The Collection of Legendary Rock Icon Ronnie Montrose Offered at Charity Auction
Legendary rock icon Ronnie Montrose has been called the “Father of American Hard Rock,” an
innovator and an incendiary guitar genius. For the first time fans of Ronnie Montrose will have
the opportunity to bid on a vast array of instruments, personal items and
memorabilia from the late genius’ musical life which will benefit the Sweet
Relief Musicians Fund.
Ronnie Montrose created the iconic guitar riff for the classic song “Wild
Nights” during his time with Van Morrison. In the Edgar Winter group he left
even a bigger mark with his catch heavy-handed riffs on songs like “Free Ride”
and “Frankenstein.” It was his self-titled release MONTROSE that would become
his iconic moment and a cornerstone of American hard rock. This release in 1973
gave fans such classics as “Rock Candy,” “Space Station #5” and “Rock the
Nation.” It laid the ground work and became the template for bands like Van
Halen and countless others. His musical journey led him to the creation of
GAMMA where he crafted songs like “Voyager,” “Thunder and Lightning” and “Ready
for Action.” Known for always reinventing himself through his own
self-inflicted creative challenges he ventured through a brief instrumental
period and brought the world “Open Fire” and “Town without Pity.”
“Ronnie was a force of nature and in his time here on this earth, he followed
his own true north, making the music that came from his heart and inspired
millions. He was never afraid to step off the beaten path, and take the
direction that his instinct told him to follow,” said his wife Leighsa
Montrose. “He fully understood his gifts, and constantly pushed himself to
evolve, improve, and make better music. He did this for himself, and he did this
for you because he adored and appreciated his fans. I can only hope that you
will choose to celebrate Ronnie’s life, and what his music meant to you, rather
than mourn his passing. Ronnie would have wanted it that way. He loved being
a guitarist, a composer, a producer, and a creator of magic. Please keep his
energy, his joy, and his love in your hearts.”
Highlights of the Montrose Collection at Julien’s Auctions’ upcoming Icons &
Idols: Rock n’ Roll event include an extraordinary array of Ronnie Montrose’s
personal guitars, played on stage and part of his unprecedented place in rock
history. It also includes personal items, stage and studio equipment and
memorabilia.
Luthier CJ Hutchins describes Ronnie Montrose’s 1997 Baker B2 “The Beast” guitar
which is offered in the auction as “a very special guitar.” Hutchins tells the
story of how for years Montrose’s sound was produced by a Gibson Les Paul that
sadly was stolen off stage. Since Ronnie was more comfortable with a 25.5 scale
length and a 17/8” nut width, he pretty much quit playing Gibson Les Pauls and
Gene Baker made him “The Beast” to bring back the power into Ronnie’s arsenal.
He added that “this was the go to guitar for a Les Paul that’s more Les Paul
than a Les Paul.” (Estimate: $5,500-$6.500)
“Flat Top Red – If ever there was a man’s alter ego, Flat Top Red was it! If I
had a dollar for everytime I heard the opening riff from “Rock Candy” played on
a stage somewhere in the world, well, you get the idea,” said Ronnie’s luthier
CJ Hutchins. He added “The Beast was much sweeter but Flat Top Red has more
throat. He used it everywhere for nearly everything. He loved it so much; in
fact, he had Gene make a clone of it, only in blue which he named “Blue Dog.”
This very special guitar offered at auction is estimated at $5,000-$5,500.
(Montrose “Flat Top” Red guitar)
Hutchins also explains the Bogner Shiva and how he would describe Ronnie
changing guitar rigs like he changed his socks. Montrose was always looking for
the elusive ratio between headroom and distortion and how the FX loop was
engineered was also vital to him. He personally modified that part of the amp to
make it more clean and less reactive to his tone, in other words more
transparent. The Shiva was all he used at home, in the studio and on stage.
“Gamma 4” was recorded with the Shiva. The custom modified amp will also be
offered at auction with an estimate of $3,000-$4,000.
