The Continuing Saga of Wes’s Heart L-5

We’ve previously reported twice in our “News Flash” about Wes Montgomery’s beloved Heart L-5, but we’ve received further information from our Yokohama correspondent, Aoki.

According to the April 2005 issue of SJ magazine, on February 20th of this year, a jazz auction hosted by Gainsies was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. It was akin to a museum, featuring numerous instruments associated with famous musicians. Charlie Parker’s alto saxophone fetched 24 million yen, Benny Goodman’s clarinet 2.25 million yen, Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet adorned with morning glories soared to 2.8 million yen, and Louis Armstrong’s trumpet commanded an astonishing 32 million yen. John Coltrane’s handwritten score for “A Love Supreme” went for 12 million yen, among others. These are prices far from what the average person might bid on Yahoo! Auctions.

Most notably, however, was Wes’s Heart L-5. SJ magazine listed its minimum desired bidding price at 5.4 million yen, which seemed oddly low. Upon further inquiry with a knowledgeable source, it was confirmed that the guitar was indeed purchased from the Mandolin Brothers for approximately 12 million yen and subsequently put up for auction. However, the auction price was listed at an exorbitant $500,000, which translates to around 54 million yen. It seems someone somewhere has made a miscalculation.

While opinions may vary, I personally believe it’s important to value Wes Montgomery’s music rightfully, not for short-term profit but for the sake of those who cherish his legacy. Ideally, it would be best if a follower or guitarist could possess and play this instrument. As our correspondent Aoki suggests, by passing on Wes’s love through proper evaluation and acquisition at a fair price, his spirit can truly live on.

As for how Wes’s Heart L-5 passed into others’ hands and subsequently endured a fire, the details remain a mystery. In my view, once a guitar encounters such an event, its soul departs—it ceases to be his guitar. To demand 54 million yen for such an instrument seems outrageous, especially when personal gain is involved. Wes, I’m certain, sheds tears in heaven.

Before setting a minimum bidding price, Gainsies might consider seeking a fair appraisal from Japan’s “Nandemo Kanteidan.”(Japanese Auction TV)