Guitar enthusiasts are in for a treat as part of guitarist Olly Alcock’s iconic collection of guitars heads to auction with 1818 Auctioneers. 1818 Auctioneers is an auction house on the Cumbria/Lancashire border in its third century of auctioneering.
Born in Huddersfield but moving to Cumbria at 4, Alcock’s musical journey has been notable. Initially influenced by renowned artists such as Eric Clapton and John Mayall, Alcock’s career began in 1967 with the Burgundy Blues Band. That started a remarkable career, which included bands like The Deltas, England (with John Waite) and The Olly Alcock Band.
1818 Auctioneers had previous success with one of England’s vinyl records, the self-titled England. The vendor bought it in 1976, and the band signed it during a Kendal performance at Abbot Hall. It sold for £650.
Now, the auction house has included eight guitars from Olly’s personal collection in its latest Musical Instruments and HiFi catalogue, including vintage classics and a distinctive double-neck Japanese guitar.
Seven of the guitars are Hofner, known for their distinctive sound and craftsmanship.
Olly comments: “Hofner was a great place to start my guitar collection as a teen when I couldn’t afford Gibsons! They are beautifully made with a bit of class, and even though they are right-handed and I can’t play them, they have been road-tested by auctioneer Kev Kendal, who is also a musician. The sound quality is really good.”
Auctioneer Kev Kendal oversees the cataloguing of the Musical Instruments and Equipment auctions at the auction house:
“Items with a strong connection to Cumbria always attract significant interest. Add to that Olly’s reputation not only as a guitarist but also as the writer of over 500 songs, and we’re looking forward to a busy bidding session.
“These guitars are vintage examples from the 50s, 60s and 70s. My favourite is the Hofner President (lot number 857), but the double-necked Japanese guitar has an incredible prog rock vibe that takes us back to the 1970s.”
Bids are already open online, and anticipation is high for the auction, where Alcock’s guitars are expected to fetch between £2-3k collectively. For those keen on owning a piece of musical history, the opportunity awaits at 1818 Auctioneers. The catalogue is online until May 26th 2024.
For more information on Olly Alcock’s guitar collection and to participate in the auction, click here.