Les Paul Auction Bags Nearly $5m For Foundation

Top item is a Fender No-Caster signed by Leo Fender   12-Jun-12

An auction to raise money for the Les Paul Foundation brought in close to $5m in Los Angeles over the weekend. The biggest item was a 1951 Fender No-Caster which saw a high bid of $216,000, and the prototype of a Gibson Les Paul recording model designed by the guitarist sold for $180,000.

The items up for auction were guitars and items owned by Les Paul, who passed away on August 13, 2009, aged 94. The Les Paul Foundation was founded by the late guitarist in support of music education, engineering, innovation, and medical research.

Also in the sale was a 1968 prototype Gibson Les Paul Custom, 1940s Epiphone Zephyr and a Les Paul 80th birthday model.

Other guitars and items in the auction include some of his research notes, a microphone, and a sign from the Iridium Club where he played regularly.

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