Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett recently opened up about one of his most guilt-ridden guitar purchases during a live fan event in Dublin. He acquired a rare 1957 Gibson Les Paul Standard that previously belonged to Journey guitarist Neal Schon at an auction. The circumstances surrounding the deal left him feeling deeply conflicted about the transaction.
“This guitar used to belong to one of my all-time star heroes, a huge source of inspiration, Neal Schon,” Hammett explained. “I got this in an auction, and I don’t know what was up, but I got this for, like, half the price that it was worth!”
The guilt weighed heavily on Hammett’s conscience. “I felt kind of bad about it because I should have paid a fair price. But I paid a price that was lower than it should have been,” he admitted. Rather than simply keeping the instrument, Hammett took the ethical step of reaching out directly to Schon. “So, I actually called Neal. I said, ‘Neal, do you want the guitar back?’ And he said, ‘No, man, you keep it. You buy it; you keep it.'”
Hammett’s admiration for Schon extends far beyond the guitar itself. “Neal Schon, he’s such a cool, cool guy. If you guys ever, like, really get to know Neal Schon, I mean, he’s an amazing guitar player. He’s amazing. He lives and breathes music. And to me, he’s just such an inspiration, ‘cos I see him, and I see how he conducts his life, and how he plays, and his commitment and dedication to music, and I was just like, ‘Yeah! That’s what I want to do, too.’ So I’m doing it.”
The 1957 Les Paul that Hammett acquired is a particularly special instrument in the world of vintage guitars. The guitar features a custom black finish rather than the standard Goldtop that Gibson typically used for this model. This makes it a true unicorn among collectors. The instrument was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2021 for $87,500. Many in the guitar community believed this price fell significantly below its true market value.
The 2021 auction in which Hammett purchased the Schon guitar took place during an unusual time in the music world. The COVID-era auction featured an enormous consignment of 112 vintage guitars from Schon’s personal collection. This represented one of the most significant guitar sales events in recent memory. Other notable instruments from that same auction demonstrated the exceptional quality of Schon’s collection. His Grainger Burst 1959 Les Paul Standard commanded $350,000. His iconic 1977 Don’t Stop Believin’ Les Paul fetched $250,000.
The circumstances surrounding the undervalued sale of Hammett’s acquisition remain somewhat mysterious. Industry observers have speculated that the timing of the auction during the pandemic may have influenced bidding patterns and final prices. What is clear is that despite the financial advantage Hammett gained, his sense of integrity compelled him to offer the guitar back to its original owner. This gesture speaks volumes about both musicians’ character and their mutual respect within the rock community.
