An Iconic Elvis Presley Guitar Is Headed to Auction

An iconic Elvis Presley guitar is headed to auction.

As per Rolling Stone, the Hagstrom Viking II electric guitar that the music legend used during his 1968 Comeback Special will be auctioned off by Sotheby's.

The guitar, which Elvis can be seen with on the cover of his 1969 LP Elvis in Memphis, is estimated to sell for somewhere in the region of USD $1-2 million.

“This guitar became a symbol of Elvis’ legendary comeback,” Sotheby’s Music and Pop Culture Specialist Craig Inciardi said. “Guitars have always been central to his image, but seeing Elvis return to the stage after years away, dressed in his iconic black leather outfit and playing this guitar, created one of the most enduring images in rock history.

"It marked a pivotal moment, reconnecting him with a generation of fans and cementing his status as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.”

Anyone interested in bidding can do so via the online auction, which opens on April 9th and ends on April 23rd. The guitar will also be on display at Sotheby's New York Breuer Building between April 13th and 20th.

“Unlike most of Elvis’ guitars, which were acoustic, this is an electric Hagstrom, known for its distinctive look and sound,” added Inciardi. “Its rarity and its association with that singular performance make it one of the most iconic instruments linked to Elvis.”

Elvis actually planned to use a different guitar for his comeback broadcast, but it didn't work with the red and black colours of the set.

Director Steve Binder and producer Bones Howe asked session guitarist Al Casey if Elvis could instead play his cherry red Hagstrom, and the rest is history.

It’s the only time that Elvis used the guitar, and it has passed through several private collections over the decades. The guitar was displayed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame between 1998 and 2000.