News

Rory Gallagher’s Iconic 1965 Airline Guitar Sells for $25,000 at Auction

Post by Pete Williams

Oct 17 2024

Known for his electrifying live performances, the Irish musician and songwriter Rory Gallagher (1948-1995) was an inspiration to his fans and musicians alike and is considered one of the most esteemed guitarists of all time.

Rory Gallagher: An Airline 'J.B. Hutto' Style Electric Guitar, 1965

Res-O-Glas angular-shaped body with red finish, two pickups, five control knobs and three-way selector, ebony bridge, plate tailpiece, bound neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with block markers, nylon nut, Fender-style headstock with Kluson Deluxe tuners, in original plush-lined, rectangular hardshell case with BA flight label,CITES license 24GBA10YWSUYD. Rory's Airline guitar sold for Airline sold for £19,200 or $25,000 USD. Details

Rory acquired this guitar in London in the 1980s, and used it mainly for slide work, long before Jack White of the White Stripes popularized the model in more recent years. Rory can be seen with it onstage at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1985, performing 'I Wonder Who'.

More about the auction here:
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/30318/lot/43/rory-gallagher-an-airline-jb-hutto-style-electric-guitar-1965-guitar-41in-104cm-long/

Literature

Paul Fenton, The Origins Of Blues, https://www.paulfenton.com/?page_id=62

Live Performance

Airline Guitars:

From 1958 to 1968 Airline was a store brand of consumer electronics and musical instruments originally sold by Montgomery Ward in Chicago. The original Airline guitar was the guitar of choice for many blues players of the time, including J.B. Hutto (1926-1983), after whom this model is named. More recently, musicians such as Jack White and P.J. Harvey has made this model well-known in the rock world.

Airline Guitars Today:

In October 2024, the "Airline" trade name was acquired by a family-owned business based in Chicago, Illinois. Specializing in retro-styled electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects pedals, and accessories, the new owners are committed to honoring the brand's legacy while introducing innovations that blend classic American design with modern functionality. With this transition, Airline Guitars returns to its Chicago roots, now operating independently from the Eastwood brand family.