Other highlights include a Ronnie Montrose owned, played and personally modified
1963 Fender Stratocaster (Estimate: $15,000-$17,000), a Ronnie Montrose 2003
Taylor 712 CE guitar which he used as his main acoustic performance guitar
(Estimate: $3,000-$3,500), original Montrose handwritten lyrics (Estimate:
$1,000-$1,200), a Ronnie Montrose owned and played 1994 Fender Stratocaster
“Skinny” model guitar (Estimate: $6,000-$7,000), a 1943 Gibson J4 “The Old
Boy” guitar (Estimate: $6,000-$7,000), a Ronnie Montrose Custom MOOG System
(Estimate: $800-$1,000), a Ronnie Montrose 1980’s SHO-BUD pedal steel (Estimate:
$1,200-$1,400), a 2002 Baker BJ “Montrose” model guitar (Estimate:
$4,000-$4,500) and much more. The full selection of Ronnie Montrose items can
be viewed at www. juliensauctions.com – http://juliensauctions.com. Once at the site you can
click “flip catalog” and view all of the items.
It was Ronnie Montrose who said “My wish is that you find all the pleasure and
joy listening to the music that I found in creating it.”
A portion of the proceeds from the sale will go to Sweet Relief, an organization
that provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are
struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related
problems. For more information go to
www.sweetrelief.org/news/ronnie-montrose –
<http://www.sweetrelief.org/news/ronnie-montrose>
.
“Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is thrilled to have been chosen by Leighsa Montrose
as a beneficiary for the sale of Ronnie Montrose’s gear. We look forward to
being able to honor Ronnie’s legacy by continuing to provide help to musicians
in need who are suffering from Cancer, MS, Diabetes, Depression and other
debilitating ailments. It is generosity like this that allows us to do our work
in a real and meaningful way,” Bill Bennett, President of Sweet Relief Musicians
Fund.
(1963 Fender Stratocaster)
*“*Ronnie truly had great concern for the personal welfare of those
that have chosen music as their way of life. Knowing the unexpected needs are
graciously met by those able to reach out making a difference in an artists’
life is what resonated deep within him,” added Leighsa Montrose, Ronnie’s wife.
*Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll Public Exhibition*
Fans, collectors and media can view the Montrose Collection
Dec 2, 2013- Dec 5, 2013 from 10am – 5pm daily
Julien’s Auctions Beverly Hills Gallery
9665 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Parking underground
*Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll Auction*
Friday, December 6th, 2013
Session I: 10am PST
Session II: 2pm PST (Ronnie Montrose collection offered at this session)
*Saturday, December 7th, 2013*
Session I: 10am PST
Session II: 2pm PST
*Exhibition and Auction Location*
Julien’s Auctions
9665 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 150
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
*Registering to Bid*
Registration is required to bid in this live auction and can be done in person
at the exhibition and auction, or online before the sale at the
JuliensAuctions.com – http://JuliensAuctions.com Registration page to bid by phone, proxy or in
person, or online at JuliensLive.com – http://JuliensLive.com to bid live online, or by
calling (310) 836-1818.
*Placing Bids*
There are four ways to bid in this sale:
1. Bid through Julien’s Auctions Online Live in Real Time at
JuliensLive.com – http://JuliensLive.com.
2. Place bids in the room by attending the auction.
3. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative, who sits in
the room and conveys the bid to the auctioneer.
4. Enter Absentee bids. Absentee bid forms are included in the back of each
catalogue, and are also available by calling Julien’s Auctions or online at
www.juliensauctions.com – http://www.juliensauctions.com.
*ABOUT JULIEN’S AUCTIONS:*
With expertise specializing in entertainment memorabilia, Julien’s Auctions has
quickly established itself as the premier auction house in high profile
celebrity and entertainment auctions. Julien’s Auctions presents exciting,
professionally managed and extremely successful auctions with full color high
quality auction catalogues unlike any other auction company. Previous auctions
include the collections of Cher, U2, Barbara Streisand, the estate of Marilyn
Monroe and many more.
Sources:
www.juliensauctions.com
http://www.juliensauctions.com.
