A 1965 Fender XII 12-string electric guitar once owned by Bob Dylan is headed to the auction block.
Put up for auction by Gotta Have Rock and Roll, the guitar was used by Dylan during the 1965 New York City recording sessions for Highway 61 Revisited and, subsequently, the early New York City sessions for Dylan's 1966 double-album, Blonde on Blonde.
This Fender XII is said to be one of “only a handful” of its kind, as it features a pearloid pickguard, instead of the tortoiseshell pickguard found on most XIIs.
Featuring an alder body, sunburst finish, amp-style knobs, and a rosewood fingerboard, the guitar comes with a letter of provenance from Dylan’s management – confirming that this was indeed the XII used in the early Blonde on Blonde sessions – and a certificate of authenticity from former Fender Artist Liason Jody Carver.
“I have inspected the 1965 Electric XII, serial no L72261, and can confirm (due to the unique wood grain figuring at the end of the fingerboard) that this was the instrument given to Bob Dylan by the Fender company," the letter from Carver reads.
“[This] is the one that can be seen on the Bob Dylan sessions in Columbia Studios attended by myself and my nephew Artie Martell in 1965."
Two other letters confirming the guitar's authenticity – one from George Gruhn and one from Clive Brown – are also included with the guitar, in addition to a Dylan-owned strap and the guitar's original touring case.
Bidding for the Bob Dylan-owned 1965 Fender XII is open now, and starts at $215,000. The guitar is expected to sell for $350,000 – $500,000.
For more info on the guitar, stop by gottahaverockandroll.com.
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