J. Geils Estate Up for Auction

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J. Geils

Over 160 lots of musical equipment, memorabilia and personal property from the estate of Boston-area rock, blues and jazz musician J. Warren Geils Jr., founder of the Grammy-nominated J. Geils Band, will be featured in the November Fine Musical Instruments auctions at Skinner.

Online bidding is open on November 13-20; the Boston live auction takes place November 19.

Auction and preview information can be seen here.

The J. Geils Band released 11 albums between 1970-1985, for the Atlantic, EMI, America Rounder and Arbors labels.

The auction includes notable guitars from Geils’ collection:

D’Angelico Excel Archtop Guitar, 1940 (Lot 354, estimate $6,000-8,000)

Stromberg Master 400 Archtop guitar, circa 1940 (Lot 355, estimate $8,000-12,000)

Additional highlights:

Vega D-46 Duo-Tron Electric Guitar circa 1950 (Lot 1001)

Geils Band Centerfold Record Gold Sales Award, 1981 (Lot 1024)

Numerous Fender and Gibson amplifiers from the 1930s through the 1960s

Clothing includes a Nudie Suit, 1973, jacket, pants and two shirts (Lot 399, estimate $400-600)

Trumpets from a variety of makers (Lots 1080-1169) represent Geils’ early interest in the cornet and jazz trumpet.

A large complement of fine fretted bowed, and wind instruments are also on offer. Noteworthy highlights include:

Spanish Classical Guitar, Ignacio Fleta, Barcelona, 1976, with case. (Lot 8, $20,000-30,000)

Italian Violoncello, Ascribed to Giuseppe Pedrazzini, 1920, with case. Certificate: William Moennig & Son, 1970. (Lot 17, $25,000-35,000)

German Violin, Sebastian Klotz, Mittenwald, 1771, with case. Certificate: Rembert Wurlitzer, Inc., 1972. (Lot 67, $12,000-15,000)

Vintage instruments from iconic American makers include:

Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Electric Guitar, 1952 (Lot 341, estimate $8,000-12,000)

Gibson Nick Lucas Special Acoustic Guitar, circa 1929 (Lot 334, estimate $5,500-6,500)

Gibson Style H-5 Mandola, 1924, serial no. 74871, signed by Lloyd Loar, with original case. This rarity is one of about twenty known examples. (Lot 327, estimate $35,000-55,000).

Watch the J. Geils Band perform “I Do”