1964 Gibson SG Special - Ex Pete Townshend The Who Cherry

PETE TOWNSHEND - THE WHO
1964 GIBSON SG SPECIAL FOR SALE

This is a unique piece of rock history, namely a 1964 Gibson SG Special that was owned, used, smashed AND repaired by Pete Townshend of THE WHO from 1967-1972.

Most notably used with The Who in the Rolling Stones Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus film and believed to be a guitar used on The Who’s ‘Live At Leeds’ and ‘Tommy’.

Used by Pete in various states of repair and fully authenticated with a personally written and handsigned letter from Pete Townshend on his personal letterhead. (picture of letter has Townshend’s address and the owner’s name missing for privacy).

The owner mentioned in the letter is a respected music producer, who as well as being a family friend also has a direct link to The Who professionally.

According to the letter from Pete, he repaired the guitar with Cascamite carpenter’s glue and left the guitar in his cellar. During a flood, the guitar bodies that were there survived, but the pickups and other parts were ruined and the ruined parts later featured in a “suitcase of old crap” that was as part of the ICA Who Exhibition in August 1978.

The guitar was later given away by Pete’s brother-in-law, Jon Astley, and subsequently had its hardware and electronics replaced.

While a 1964 model SG Special would normally feature a small pickguard, this guitar had a large (post-1966) pickguard added by Townshend from another guitar, clearly seen in the Rolling Stones film. The screw holes from the original small guard are visible underneath the current guard.

Until recently the guitar has prominently been on display in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Ohio, and it is also featured and well documented in the ‘Famous Frets’ book by Steve Clarke.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a unique piece of rock music history. The guitar is stable, plays and sounds superb and from the first chords of ‘The Seeker’ it is plainly evident that this guitar was a key part of Townshend’s sound during one of The Who’s classic writing and recording peak periods.

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