“The McLaughlin Strat was stolen after Beck absentmindedly left it in an open-top hot rod”: The highlights of the Jeff Beck guitar auction – from the story of Seymour Duncan’s Tele-Gib hybrid to his legendary Oxblood Gibson Les Paul

A Gibson Les Paul rests against an old blue speaker cabinet stencilled with "Jeff Beck Group London" in this promo shot for Christie's auction of the late guitar hero's gear collection.

Most successful guitarists inevitably become guitar collectors, eventually amassing dozens or even hundreds of instruments during their careers.

Many famous and acclaimed guitarists have owned some of the world’s most impressive collections, such as legendary veterans Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and Pete Townshend, as well as relative newcomers like Joe Bonamassa and Slash, who acquired some of the rarest and most highly desirable vintage instruments.