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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(127,976 posts)
Wed Aug 6, 2025, 06:50 PM Aug 6

A former Rolling Stone says the Met has his stolen guitar. The museum disputes it

LONDON (AP) — It’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but it’s messy.

A guitar once played by two members of the Rolling Stones is at the center of a dispute between the band’s former guitarist Mick Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was donated to the Met as part of what the New York museum calls “a landmark gift of more than 500 of the finest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making.” The donor is Dirk Ziff, a billionaire investor and guitar collector.

When the Met announced the gift in May, Taylor thought he recognized the guitar, with its distinctive “starburst” finish, as an instrument he last saw in 1971, when the Stones were recording the album “Exile on Main St.” at Keith Richards’ rented villa in the south of France.

https://apnews.com/article/rolling-stones-mick-taylor-guitar-metropolitan-museum-15b4473352934c389a6299c40478f6b1

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A former Rolling Stone says the Met has his stolen guitar. The museum disputes it (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 6 OP
Guitars are made to be played, not gazed upon in a museum. Blues Heron Aug 6 #1
While I Agree... ProfessorGAC Aug 11 #2
True, but on the other hand violinists don't hesitate to wail away on million dollar Stradivarii! Blues Heron Aug 11 #3
Cool! ProfessorGAC Aug 11 #4
Happy 24th DU anniversary, Prof! True Dough Aug 11 #5
I'll Be Fine! :chuckle: ProfessorGAC Aug 11 #6

ProfessorGAC

(74,182 posts)
2. While I Agree...
Mon Aug 11, 2025, 04:15 PM
Aug 11

...the '59 sunburst LPs have gone insane in the collector market.
I saw one with my own eyes, that I would call decent condition, was $350,000 and sold in 8 days or less.
Norm's Guitars in Tarzana had one for $450k, and Gruhn in Nashville had an excellent condition specimen for $725,000! And it, too, is gone!
At these ridiculous values, I'm not sure I'd actually want to play it.
(I have 15 guitars. If I had to replace them all tomorrow, I'd spend $40-42k. For 15 guitars! Those I'm not afraid to play.)

Blues Heron

(7,378 posts)
3. True, but on the other hand violinists don't hesitate to wail away on million dollar Stradivarii!
Mon Aug 11, 2025, 04:30 PM
Aug 11

The most expensive guitar I ever played was a 30s arch top that was 30 grand back in 92, at least 100k in todays market. It was at a guitar show.

ProfessorGAC

(74,182 posts)
4. Cool!
Mon Aug 11, 2025, 04:58 PM
Aug 11

The room where I saw the 350k LP was a locked room & one couldn't go in there without a sales staff member.
I even had to take off my windbreaker because "No zippers".
I didn't play anything in that room. They had a D'Angelo from the early 60s ('61 or '62). Asking was $65,000. It did look to be in amazing condition, though.

ProfessorGAC

(74,182 posts)
6. I'll Be Fine! :chuckle:
Mon Aug 11, 2025, 05:55 PM
Aug 11

Now that you've reminded me, I haven't played piano yet today. Guitar, yes. Piano, no.

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