Jason Becker’s Three Most Important Guitars Will Go Up For Auction

Dragonforce guitarist Herman Li has been spearheading a massive fundraising event for legendary guitarist Jason Becker since March featuring essentially every big name metal guitarist you could possibly think of (we’ll post the full list at the bottom of this post). The fundraiser has been remarkably successful, raising over $200,000 for Becker to date… and it’s not done!

Now Becker, who has been afflicted with ALS since 1990 leaving him unable to control his body other than his eyes, will offer three of his most important and rare guitars through Guernsey’s Auctions as part of the fundraiser. The New York auction house will offer the following in its ‘A Century of Music’ auction: 

• Jason’s white, 22-fret Hurricane guitar, pictured on the cover of Cacophony’s genre-defining Speed Metal Symphony and used to record his ground-breaking solo album Perpetual Burn. One of the few guitars Jason owned, and perhaps his most-played, this guitar shows wear and has been recently reconditioned and thumb-printed by Jason. 
• Jason’s blue, 24-fret Hurricane guitar, pictured on the cover of Perpetual Burn and used in the recording of Boy Meets Guitar. This guitar has been thumb-printed by Jason and showing wear and tear from hours of playing, in studio and live. 
• Jason’s one-of-a-kind Peavy ‘Numbers’ prototype guitar, pictured on the cover of Guitar for the Practicing Musician. A similar model was later put into production, but this was the first ‘numbers’ model ever made. During a visit with Jason, Eddie Van Halen played this guitar, and during the months-long virtual fundraiser for Jason, this guitar has been played by Steve Vai, Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Herman Li (DragonForce), Chris Broderick (ex-Megadeth), Tim Henson (Polyphia), and Jason Richardson (All that Remains). This guitar has been thumb-printed by Jason. 

Jason’s red leather jacket — worn on the Perpetual Burn album cover — and a proof of the original album art are also up for auction. The album art is signed by Jason, one of his last autographs while he could still write. 

Herman Li offers of the auctions: 

“In America, having a chronic condition such as ALS can be unbelievably expensive. Our goal from the beginning has been to make sure Jason never has to worry about money again, so he can put his energy toward music and his health. It has been great to see the guitar community rally around Jason. He has given us so much inspiration, I’m glad we have the opportunity to give back.” About Guernsey’s Action, Li says, “Working with Guernsey’s Auctions has been wonderful – they understand how unique these guitars are and how inspirational and important Jason is. Jason played so few guitars in his life, so these instruments are incredibly special. Whoever buys these guitars will not only own a piece of history, they will be directly helping Jason battle ALS.”

Becker says:

“I am so grateful for all the love and support everyone has given to me and my family. As far as selling my guitars being sad, and that I shouldn’t have to do it, I just want you to know that isn’t how I feel. It makes me happy to see others playing my music. I feel good about passing on my guitars, thinking they mean something to others. I can’t play them now, but other folks can. That’s a good thing. And, I want myself and my family not to have to worry about money, if possible. Thank you for all the love, I send it right back to you.”

You can bid on the guitars here starting on July 14.

Becker was hospitalized in April after “experiencing shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate.” He returned home a week later after receiving treatment for a bacterial infection.

Here’s the ridiculous list of initial participants in the fundraiser:

• Marty Friedman
• Steve Vai
• Joe Satriani
• Steve Lukather
• Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)
• John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
• Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth)
• Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)
• Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper)
• Orianthi
• Devin Townsend
• Dave Ellefson (Megadeth)
• Michael Angelo Batio (Nitro)
• Guthrie Govan
• Tim Henson (Polyphia)
• Alex Skolnick (Testament)
• Albert Lee
• Matt Heafy (Trivium)
• Zoltan Bathory (Five Finger Death Punch)
• Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses)
• Satchel (Steel Panther)
• John 5 (Rob Zombie)
• Gus G (Firewind, ex-Ozzy Osbourne)
• Nili Brosh (Seven the Hardway)
• Jason Richardson (All That Remains, ex-Born of Osiris, ex-Chelsea Grin)
• The Dooo (YouTube)
• Jared Dines
• Ola Englund (The Haunted, ex-Six Feet Under)
• Steve Terreberry (StevieT on YouTube)
• Tyler Larson (Music is Win on YouTube)
• Cole Rolland
• Thomas McRocklin (Bad4Good)
• Rusty Cooley
• Mattias IA Eklundh (Freak Kitchen),
• Sam Totman (Dragonforce)
• Chris Broderick (Act of Defiance, ex-Megadeth)
• Lari Basilio
• Sophie Lloyd
• Federico Mondelli and Fabiola Bellomo (Frozen Crown)
• Alex Lee (Holy Grail)
• Stevie Salas
• Elliot Easton (The Cars)
• Mika Tyyska
• Daniel Dekay (Diemonds)
• N&M Creation (YouTube)