Arteconciencias: George Harrison’s Gibson 1958 “ransom” Les Paul – used to rescue his stolen '57 Lucy model

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September 2, 2022

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Editor's Note

A 1958 Les Paul comes to the rescue...

Here at Guitar World, we write about a lot of guitar auctions. Some of these instruments have more interesting backstories than others, but this one? This is probably the most colorful origin story we've ever seen for a guitar auction.

Way back in 1973, thieves broke into George Harrison's Beverly Hills home. Among the stolen items was Lucy, the Beatle's beloved 1957 Les Paul.

Don't worry, he did get it back eventually, but – to guarantee its safe return – Harrison needed another gorgeous, golden-age Les Paul first. That's where this '58 Les Paul Standard entered the picture.

Lucy, you see, had almost immediately been legally purchased from a Sunset Boulevard music store by another guitarist (one Miguel Ochoa) who – upon being contacted by Harrison – quickly realized that Lucy was no ordinary guitar. Rather than taking Harrison's initial offer of simple reimbursement, he eventually talked Harrison into buying him a '58 Les Paul and a Fender Precision bass in exchange for Lucy. Not a bad return on the investment, eh?

Jackson Maxwell – Associate Editor, guitarworld.com

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