In pictures: Richard Gere guitar collection auction highlights

1954 Fender Stratocaster
11 October sees Christie's in NYC host The Richard Gere Guitar Collection, an auction of around 110 lots that includes an array of sumptuous vintage instruments and amplifiers.
You didn't know that the An Officer & A Gentleman star was into guitars? Here's what he has to say on the matter: "I've had a love affair with guitars since I was a kid. They have been my true friends through the best and worst of times.
"I never planned to put together a collection, I just bought ones that I liked, the ones that sounded good and played well. Some are very special. Although it's more than a little painful to let them go, each one has been played, loved and appreciated, and will be again."
The auction is expected to raise in excess of $1,000,000. Visit Christie's for more, but first check out the seriously drool-worthy highlights that follow...

1954 Fender Stratocaster (headstock detail)

1931 Martin D-28

1931 Martin D-28 (headstock detail)

1958 Gibson Flying V
Documented as a pre-production prototype by Gibson, this guitar was formally the property of Albert King.

1958 Gibson Flying V (headstock detail)
Documented as a pre-production prototype by Gibson, this guitar was formally the property of Albert King.

Fender 1953 Telecaster

Fender 1953 Telecaster (headstock detail)

1935 D'Angelico Exel
Formerly the property of James D’ Aquisto

1935 D'Angelico Exel (headstock detail)
Formerly the property of James D’ Aquisto

1960 Gibson ES-335 TD
Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.
![Justin Hawkins [left] of the Darkness plays an open G on his offset electric and closes his eyes as he performs onstage; soul-reggae icon Johnny Nash [right] frets a chord on his acoustic and wears a patched denim jacket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hWzCjD9ZWQiPPjMtTWiFfa-840-80.jpg)
“It was probably the first time I’d ever sort of listened to one and gone, ‘What is that? I want to learn how to do that!’”: How a soul and reggae legend introduced the Darkness' Justin Hawkins to diminished chords

“Under the cover is a new hum-cancelling technology that preserves that single-coil Jazzmaster tone with no noise”: Seymour Duncan unveils the Jazzmaster Silencer, drop-in pickups to soup up your offset
![Justin Hawkins [left] of the Darkness plays an open G on his offset electric and closes his eyes as he performs onstage; soul-reggae icon Johnny Nash [right] frets a chord on his acoustic and wears a patched denim jacket.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hWzCjD9ZWQiPPjMtTWiFfa-840-80.jpg)
“It was probably the first time I’d ever sort of listened to one and gone, ‘What is that? I want to learn how to do that!’”: How a soul and reggae legend introduced the Darkness' Justin Hawkins to diminished chords

“Under the cover is a new hum-cancelling technology that preserves that single-coil Jazzmaster tone with no noise”: Seymour Duncan unveils the Jazzmaster Silencer, drop-in pickups to soup up your offset