Mike Oldfield - owned and used late 1960s/early 1970s Gibson...

Hammer

£12,500

Mike Oldfield - owned and used late 1960s/early 1970s Gibson EBS-1250 double neck bass/electric guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 90448; Body: walnut finish, heavy checking, dings and blemishes around; Necks: mahogany, both with lacquer checking; Fretboards: rosewood; Frets: mild wear and tarnishing; Electrics: working, aside from bass neck position pickup; Hardware: generally good, central selector switch appears to be a replacement; Case: original hard case; Weight: 5.20kg; Overall condition: good

* Purchased by the vendor in October 1994 from a friend of Mike Oldfield who was storing it in his barn.
It was offered by Mike's personal assistant, Jeremy Parker, who told the vendor where to collect it. The guitar is sold with a later statement of provenance (circa 2011) from Tom Newman confirming the ownership which shows a picture of Mike Oldfield holding it in the studio. The document also confirms that the guitar was used in the Platinum and QE2 period, also appearing on the Essential Knebworth Concert and Wonderful Land videos

The letter, with matching serial number, states that the guitar is a 1962 EBSF-1250, however the spec of the guitar suggests a later build date and that the serial number was most likely a factory misprint and should have been a six digit serial starting with a 9, as later 1960s instruments of this nature were (see ex lot 188, 11th September 2018, Gardiner Houlgate)

Richard Barrie, who still has access to Oldfield's equipment database, has stated that the guitar was in Mike Oldfield's collection when he started working for him around 1979

The specification of this guitar, including the nickel head Kluson Deluxe tuners and the bass head tuners, suggest that this guitar was likely made in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The only way to confirm the exact date would be to take a potentiometer reading, however the guitar is completely original internally with the original solder sitting over the date stamps