BOSTON, MASS.- An auction from Boston-based
RR Auction features Johnny Ramone's 'Number One' Mosrite guitar.
The 1965 Mosrite Ventures II electric guitar was personally owned and used by Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) for nearly two decades as the guitarist for punk rock legends the Ramones. The guitar's back is signed, "Johnny Ramone, My Main Guitar, 1977-1996."
It was played at every Ramones performance until his retirement: from November 1977 through August 1996, for approximately 1,985 shows.
The instrument was used on all 15 Ramones albums and can be heard on any live Ramones bootleg from late 1977-1999. It was later displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
According to guitar historian Chris Lamy, Cummings originally purchased the guitar in 1977 to replace his original blue Ventures II slab body, which was stolen from the Sire Records van with the rest of the band's gear after a show at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Ironically, this guitar had been offered to Cummings earlier in 1977, but he passed on it feeling it was too expensive at $500, which was a little less than ten times what he paid for his original Ventures II in 1974.
Also included in the auction is Johnny Ramone's Electro-Harmonix Mike Matthews Freedom Amp. Cummings used this amp live at CBGBs and various early Ramones shows, including Arturo Vega's loft throughout 1974 and 1975.
This specially curated auction of rock and roll rarities originates from the collection of Daniel Rey, a musician turned producer from the New Jersey-New York underground who, for over three decades, was a trusted and invaluable member of the Ramones' inner sanctum. Among the additional highlights; posters, invitations, and handwritten lyrics.
The Ramones and Punk Collection of Daniel Rey from RR Auction began August 24 and concludes during The Remarkable Rarities live auction event that will take place on September 25 in Boston, MA.