“The guitar that started it all”: T-Bone Walker’s 1949 Gibson ES-5N is up for sale on Reverb for over $2M
The newly reopened Regent Sounds guitar shop on Denmark Street is celebrating its rebirth by listing “one of the most valuable and historically important musical instruments in existence” – T-Bone Walker’s legendary 1949 Gibson ES-5N – on Reverb.
Billed as “the guitar that started it all”, the ES-5N was one of only 22 built in 1949, and accompanied the blues legend for almost two decades during the formative years of the electric blues.
It comes with documented provenance and a unique 77-year history, and thus commands a hefty price tag, with Regent Sounds inviting starting bids in the region of £1.5M.
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T-Bone Walker is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists of all time. That is, because he practically invented electric guitar blues as a concept; many of the tried-and-tested blues licks played by both the genre’s modern and classic players originate with T-Bone Walker.
Think of the world’s most influential guitar players: Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards. Well, they were all, in some way or another, influenced by T-Bone Walker.
So the lucky new owner of Walker’s treasured 1949 Gibson ES-5N will need deep pockets, as the rich history of the instrument means it comes with a seven-figure price tag.
The guitar is being sold by Regent Sounds, which reopened in September 2025 following a major restoration project. The sale is part of the shop’s new Rare and Vintage Lounge, a space for high-end instruments.
Credit: Reverb
The ES-5N will be on sale on Reverb until 31 March, and will be on public display at Regent Sounds, 4 Denmark St, London WC2H 8LP. Private appointments for close inspection are available on request.
“This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of music history, T-Bone Walker’s influence on the evolution of blues into modern rock can’t be overstated, and this guitar was a leading character in that story,” says Jim Tuerk, Reverb’s VP of Marketing.
“Reverb exists to help guitars and other gear get second, third, and fourth lives, and it’s fitting that Regent Sounds – which is legendary in its own right – is the shop to give this guitar its next home.”
“Without T-Bone Walker’s genius and virtuosity, it’s unlikely we would have had the proliferation of rock and roll from artists like the Rolling Stones or Jimi Hendrix, whose footsteps make Regent Sounds such sacred ground for music fans,” adds Tony Bacon, author of ELECTRIC BLUES! T-Bone Walker & The Guitar That Started It All.
“Regent Sounds has always been a mecca for music fans because of our rich history,” says Crispin Weir, co-owner of Regent Sounds.
“But the recent expansion of the shop across two floors, the opening of the Vintage Lounge, and addition of our soundproof booths mean that we have an even brighter future ahead. The sale of T-Bone’s legendary ‘guitar that started it all’ and tie-up with Reverb are just the beginning.”
Take a look at the listing of T-Bone Walker’s treasured Gibson ES-5N at Reverb.
The post “The guitar that started it all”: T-Bone Walker’s 1949 Gibson ES-5N is up for sale on Reverb for over $2M appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
