The Ed King Collection at Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage is honored to offer the collection of guitar legend Ed King. The Ed King collection is highlighted by the Fender Stratocaster that he used to write and record “Sweet Home Alabama” with Lynyrd Skynyrd, plus three Gibson Les Paul “Bursts” from 1958, ’59 and ’60.
cartervintage....

[@Frettedchaos]

One of the most overlooked guitarist of all time. He was super nice to me when I met him. He's the reason I started playing! Workin' for MCA solo is an absolute masterpiece.

[@in2livinit]

RIP Ed King. Great muscician and a class act. Up there playing with the legends now. Turn it up !!!

[@jppagetoo]

I am not surprised at all about Carters selling his collection. Ed and Walter did a lot of business. Ed was no dummy, he knew he needed someone who he trusted to sell his collection when he was gone. Though Ed kept much of it to himself, he knew his cancer had returned and he was not winning the battle. Even so he was very giving of his time and his knowlege. He answered questions and shared his collection up until the very end. I still remember when he signed off Facebook with "I have to go for a while and focus on my health". It wasn't more than a month or two later he passed.

[@coletricklejr.7083]

I was there a month ago. They were absolutely gorgeous and well monitored. 👍

[@typodhitzemann6851]

What a great and always humble man

[@livingadreamlife1428]

I also converses with Ed via FB and was touched by his sincerity and humbleness in answering questions or responding to comments from couch players like myself.

[@6412mars]

1-2-1-2-3🎸🎶Mr Saturday night special...May ED RIP...Sad to see yes

[@nicolasrivera5310]

I feel a bit sad to see his beloved strings sell, but its part the life of this instruments and hope the new owner appreciate them like Ed did.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I see "Red Eye" went to a good home with a very appreciative owner, who plays it on stage.

[@davidcudlip6587]

@@Mr.56Goldtop Jason Isbell. Worthy owner.

[@Tonetwisters]

I am blessed to have a '73 Stratocaster. Ed was an incredible player, and I got to Facebook with him a couple times before he passed ... very nice guy! Greetings from the home of the Skynyrds ...

[@bobertramirez6456]

Ed was a hug inspiration to my friends and I. Great player, great man. RIP.

[@seabasssimpson4547]

Ed found his "Red Eye" guitar after seeing it in a book about Les Paul guitars and the book just happened to list the serial number of the guitar. Ed tracked the guitar down to the collector that owned it at the time, and the collector simply gave Ed back his beloved guitar.

[@countvond233]

Ed was a fine player and a good man. Got to see him in 1987 and he stole the show. You are missed Ed.

[@Mike-rp8ev]

A big influence on my guitar playing 🎸 I miss him I'll never forget Mr King...

[@dr.pendyke4887]

My favorite Ed King solo is on "Am I losing" which he played on his red Gibson SG, it's a really good solo.

[@adamwatson6916]

If the pickups in the 58 dark burst are original then it blows up the theory that only 59 les Paul's had double white PAFs

[@joshuataft5541]

I love Ed because of his enthusiasm for anything good.. I'm like that if it's cool it's cool I don't care who made it.. but I'd love a Gibson or even an Epiphone..I never had one but dream of a Les Paul

[@Desmachine]

That Dark Burst though .. good lord. Rest in Peace, Ed King.

[@treavorwilliams9553]

Owned by Jason Isbell now

[@christophereadgbe2976]

The "Red Eye" Les Paul is now in the capable hands of a new owner, Jason Isbell, who seems to truly appreciates what he has: instagram.com/p/BsQkMygBMbk/

[@3cardmonty602]

“Turn it Up!”

[@metalmulisha0143]

He also told the actual red eye story which is a great read on that forum

[@treavorwilliams9553]

Great to see Jason Isbell on stage with red eye

[@rustywallace_]

Mr. Jason Isbell is now the deserving owner of Red Eye!

[@joshuahymer15]

Nobody deserves an instrument like that. They “AFFORD” them

[@chrischoir3594]

Ed was the KING !!!! RIP Sir

[@thiagoborsari7364]

That red eye Les paul is just simply outstanding.

[@ryangoshorn4940]

Jason Isbell now owns the “red eye”

[@jamescarlucci9867]

Thanks..

[@IvorThomas]

What what was 'neck man' Ed's favorite neck feel? 58, 59, 60, or Gina Lollobrigida?

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

The guitar ED wrote Sweet Home Alabama on is in the Rock and roll hall of fame. There is a video of Ed stating that. RIP Ed King

[@RockFan98]

PICK IT & IT'LL NEVER HEAL was, Ed stated on his Facebook page in July he was getting it back from the hall, that is indeed the 1973 Stratocaster he wrote and recorded sweet home Alabama on. That being said ITS NOT WORTH EVEN HALF OF THE PRICE. Guitar is iconic but junk

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

@@RockFan98 Yeah man I didnt realize he had nabbed it back. Be cool to have but not something i could justify buying. Theoretically if I was gonna spend big bucks on a guitar I would want one of Allen Collins Firebirds, or Explorer. But I would never spend the kind of money it would take to get something like that.

