A woman aiming to sell an electric guitar for a children’s hospital fundraiser has unexpectedly helped a former Guns N’ Roses member reclaim a rare prototype guitar he thought was lost forever. The episode recently aired on Pawn Stars, featuring seller Gabby, who initially sought $5,000 for her black, striped Gibson Les Paul. However, she soon discovered its unique backstory made it worth four times that amount.
In 2014, guitarist DJ Ashba, known for his work with Guns N’ Roses and Sixx.M., collaborated with Gibson on a signature model Les Paul. The first prototype, heavily used during performances, went missing and resurfaced at a renowned second-hand store a decade later.
Gabby and her boyfriend received the guitar as a donation, lacking any documentation or history to assist with their fundraising efforts. Unaware of its significant value, Gabby was in for a surprise.
“I’m so excited to see which guitar it’s gonna be,” Ashba expressed before entering the store. “I’m praying to God it’s the one I’m hoping for because I lost one years ago that meant the world to me.”
Upon seeing the guitar, Ashba quickly recognized it. “I can recognize this guitar a mile away,” he exclaimed after meeting Gabby and show host Rick Harrison. “This right here is the Holy Grail. There’s only one of these made in the world.”
Ashba explained, “This was the prototype of my signature Gibson. Once we locked in on this design, Gibson only made 100 of them. I actually played it on some records with Sixx.M. and a lot with Guns N’ Roses. I abused it. There’s even still probably beer stains and stuff on it.”
While Ashba’s signature model retains the traditional Les Paul appearance, its electronics reveal distinct modifications. “When I joined Guns N’ Roses, playing a Les Paul was right for the band’s sound, but I could never get used to the two volume knobs,” Ashba noted, explaining his previous experience with an Ernie Ball Music Man Axis guitar. He had Gibson remove one volume knob, resulting in a setup of one volume and two tone controls.
Additionally, a kill switch was cleverly disguised as the original three-way pickup switch to preserve the guitar’s aesthetic, while the pickup switch was relocated beside the control knobs. Ashba’s name is also inscribed on the truss-rod cover, confirming it as a prototype.
“This is a really special guitar; I would love to have it back,” Ashba remarked.
Harrison offered Gabby an impressive $20,000 for the guitar and later negotiated its return with Ashba off-screen. This reunion adds to the intriguing stories of lost and found guitars, though it may not surpass the tale of John Lennon’s Framus 12-string acoustic, which sold for $2,857,000 at auction after being discovered in an attic, having not been played for 50 years despite its crucial role in The Beatles’ Help! album and film.
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