Over 160 lots of musical equipment, memorabilia and personal property from the estate of Boston-area rock, blues and jazz musician J. Warren Geils Jr, founder of the Grammy-nominated J. Geils Band — will be featured in November Fine Musical Instruments auctions at Skinner.
Online bidding open November 13-20; Boston Live auction November 19. Auction and preview information at www.skinnerinc.com/auctions
Known for the band’s early 1980s chart-topping hits “Love Stinks,” “Freeze Frame,” and “Centerfold,” the J. Geils Band released eleven albums between 1970-1985 recorded under the Atlantic, EMI, America Rounder and Arbors labels.
The eclectic auction includes notable guitars:
D’Angelico Excel Archtop Guitar, 1940 (Lot 354, estimate $6,000-8,000)
Stromberg Master 400 Archtop guitar, circa 1940 (Lot 355, estimate $8,000-12,000)
Additional highlights:
Vega D-46 Duo-Tron Electric Guitar circa 1950 (Lot 1001)
J. Geils Band Centerfold Record Gold Sales Award, 1981 (Lot 1024)
Numerous Fender and Gibson amplifiers from the 1930s through the 1960s
Clothing includes a Nudie Suit, 1973, jacket, pants and two shirts (Lot 399, estimate $400-600)
Trumpets from a variety of makers (Lots 1080-1169) represent Geils’ early interest in the cornet and jazz trumpet.
A large complement of fine fretted bowed, and wind instruments are also on offer. Noteworthy highlights include:
Spanish Classical Guitar, Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1976, with case. (Lot 8, $20,000-30,000)
Italian Violoncello, Ascribed to Giuseppe Pedrazzini, 1920, with case. Certificate: William Moennig & Son, 1970. (Lot 17, $25,000-35,000)
German Violin, Sebastian Klotz, Mittenwald, 1771, with case. Certificate: Rembert Wurlitzer, Inc., 1972. (Lot 67, $12,000-15,000)
Vintage instruments from iconic American makers include:
Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Electric Guitar, 1952 (Lot 341, estimate $8,000-12,000)
Gibson Nick Lucas Special Acoustic Guitar, circa 1929 (Lot 334, estimate $5,500-6,500)
Gibson Style H-5 Mandola, 1924, serial no. 74871, signed by Lloyd Loar, with original case. This rarity is one of about twenty known examples. (Lot 327, estimate $35,000-55,000).
