The Gallotone Champion Guitar was an
acoustic guitar manufactured in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
by the country's largest record company,
Gallo Africa, during the 1950s and '60s. It was a cheaply made instrument intended for the beginner market and was exported to many countries.
The Champion model is a 3/4 size steel string flat-top acoustic made from laminated woods, and was "guaranteed not to split".
Perhaps the most famous of all Gallotone Champion players was
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
, whose guitar was sold for £155,500 ($251,700) at a "Rock'n'Roll" memorabilia sale by
Sotheby's
Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...
London in 1999. There is also a childhood photograph of
Jimmy Page posed with a Gallotone Wonder.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallotone Guitar
Acoustic guitars