[@RockFan98]

Oh I agree, I’d want a Strat still cause u can’t play Ed without thinking about playing a bit of sweet home and that song doesn’t feel right on Gibson

[@brucebherman7721]

very interesting!!! thanks

[@joshuataft5541]

The burst with the hangtag .mark is beautiful.ol red eye.. this stuff makes me respect all guitars..even my junk will be good junk when it gets old enough..I still like to modify 200dollar guitars tho

[@benallmark9671]

Who bought that sunburst Sweet Home Alabama Strat again , can anybody tell me. I just recently watched a bunch of Gibson the collection videos and somebody had it I just can’t remember who

[@hcc2891]

The Red Eye already sold before I saw the asking price. What was it? Thx

[@RockFan98]

HCC $350,000

[@robertwellington2616]

Tom Ridgway I heard $600,000 I wonder which is right? I saw that price I’m another post but I’m betting you’re correct.

[@charlesbolton8471]

Robert Wellington I saw it when Carter Vintage first posted it for sale on their website and it definitely was not listed at $600,000. Personally, I thought it was originally listed at $250,000 but it could have been $350,000. The one Ed called “Crackhead” (because of a headstock repair) was in Carter’s inventory before Ed died and it was listed for under $200,000 and did not sell until after his death. That being said it is entirely possible that Jason Isbell wasn’t the only person interested in buying “Redeye” and that could have driven up the final price.

[@timlilly]

Very interesting though it's sad about Ed. And you have his Yamaha DX7. Wow. They're worth a bob or two.

[@tugboat25]

Wonderful guitars from a really great guy but the feeling that I have watching this is "Sad". Just feels sad.

[@darellgullion4888]

I'm at a loss for words. I think that his collection should've been kept together and never separated but I know you can't do that. The one thing that I think he had wrong is that the guitar Ed King did Sweet Home Alabama with is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I heard that from Ed himself in another interview that he did on another show.

[@achill3usoverclocking874]

Maybe he wrote the riff on this one, god knows, once he past these things are not carved in stone i guess it should be enough provenance he played and owned it.

[@gilbertramos6039]

Cool on that one Les Paul from Ray Gomez to Ed King. 1:33

[@deluxecustom]

Lesson to all guitarists with significant others,,,, all your guitars will be on the auction block, the moment you're good and cold. That didn't take long.......$$$$$$$$$$$👀👀👀👀👀👀

[@russianbot2397]

Unless I die suddenly, I'll sell and or give away mostly everything before I go. The rest, I'm taking with me!

[@guitarlessons205]

Man no kidding

[@uspsdaveable]

I look at a bit differently, one you don’t know if the family needed the money? Or more positivity why let them sit and collect dust if nobody’s going to enjoy them, sell them to let someone else enjoy them , they’re made to be played not locked up in a case or in a museum.

[@magprob]

I believe Ed had this set up before he died. He loved his wife and only wanted her taken care of. Ed didn't have a greedy bone in his body.

[@deluxecustom]

That makes sense, they are, in fact, just guitars.

[@guitarlessons205]

Heartbreaking that they couldnt stay in his family... I would cherish any one of them.

[@adamwatson6916]

I wonder if the 58 darkburst has it's original pickups because according to burst lore double white pafs only came on 59 les Paul's which turned out to be not true becuase 1960 les Paul's have been found with original double white pickups which were confirmed to be stock . So I wonder if some 58 les pauls had double whites

[@leo-mc8uo]

I have a replica of the red eye. CC#16A...would love to play the original once in life. Hope that 59 lasts forever

[@TheBuzzo72]

Red Eye is ingood hands, she's been acquired by Jason Isbell.

[@larryn2682]

No mention or signs of any basses?

[@monmixer]

You bought them all didn't you? Ed was a great guy.

[@1lacowboy]

What is a modelly owned Mandolin?

[@jault69]

Cool!

[@thomasprice1760]

Yes sir this fellow has no mojo..

[@garethware]

How come redeye has pickup covers on now?

[@jamesmstith]

What year is the Red Eye guitar?

[@Panic42000]

James Stith 1960

[@jamesmstith]

Panic42000 thank you, I saw that Jason Isbell bought it...I hope he really enjoys it

[@lukedesselle4589]

I think it's a 59 there's a video on KZbin of him talking about it

[@Panic42000]

Luke Desselle You’re right.

