The items are from Harris’ personal collection, and all were previously owned by Petty, including the iconic top hat he wore with the Travelling Wilburys and several jackets worn onstage during tours in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The auction is slated for July 21 in Dallas, Texas via Heritage Auctions, and many eyes are fixed upon the cherry red ‘65 Gibson SG, projected to sell for a whopping $300,000. The guitar was originally bought from Harris by Petty, becoming a mainstay in the guitarist’s repertoire for decades before being traded back for a Rose Morris Rickenbacker. It is perhaps most recognisable from the celebrated True Confessions tour where the Heartbreakers supported Bob Dylan during 1987, and is topped off by a signature reading ‘Tom Petty ‘88’.
A white ‘63 Gibson SG Junior is also for sale, played by Petty in rehearsal for his 2012 world tour. It is signed but undated, currently thought to sell for less than the ’65 SG. The guitars are the first instruments owned by Petty to be sold at auction since the singer-songwriter passed away last year.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to two of Petty’s favourite charities: The Midnight Mission, a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles, and the Tazzie Animal Rescue Fund.
Check out the lot at the Heritage Auctions Site for more information
