News

Cheffins in Cambridge will auction a number of items connected to late Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett.

The highlight of the Oct. 28 auction might be Barrett’s Yamaha FG-230. The 12-string acoustic guitar is being sold by Barrett’s nephew, Mark Barrett, 57, who was given the piece by his father, Syd’s brother, Alan Barrett.

According to Mark, his father gained possession of the piece when the family sold its Hills Road house in Cambridge in 1974. He says Syd “never collected the guitar” and Alan “continued to store it over three subsequent house moves, eventually offering it to me.” Mark took possession of the guitar shortly before Alan passed away in November 2020.

The guitar is dated Oct. 21, 1969, and has a serial number of 1090448. It’s expected to bring £5,000 to £10,000 ($5,800-$11,600 US).

Syd referred to the instrument in a 1971 interview with Rolling Stone. “I worked this out yesterday,” Syd told writer Mick Rock while playing a new take on “Love You” from his “Barrett” (1970) album. “I think it’s much better. It’s my new 12-string guitar. I’m just getting used to it. I polished it yesterday.”

The guitar will be auctioned with a copy of that Dec. 23, 1971, issue of Rolling Stone.

Proceeds of the auction lot will be split between the charities MIND and the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

Cheffins also has a number of other lots featuring Barrett-related items such as artwork he painted near the end of this life in 2006 and furniture.

Also of interest to Floyd fans, two business cards from David Gilmour’s early band Jokers Wild will also go on the block.

Cheffins’s Art & Design Sale begins at 10:00 a.m. local time on Oct. 28. Learn more at Cheffins.