'Rare' multi-neck guitars fail to sell at auction

Three "very rare" multi-neck guitars have failed to sell at a specialist guitar auction in Wiltshire.

The two five-neck guitars and one six-neck guitar, known as "The Beast", failed to find a buyer in the sale, despite numerous other lots being purchased.

The auction, run by Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, saw more than 460 lots up for sale on the first day, including guitars formerly owned by Jeff Beck, Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks.

Also on offer were a number of smaller items including a telephone signed by Kate Bush and a Michael Jackson tour programmes.

Among the biggest sellers of the day were a prototype Ibanez guitar owned by Beck and a 1959 Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster guitar, both of which sold for more than £12,000.

The telephone that was autographed by Bush sold for £240, while a Squier Adeson Strat prototype electric guitar previously used by Brian May sold for £380, well within its pre-auction estimate.

Lots associated with Status Quo and the Stranglers also found new homes, but "The Beast" failed to sell, despite connections with the comedian Bill Bailey and the spoof rock band Spinal Tap.

The item, created by the guitar designer Gary Hutchins, faired no better than its two lesser-necked counterparts from the same designer, which also failed to sell.

The sale runs for a further three days, with further lots up for auction until the close on Friday.

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