Keef's favored acoustic for the 1995 Stripped shows is on sale, complete with bullet holes
(Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
Keith Richards’ 1952 Gibson SJ Southern Jumbo acoustic - an instrument the guitarist reportedly shot in a fit of rage - is going under the hammer later today via GottaHaveRockAndRoll.com.
The story of the bullet holes dates back to an occasion on the band’s 1995 tour that Richards’ found Ronnie Wood jamming on the instrument.
“Richards asked where Wood got the guitar from, and Wood said he borrowed it from Mick Jagger,” reads the listing statement. “Richards was so mad that they took his guitar that he grabbed it, sandwiched it between two pillows, took out a gun and shot it. The guitar not only still has the hole, but also has remnants from one of the foam pillows used to silence it.”
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(Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
(Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
A close-up of the entry bullet hole(Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
The bullet exit hole (Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
Wear around the sound hole(Image credit: GottaHaveRockAndRoll LLC)
Images from the auction illustrate the bullet holes in the front and back of the instrument, as well as wear around the upper side of the soundhole.
The vintage acoustic in sunburst finish is reported to have been used during The Rolling Stones’ 1995 gigs (in particular, the small club shows that fed into that year’s Stripped album).
The instrument had a special place during the set of the Stripped shows as it was Richards’ favored guitar for the track Shine A Light – a song that had been released on Exile On Main Street but never performed live before that tour.
The listing includes a book of images, measurements, and unique markings used to identify the instrument and prove its provenance.
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That said, Richards' old Gibson nonetheless represents a pretty unique opportunity. As the auction page notes: “Fair condition; body has a bullet-hole, guitar is still playable.”
The auction will open at 9am ET on August 8, 2021. Head to GottaHaveRockAndRoll.com for more information.
Matt is Features Editor for GuitarWorld.com. Before that he spent 10 years as a freelance music journalist, interviewing artists for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.
