DALLAS, TX.- A stunning 1949 Bigsby Solid Body guitar, only the fourth one ever made by famed luthier Paul Bigsby – best known for creating the first successful electric guitar “whammy bar” – may bring as much as $80,000 when it comes up for auction on April 21 at the Dallas Guitar Show (Dallas Market Hall, 2200 North Stemmons Freeway) as part of Heritage Auctions’ Vintage Guitars and Musical Instruments Signature® Auction.

“This not only a fantastic guitar, it’s a piece of musical history,” said Mike Gutierrez, Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions. “Simply put, you very rarely ever see these guitars show up on the market, especially not one as early and well-documented as this one. We expect hardcore collectors are going to go after this guitar with great energy.”

A pair of early Les Paul models – a 1957 Standard Gold Top Solid Body Electric Guitar, Serial #7 6188 and a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Gold Solid Body Electric Guitar, Serial # 56525, possibly the best example ever brought to auction – are estimated at $60,000+ and $30,000+, respectively.

The top acoustic model in the Heritage event is a 1938 Martin 000-28, which carries a pre-auction estimate of $40,000+.

“Our consignor found this vintage gem in a garage sale years ago for $75,” said Gutierrez. “That keen eye and a little patience are now set to pay off big time. This is a great, highly sought-after guitar from the top maker in the acoustic business.”

Other top offerings in the auction include a 1968 D’Aquisto New Yorker Archtop, a true jewel from one of the two greatest archtop makers of the jazz era, with an estimate of $34,000+, a 1960 left-handed Fender Stratocaster, a true rarity of this vintage in superb condition, with a $20,000+ pre-auction estimate and a gorgeous 1964 Rickenbacker 325, with a $10,000+ estimate.

“This auction is certain to be our best outing of this year, so far, with many wonderful finds and the usual array of high-quality vintage manufacturers” says Gutierrez.

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

1962 Fender Stratocaster Fiesta Red: Rare custom color in great condition. Estimate: $30,000+.

1959 Gibson ES-335: Estimate: $22,000+

1960 Fender Telecaster: Estimate: $22,000+.

1963 Fender Sonic Blue Stratocaster: Estimate: $20,000+.