[@johnfoskey7855]

Yeah..1960s les paul supposedly didnt fade like the 58s and 59s

[@hinch1775]

Sad to see these iconic instruments being sold :(

[@gewdferyew4844]

Man do I want one of them...! Guess I gotta sell my house..

[@funeralbillii9172]

You have a $500,000 house? Then you can buy the Strat...if it's worth a couple million then you can buy the Les Paul. Both are WAY over-priced.

[@gewdferyew4844]

@@funeralbillii9172 Yeah becauae there's only the strat and Red eye in this collection. Oh wait, there was about 30 guitars when they started selling them.

[@funeralbillii9172]

@@gewdferyew4844 You can't afford any of them, relax.

[@gewdferyew4844]

@@funeralbillii9172 That was my original point you idiot..

[@charlesbolton8471]

GEWDFERYEW There definitely were quite a few guitars and other items in the collection. With the exception of the 73 Strat every one of them was priced fairly close to what the same instrument or amp non celebrity owned would cost. There was very little if any premium for the items being owned by Ed King and it is typically the same for any celebrity owned gear that Cater Vintage acquires.

[@lukedesselle4589]

I just bought the red eye Carter financed it for me 10 dollars a week for 400 years lol

[@russianbot2397]

That's a great deal!

[@levismitch]

Nice joke. In reality, Jason Isbell bought Red Eye over the weekend.

[@Brandon-pf9wg]

i was lucky enough to play the strat.

[@christianwahle2382]

that darkburst is beautiful!

[@tugboat25]

Ed was Ecstatic when he obtained that guitar. He was so happy about it. You could tell he loved it right off the bat.

[@AMPSHOWS]

I'll give you all the money I have in my pocket, Mr. Carter!

[@tugboat25]

I'm surprised Joe Bonamassa didn't fly in from LA and just buy every Ed King guitar before anyone could even look at them.

[@charlesbolton8471]

Joe also has a house in metro Nashville. He regularly shop at both Carter Vintage and Rumble Seat Music which is just down the street from Carter Vintage. So I would have thought the same thing myself if someone hadn’t pointed out to me that Joe prefers to buy Bursts that were not celebrity owned.

[@zummo61]

Guitars are meant to be played.

[@coletricklejr.7083]

And u can play them at Carter... Watched a super friendly employee tell a 13-old-kid who ask about a Tele, "You can play anything u want, just come get me if u wanna hold anything in THAT room." This shop is a must-stop if in Nashville. 10/10

[@masonhoward2099]

Damn that was fast...he isn't even cold in the ground yet...

[@tugboat25]

Maybe because Ed was cremated? Cheers!

[@brickbreaker8148]

C'mon, $450,000 for a '73 Strat cause King wrote "Sweet Home" on it? There's a '73 on Ebay right now for $3,700 LOL Besides, Ed said he loathed this guitar.

[@dhvaughan]

He also said it paid the bills for the last 45 years.

[@charlesbolton8471]

At the time Carter Vintage listed the Strat for sale I definitely thought it was overpriced for 70s Strat especially since Mr. King said he particularly like the guitar. However, it is a significant piece of history for a legendary band and guitarist. Since David Gilmour’s 70s Start sold for over $5 million I think this is a bargain in comparison. Although, I do admit that Gilmour’s Strat was a much more iconic instrument in his career in much the same way that both “Blackie” and “Brownie” were for Clapton.

[@ryang4071]

What ever happend with Ed’s Pensa Suhr

[@adamwatson6916]

He had some really fantasist SG's form the early 60s

[@nazmoking3171]

If they were smart they'd set up a celebrity page on Reverb and sell it there and all the items would probably go in minutes like the other celebrity items I've seen go in a matter of seconds there. That's where guitar players go to find vintage guitars.

[@charlesbolton8471]

They have a Reverb Shop, but until the COVID shutdown they only listed a very small portion of their inventory on Reverb. Besides they are located in one of the epicenters of guitar based music so they have no problem selling desirable gear if it is priced appropriately. Ed’s three Bursts sold almost as quickly as his less expensive gear, but that Strat is still available.

[@knowmusicman157]

In an interview Ed said the Sweet home strat was a black ‘59. You can see him playing it at the gig in Germany where RVZ wearing a headband in ‘74. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXXdY6WMnNtjq68. Guitar sounds exactly like the record. Black body, rosewood neck, white pickups. Ed said it was a hodgepodge but essentially a 1959. Not a ‘73.

[@Telecastersanonymous]

No, he wrote it and recorded on that 70s strat. He explained the Marty music interview that it was a terrible guitar and he hated it. He then put the partscaster together using the 59 neck and had strings and things in Memphis make the shell pick guard

[@Telecastersanonymous]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZ_Qlaybn7aMqc0

[@Telecastersanonymous]

1 minute in he starts talking about it

[@knowmusicman157]

@@Telecastersanonymous ok no prob

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I wonder why he didn't like that strat??

