18 Little Jimmy Dickens Guitars for Sale
Eighteen guitars from Little Jimmy Dickens’ personal collection are for sale through a consignment at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. The instruments — many worn from years of use on stage — are priced between $1,500 and $20,000.
Just two special edition guitars are in pristine condition. The Tennessean reports that the rest maintain original hardware, but show significant signs of use, including buckle rash from rubbing against Dickens’ belt buckle. A few have had repair work, while others have been restored after being damaged in the Nashville floods of 2010.
One guitar pictured at the Tennessean website was a gift from Waylon Jennings. It’s inlaid with a personal message from the Outlaw singer to the older Dickens. “Jimmy, You’re a Hell of a Man” it reads. Gruhn Guitars owner George Gruhn says two of the guitars have already been placed on hold. Dickens was a friend of Gruhn’s and he says he feels honored to be representing the estate.
94-year-old Dickens died on Jan. 2, 2015 after suffering a stroke eight days earlier. The longtime Grand Ole Opry star was country music’s elder statesman and a friend to anyone he met. Musically he was known for popular novelty hits from the 1960s, including “Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)” and “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.”
Many of the guitars come with an undated, handwritten letter from Dickens explaining how he acquired the instrument. A 1942 Martin that was the first decent guitar he purchased is amongst the 18 for sale.
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