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Elvis Presley’s Hagstrom Electric Guitar to Headline Rock & Pop Sale at Sotheby’s

The “King of Rock and Roll” played the cherry-red instrument during his historic 1968 Comeback Special

By Alexandria Sillo
Red semi-hollow electric guitar with gold hardware, dual pickups, black pickguard, and sound holes on a white background.
Elvis Presley's Hagstrom electric guitar. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's

This week, Sotheby’s will open bidding for its Rock & Pop Sale featuring two guitars that were once played by musical legends Elvis Presley and Noel Gallagher. Presley’s cherry-red Hagstrom guitar, which he played during his historic 1968 Singer Presents… Elvis, also known as the Comeback Special, is expected to fetch between $1-2 million.

Red electric guitar in an open hard case, showcasing its glossy finish and intricate design details.
Elvis Presley’s Hagstrom electric guitar. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Acoustic guitar with a natural wood finish, red pickguard, intricate inlays, and signature on the body.
Noel Gallagher’s Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

During the special programming, Presley played “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Trouble,” and “Guitar Man,” and was photographed with the Hagstrom on the cover of his 1969 album From Elvis in Memphis, according to Sotheby’s. Meanwhile, Gallagher’s signed Epiphone EJ-200 acoustic guitar, from Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? sessions, has a presale estimate of between $60,000-80,000. The sale will also include Gallagher’s handwritten manuscript for “Don’t Look Back in Anger.”

“It’s a rare moment in music history to see instruments of such monumental significance come together in one sale,” says Craig Inciardi, Sotheby’s Vice President, Specialist, Popular Music, Popular Culture. “Elvis Presley’s Hagstrom guitar and Noel Gallagher’s acoustic are cultural touchstones. Each tells a story of its era, the artists who played them, and the generations of fans whose lives they shaped.”

Photo of a man and woman in a memorial book titled "In Memory Mother," with a small cross hanging from a zipper.
Elvis Presley’s personal Bible. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s
Vintage bass drum with colorful, retro decals and a worn drumhead, showcasing unique character and history.
Rare piece of Keith Moon’s iconic “Pictures of Lily” Drum Kit. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

The first-of-its-kind sale will feature additional iconic rock artifacts, including Bruce Springsteen’s photomatched acoustic guitar that he used to write “Born to Run,” and David Bowie’s handwritten lyrics for “The Jean Genie.” While bidding opens on April 9, an exhibition featuring the select items will go on view at Sotheby’s Breuer building in New York beginning April 13.