The Gotta Have Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction Winter 2021

Lot #614:

Chuck Berry Owned Stage Used and Signed 1967 Gibson ES-345 Guitar

Chuck Berry’s owned and heavily played 1967 Gibson ES-345 Serial Number 000037. Berry owned, played and was photographed with a number of ES-345s. Most of his semi-solid guitars have been in cherry red or walnut finish. The classic image of Chuck Berry preforming the “duck-walk” across the stage with his cherry red Gibson has become of the most enduring images in rock and roll history. This guitar came out of Berry’s personal collection, and used for a private performance in Seattle April 13th, 2002. Berry then gave the guitar to business mogul Mike Malone, and Berry signed the guitar in black felt pen, adding a drawing beneath the signature. This guitar is accompanied by a copy of the William Morris Agency contract for Chuck Berry to perform at a private performance at the DMX Music, Seattle on April 13th 2002 where this guitar was used by Berry, signed by him and acquired by Mike Malone after the performance. Berry guitars never appear on the market, and there could only be a handful of Berry’s personal guitars that remain today. This could be your only opportunity to own a stage played guitar that also came from Berry’s personal guitar collection. The guitar comes with a full letter of provenance from Mike Malone and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.