Noel Gallagher’s Iconic Supersonic Guitar Fetches Over £130,000 at Auction

A guitar once played by Noel Gallagher of Oasis, which featured prominently in the music video for the band’s debut single “Supersonic,” has recently sold for an impressive £132,000 at auction. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard electric guitar, a key piece in the band’s early history, was auctioned by Sotheby’s with a pre-sale estimate of £60,000 to £80,000, but the final bid far exceeded expectations.

Gallagher used this guitar extensively in the lead-up to the recording of Oasis’s seminal debut album, Definitely Maybe. It was not only featured in the video for “Supersonic” but also saw action during numerous early live performances across various venues, including the Boardwalk in Manchester, Gleneagles in Scotland, and Water Rats in London.

The guitar’s storied history includes its use in recording sessions at Out Of The Blue Studios in Manchester and Monnow Valley Studios in Wales, prior to the final recording sessions of Definitely Maybe at Sawmills Studio. Its significance extends beyond the studio, as it was also immortalized in the cover artwork for the band’s debut single. This guitar was one of four previously owned by Gallagher that were offered in Sotheby’s inaugural popular culture sale.

In addition to the Supersonic guitar, two other guitars previously used by Gallagher also achieved notable sale prices. An Epiphone EA-250 electric guitar, which Gallagher played during early Oasis recordings, sold for £48,000, significantly surpassing its estimated value of £20,000 to £30,000. Another notable sale was a 1980 Gibson Flying V Guitar, once owned by The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr and used by Gallagher for recording the 1994 track “Cigarettes and Alcohol,” which fetched £36,000.

Katherine Schofield, Head of Popular Culture at Sotheby’s, expressed enthusiasm over the auction results, stating, “It’s a fitting tribute to celebrate not only the 30th anniversary of Definitely Maybe but also the recent announcement of the long-awaited Oasis reunion.” Schofield remarked on the excitement surrounding the auction, highlighting the strong and competitive bidding for these culturally significant guitars previously used by Gallagher.

The sale of Gallagher’s guitar comes on the heels of the Gallagher brothers’ announcement of their planned reunion tour in 2025, marking a major comeback for the band following their contentious split in 2009. The auction’s success reflects not only the enduring legacy of Oasis but also the lasting impact of Gallagher’s contributions to the music industry.