Popular Culture
Popular Culture
Noel Gallagher / Oasis
An Epiphone EA-250 Electric Guitar, Owned & Stage-Played By Noel Gallagher And Featured On The Cover Of Oasis’ 1994 Debut Single ‘Supersonic’
Lot Closed
September 12, 01:44 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Serial number 333183 on sticker to backplate, circa 1972-74, double cutaway bound hollow body with cherry redburst finish, Epiphone label inside sound-hole marked ‘EA-250’, bolt-on maple neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, two pickups, three-way selector switch, four rotary controls, with tremolo arm, black pickguard, and vibrato tailpiece; in contoured hard-shell case with pale yellow plush-lining.
Featured with Noel on the cover of Oasis’ 1994 debut single ‘Supersonic’, photographed by Michael Spencer Jones. Stage-played on 1st July 1994 TV broadcast of “Something For The Weekend”, filmed at The Warehouse, Leeds, where Oasis performed ‘Rock n’ Roll Star’, ‘Supersonic’, and ‘Shakermaker’.
Accompanied by three signed letters from Mark Coyle, concerning the provenance and usage of the guitar.
A colour photographic print by James Fry of Noel holding the guitar with Oasis in 1994, printed later, numbered 7/25 and signed by the photographer, 22in x 21 1/2in (56cm x 54.5cm) overall.
A colour photographic print by James Fry of Noel holding the guitar with Oasis in 1994, printed later, numbered 1/1 and signed by the photographer, 18in x 23 3/4in (45.7cm x 60.5cm) overall.
Dimensions
The guitar 41in (104cm) long
The case 44in (112cm) long; 17in (43cm) wide; 6 1/2in (16.5cm) high
Provenance
The collection of Noel Gallagher, 1994.
Gifted by the above in 1994 to Mark Coyle, record producer for ‘Definitely Maybe’.
Acquired directly from Mark Coyle by the current owner.
Usage
November, 1993 Nomad Studios, Manchester
January, 1994 Monnow Valley Studios, Monmouth
Spring 1994 The Warehouse Club, Leeds (‘Something For The Weekend’ TV show)
Image Captions
Detail from photographic print by James Fry (included in the present Lot). Noel Gallagher with the present Lot during an Oasis photoshoot, November 1993.
Detail from photographic print by James Fry (included in the present Lot). Noel Gallagher with the present Lot during an Oasis photoshoot, November 1993.
Detail from 30th anniversary release of Oasis’ ‘Supersonic’, 2024 (included in the present Lot), front cover photo by Michael Spencer Jones. Noel Gallagher with the present Lot.
Detail from 30th anniversary release of Oasis’ ‘Supersonic’, 2024 (included in the present Lot), back cover photo by Michael Spencer Jones. The present Lot illustrated.
This lot contains Dalbergia latifolia (Indian Rosewood), which is an endangered species. However, finished musical instruments, finished musical instrument parts, and finished musical instrument accessories of Dalbergia latifolia are exempt from CITES regulation. Sotheby’s recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid, as lots containing endangered species may be subject to import restrictions in certain countries or necessitate licenses and certificates for export from some and import into others.
It is a special occasion when a guitar once owned by Noel Gallagher comes to market; even more so when it is immortalised with the artist on the front cover of Oasis’ debut single ‘Supersonic’. With its distinctive double cutaway body and cherry redburst finish, the Epiphone EA-250 bears associated with so many of Noel’s Epiphone and Gibson guitars over the years: including Epiphone Casino and Riviera models, and Gibson ES-355’s & ES-45’s.
The photographs were taken during the ‘Definitely Maybe’ Monnow Valley sessions in January 1994 by Michael Spencer Jones, whose work included the covers of ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory’, ‘Be Here Now’, and The Verve’s ‘Urban Hymns’. On the front cover Noel holds this EA-250 sat atop a grand piano. The band are absent from the back cover, so the EA-250 instead gently rests on the piano top.
The guitar had previously been photographed with Noel in early photos of Oasis by James Fry. The present guitar was also used on a televised performance for the ITV show ‘Something For The Weekend’, which aired on the 1st July 1994. As part of a free concert to just 200 people at The Warehouse in Leeds, Oasis roared through ‘Rock N Roll Star’, ‘Supersonic’, and ‘Shakermaker’ in a 10-minute set.