[@MrBriankprice]

My house paid off with an extra $300k in the bank or ...a CBS 1973 Stratocaster

[@hilldwler420]

It’s a shame we lost another skynyrd

[@metalmulisha0143]

I remember reading on the les paul forum that he hated the strat he used on sweet home alabama, always thought that was funny

[@gewdferyew4844]

He said it in the long interview with Marty

[@chrischoir3594]

he knew that they sounded thin compared to Gibsons. he played SG and LP Special/JR on many songs

[@metalmulisha0143]

Chris Choir he specifically said he hated the one he used on sweet home alabama, being a 1973 and I think he said he also hated a 1965 strat too? I remember he used the word loathed. That's why he put his own together out of parts of 50s strats and that was the black one with the shell guard. You can look it up and read about it

[@gewdferyew4844]

@@metalmulisha0143 After this 73 strat he got a 66 and that one he liked alot more.

[@metalmulisha0143]

GEWDFERYEW oh? I never knew that

[@AnAmericanGuitarist]

When you're as good as Ed was, you should be able to take it with you. At least one. Maybe some new gear was waiting for him on the other side.

[@RockFan98]

AnAmericanGuitarist I’m sure he would have had he not been cremated

[@AnAmericanGuitarist]

@@RockFan98 Oooh. We wouldn't want to chance sending the gear over that way.

[@RockFan98]

Yeah, Ed wants his gear to be played not in vaults. He hated that kind of stuff

[@kentbeery8653]

$450,000 for a 73 Stratocaster 😆

[@aaronperrotta7055]

That kind of happens when a guitar is used on one of the most famous recordings in rock history.

[@michaelcarter3334]

It'll sell for less than half that. I've overpaid for classic guitars with a story, but that price is well beyond even what can be considerable unreasonable. @@aaronperrotta7055

[@funeralbillii9172]

No wonder they end up in either private collections or the RnR Hal of Fame...never to be heard again.

[@scottnathanphoto]

I don't think the beginning is accurate. I knew Ed. He told me that his "Sweet Home" Strat he donated to the Rock Hall of Fame because it was the biggest piece of shit he had ever owned. Would never stay in tune. Bad 3 bolt.

[@tugboat25]

It was returned to Ed a number of years ago.

[@scottnathanphoto]

@@tugboat25 I don't think so. I have a FB message from him from just over a year ago, with him telling me this.

[@mrDCunningham]

Wasn't the one he wrote sweet home on a black strat?

[@scottnathanphoto]

@@mrDCunningham No. 3 color burst.

[@djizzah]

ed heavy weight in guitar music, his riff up. there with smoke on the water or satisfaction

[@vmat1000]

interesting but sad.

[@TheBrandonLewis]

Cater always selling a bunch of junk lol. I’ll give you $1500 for all of them. Seriously beautiful guitars

[@thomasprice1760]

Good stuff anyway..

[@My1957Stratocaster]

May I have one cheeseburger? I'll gladly pay you Tuesday. Wimpy

[@stevenusa9937]

I have "Vintage" Tennis Shoes in my closet.... Not More Value, just worn out. Time to contact Gibson & Fender Custom Shops.... ....save a Few Thousand.

[@jerrymorganjr]

A darkburst 58 with double whites!?!?! Isn't that rare as shit?

[@johnpick8336]

Let me issue you my personal check ? Lol

[@JR-xg3wq]

So his wife sold them as soon as he hit the ground

[@JR-xg3wq]

@John Smith the Rhoades Family still has everything Randy Rhoades owned and he's been gone since 82

[@darylmorton9710]

Sad his family selling his guits

[@MeatGawds]

Damn that sucks seeing red eye in someone else’s hands. But I guess we are just stewards for a short time.

[@MaxMHF]

Video location feels like in the basement, not well lit with ambient light...maybe should consider to pick a better spot in the shop

[@charlesbolton8471]

It really is the best spot in the shop to film videos unless they have some employee only area that is better. They could use the main room of the shop, but they would have to film videos while the store was closed. With this particular room they can close the door and film while the store is open for business. For what it’s worth, the room does sound pretty good in person.

[@enzodenovellis]

mammm do priatorio.

[@leerichards3682]

Said Everyones "family members" until they needed or wanted the cash instead.

[@jimboslice9472]

how ignurt

[@Bluz2jazz]

Sad Ed's widow wasted no time putting them on the auction block.

[@tugboat25]

I'm thinking this is something Ed arranged in the final weeks before his death. Cheers!

[@EdValencia]

I hope you have taken these thigns out of that shop before looters destroy them.

[@FYMASMD]

This old boy should let someone else do the videos. Lame.👎😜

[@charlesbolton8471]

Perhaps the videos of Jason Isbell playing these guitars would be more to your liking.