A Gibson electric guitar once owned by Paul McCartney who later gave it to Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch

A cherry red Gibson ES 345 electric guitar with Bigsby Tremelo Serial number: 85206 1961. Originally owned by Paul McCartney (1942- ) during his time in Wings. McCartney later gave the guitar to Jimmy McCulloch (1953-1979). It was passed onto guitarist and sound engineer Alan Morrison following McCulloch’s death in 1979.

Jimmy McCulloch is best known for being the lead guitarist in Paul McCartney’s band Wings from 1974 to 1977 when he left to pursue other projects.

McCulloch joined the band The Dukes in 1979. It was during his time with The Dukes that he got to know Alan Morrison who had been hired to mix sound for the band in Camden Town, London. At the time Morrison was living in a rehearsal studio and The Dukes would go there to practice.

Sadly, McCulloch died of heart failure from a heroin overdose on 27 September 1979. His brother, Jack, had the task of selling Jimmy’s incredible collection of guitars which included a custom Fender Stratocaster which had been made for Buddy Holly with his name inlaid in Mother of Pearl, but was ultimately out of his price range. Jack brought the collection into the rehearsal studio where Morrison immediately favoured both the Buddy Holly guitar and this Gibson 345 which Jimmy had acquired from Paul McCartney. Jimmy had used the guitar with Wings during recordings and live shows.

Morrison used the guitar in the 1980s to record Waltz in the Wilderness with new wave band Dekka Danse. He also played it on Fischer Z’s album Reveal (1987) and took it on tour with him when he worked with the Jeff Healy band who played at the opening of B.B. King’s Blues Bar in Memphis. B.B. King gave Morrison one of his badges and this badge is still stuck on the head of the guitar.

In 2003, Morrison mixed The Henry McCulloch band in Aberdeen. He brought the guitar to the gig so that Henry McCulloch, who was in the Wings at the same time as Jimmy (no relation), could see it again. Henry McCulloch signed the guitar in black ink on the back. In good condition.

The guitar is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Alan Morrison detailing the guitar’s history.

Category: Memorabilia