T-Bone Walker's 1949 Gibson ES-5N

T-Bone Walker’s legendary Gibson ES-5N is widely acclaimed as one of the most valuable and historically important musical instruments in existence, due to its extreme rarity, documented provenance, historical significance, and unique 77 year journey, woven into the story of “The Guitar That Started It All.”

T-Bone’s ES-5 guitar was unequivocally crucial in his performances and helped define the sound of electric blues.

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Accompanying T-Bone over the course of almost 2 decades, his cherished 1949 Gibson ES-5N was one of only 22 built and marked a dramatic turning point in the development of the electric guitar and the history of music.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame and ranked as one of the top guitarists of all time, T-Bone Walker – the originator and King of Electric Blues and Jump Blues is also recognised – along with his friend Charlie Christian, as being the first lead guitarist(s) of the 20th century.

Widely acknowledged by many as the ultimate guitarist’s guitarist, T-Bone’s innovative playing style, techniques and licks, influenced countless musicians that followed him and played a significant role in the development of different genres of music from Jazz & Blues to Rock.

The incredible condition of the guitar, following its extensive usage over a period of 77 years and notable events - such as surviving a gunshot incident at the Charlotte Armory Auditorium, add unique provenance beyond compare.

Direct Influences - Connection to other legendary guitarists

What truly sets this breathtaking instrument apart from others, and gives it such a unique stature, is the direct influence of the guitar itself as well as alongside of its owner.

Jimmy Page & Keith Richards, who met for the very first time in 1962 - when they went to see T-Bone Walker playing his Gibson ES-5 guitar at the American Blues Festival in Manchester.

Jimi Hendrix, who learned to played his guitar behind his head and with his teeth, after watching T-Bone perform the very same antics on stage with his ES-5.

Chuck Berry – who picked up his first guitar and developed his famous duck walk, splits and other stage moves after watching T-Bone and his ES5.

Steve Miller – taught by T-Bone to play guitar at 9 years of age - using his ES-5.

BB King – who famously picked up a guitar for the first time after listening to T-Bone Walker playing Stormy Monday, and later bought his own ES-5 to more closely emulate his hero - later playing on stage in Monterey on his birthday - alongside T-Bone and his ES-5.

Eric Clapton – was massively influenced by T-Bone Walker and went on to record his own versions of Stormy Monday with The Eric Clapton Band & Cream.

Among the many other guitarists directly influenced by T-Bone Walker, were Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Greg Allman, Gary Moore and Bernie Marsden – also hugely influenced by T-Bone Walker and who like many others, bought himself an ES-5 to emulate his personal guitar hero.

Electric Blues! & The Guitar That Started It All

Few artists changed the course of music like T-Bone Walker, and the man and his guitar are immortalized alongside each other in countless recordings, books, films, documentaries and magazine articles.

The story of T-Bone Walker and his ES-5 were more recently consigned to history in a new book from the best-selling author and leading guitar historian Tony Bacon.

Electric Blues! & The Guitar That Started It All, tells the story of the true godfather of electric blues, the guitar that became part of his voice, and legacy - inspiring generations of artists and helping to shape rock and roll.

International Registry Vintage & Rare Stringed Instruments (IR-VARSI)

T-Bone Walker’s 1949 ES-5N has the honour of being the first instrument to be entered into the International Registry for Vintage & Rare Stringed Instruments.

The IR-VARSI is the global authority and single source of truth for establishing the authenticity, provenance & ownership of new, premium, vintage, and rare musical instruments.

Powered by Nikon Metrology, The Registry employs state-of-the-art industry leading technologies & methodologies, to create a unique image of the instrument and its associated digital signature - the instrument’s DNA.

The Registry legitimizes market value, provides transparency and reduces consumer risk by solving a multitude of problems relating to authentication, provenance, security, CITES risk and more.

Ownership of this guitar is equivalent to holding a tangible artifact of great importance to the history of music.