Pete Townshend - 1971 C.F Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, made ...

Estimate

£35,000 - £45,000

Pete Townshend - 1971 C.F Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 281698; Body: three piece rosewood back and sides, a few minor dings but generally very good; Top: natural spruce, a few minor dings and light play wear; Neck: mahogany, minor marks; Fretboard: ebony; Frets: good, minor indent wear; Case: period hard case; Overall condition: good

*Purchased by the vendor from Andy's Guitars, Denmark Street, London W1 in 1996, offered as an ex-Pete Townshend guitar, supplied with a letter of authenticity from former The Who production manager John Wolff. The letter states that the guitar was purchased whilst he and Pete Townshend were in Manny's of New York. John also states that "Pete used it to write some songs during the tour", although could not recall which ones. Within the case is a luggage tag with John Wolff's name and hotel address inscribed

Photographs show Pete Townshend holding a 'new' Martin D35, taken in August 1971, by photographer Chris Morphet. One of the images appearing as the cover shot of a Record Collector magazine

Interestingly, David Gilmour's beloved 1969 Martin D-35, used to write many Pink Floyd hits including the iconic 'Wish You Were Here', was purchased outside Manny's of New York during the same period. The story recounted previously in Premier Guitar states - “At that time, there was as much business happening on the sidewalks of Manhattan’s 48th street, where Manny’s was located, as there was going on in the stores lining the block. Gilmour was approached on the street by a musician who was hawking a Martin D-35. Gilmour took a look inside the case, played the guitar a bit, and bought it on the spot.” Gilmour's D-35 went on to bring $1,095,000 at auction in 2019, setting a then world record for a Martin acoustic guitar