closely at $52,580. These sales — even without documented celebrity musician provenance — confirm the exceptional demand for historically significant and impeccably crafted and maintained instruments, especially from Gibson’s golden era (late 1940s to mid 1960s).
The Gibson guitar brand began in the 1890s in Kalamazoo, Michigan but later moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Their early vintages have become hot commodity due in part to their historical significance, with those early instruments requiring significant, custom, hand made parts and excellent craftsmanship.
The Gibson ES-345TD and ES-335 models are considered icons of the semi-hollow body style, blending rich tone with the versatility to cross genres from blues and jazz to rock and soul. Introduced in the late 1950s, these guitars were famously played by legends such as B.B. King, Chuck Berry, and Eric Clapton, with modern artists like Dave Grohl continuing the legacy. Their vintage appeal, especially in excellent condition, makes them highly sought after in the global collector and player markets.
The Les Paul, meanwhile, is synonymous with electric guitar innovation and is cherished for its weighty sustain, beautiful finishes, and role in shaping the sounds of Jimmy Page, Slash, and countless others. That such a model achieved nearly $55,000 in New Zealand reflects the growing confidence among local collectors and musicians in investing in heritage musical instruments.
Also notable within this sale were two Gibson Byrdland guitars — slimline hollow-body models developed with jazz legends Billy Byrd and Hank Garland — which captured attention with their distinct short scale and ornate appointments. These rarely appear at auction, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.
“This was a single-owner collection, which is something Webb’s specialises in across all our departments. We take great pride in handling these objects with absolute discretion, care, and commitment, ensuring every piece is presented with the respect it deserves and reaches the right audience”, said Morris. “It’s a privilege to steward someone’s legacy and share it with collectors who value both the story and the object. It was also a real pleasure to welcome guitar enthusiasts into the gallery. Hundreds of people came through to see the collection, play the guitars, and share their own stories. Many of those visitors went on to bid, and a lucky few secured a piece of music history to call their own.”
Outstanding Results Achieved
Lot 56. Gibson Les Paul
EST. $2,000—$4,000
price realised $54,970
Lot 57. Gibson Guitar
EST. $3,000—$5,000
price realised $54,970
Lot 19. Gibson ES-345TD
EST. $5,000—$10,000
price realised $52,580
Lot 26. Gibson Byrdland Guitar
EST. $5,000—$10,000
price realised $20,315
Lot 25. Gibson ES-355 Guitar
EST. $5,000—$10,000
price realised $19,120
Lot 76. Gibson Guitar A25415
EST. $5,000—$10,000
price realised $19,120
Lot 94. Gibson ES-355
EST. $1,200—$2,200
price realised $17,925
Lot 21. Gibson ES-335 Guitar
EST. $5,000—$10,000
price realised $16,730
Lot 103. Fender Bass Guitar
EST. $1,000—$2,000
price realised $16,730
Musical Instruments and Pop Culture
Online Auction
19.12.25—19.01.26
Entries Close
Thursday 11 December
Contact
Leah Morris | Head of Decorative Arts
leah@webbs.co.nz | +64 22 574 5699