Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Christie's to Auction 1941 Martin D-28, Doc Watson's "Ol' Hoss,' Dopyera Collection, and More

The auction is set for November 27 in New York, NY.

New York, NY (November 10, 2012) -- Christie's has announced the details of their latest musical instruments auction, featuring vintage and rare acoustics. It is set to take place on November 27. Here are the highlights of the auction from the official press release:

Christie's is pleased to announce the sale of Fine Musical Instruments on November 27. The extensive sale will offer over 215 instruments ranging from a violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, to a D-28 guitar by C.F. Martin and Company, and to more contemporary guitars, including ten guitars from the Dopyera Collection.

Commencing the auction, the sale offers a fine classical guitar from German born maker Hermann Hauser Sr., Reisbach, 1949, (illustrated on page 1, estimate: $80,000-120,000); an Argentine classical guitar by Antonio Emilio Pascual Viudes, Buenos Aires, 1924 (estimate: $10,000-15,000); a Spanish classical guitar by José Ramirez, Madrid, 1905 (estimate: $5,000-8,000); and a Spanish classical guitar by Manuel De La Chica, Granada, 1966 (estimate: $5,000-8,000).

For the fretted guitar collector, the sale features a selection of over 30 American guitars from recognized makers such as Gallagher Guitar Co. and their G-50 guitar, the ex-Doc Watson known as ‘Ol’ Hoss’, Wartrace, TN, 1968, (illustrated left, estimate: $6,000-8,000). This guitar was owned and used by eight time Grammy award winner Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson for the seminal recording sessions for the 1972 LP Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Born in Deep Gap, North Carolina in 1923, Watson developed a heightened sense of hearing due to his blindness at infancy. He became adept in many instruments and performed a multitude of musical genres from ragtime, bluegrass, gospel, rock and roll, popular song, and country music. In his sixty years as a performer, Watson indelibly influenced generations of flat-picking and finger-picking guitarists. In 1975, the guitar was placed with the Country Music Hall of Fame where it resided on exhibition until recently.

The sale also features ten guitars from the Dopyera Collection with estimates ranging from $200 to $7,000. The resophonic guitar, also referred to as Nationals or Dobros, short for Dopyera Brothers was created by the Dopyera family in 1925. They developed a new type of guitar with substantially more volume, such as the Resonator Guitar, Model 175 Deluxe Special, circa 1932-34 (illustrated right, estimate: $7,000-9,000) allowing it to compete with other modern day instruments. The distinctive sound of these instruments is loud and crisp, making it a favorite in Bluegrass, Hawaiian, Gospel, Blues, Ragtime and Jazz.

Additional highlights include a Gibson archtop guitar, L-5, Kalamazoo, Michigan, circa 1928-29 (estimate: $10,000-15,000); a D-28 guitar with its original case by C.F. Martin and Company, Nazareth, PA., 1941 (estimate: $35,000-55,000); and Fender’s electric guitar, Stratocaster, Fullerton, CA, 1957, being sold with a 1957 Fender Deluxe electric guitar amplifier (estimate: $14,000-26,000).

For more information:
Christie's