The Guess Who and B.T.O. rocker Randy Bachman has prized instruments up for auction – including American Woman guitar that’s expected to sell for up to $400,000

A number of pieces instrumental to rock ‘n’ roll history will soon be up for grabs during an auction – if the price is right.

Nearly 200 guitars from Canadian rocker Randy Bachman’s personal collection, many of which are stage-played, will be available for purchase through Julien’s Auctions in May. 

Bachman, now 80, is one of the few musicians who has enjoyed success as a founding member of two different bands: The Guess Who, who soared in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and in Bachman–Turner Overdrive, who followed in the mid-1970s and went on into the 1980s and beyond.

One of the more coveted items set to hit auction: the musician’s 1959 Gibson Las Paul Standard, known as the ‘American Woman’ guitar because Bachman used it to write The Guess Who’s most famous hit song, which is expected to sell for between $200,000 – $400,000.

There’s many other guitars up for auction that are expected to sell for various other price ranges, starting at $600 and going all the way up to $200,000.

As a founding member of The Guess Who, Bachman helped shape the sound of Canadian rock in the 1960s.

His electrifying guitar playing and songwriting talents were instrumental in the band’s success, with hits like American Woman, These Eyes and No Time. 

Their American Woman (1970) album would top the charts in their native Canada and hit number nine in the U.S. while five other albums reached the top 10 in Canada.

They also achieved five number one singles in Canada and two in the U.S. before they officially broke up in 1975. 

Bachman moved on to co-found Bachman-Turner Overdrive with brothers Robbie Bachman (drums) and Tim Bachman (guitar, vocals), along with Fred Turner (bass, vocals).

They unleashed a wave of rock anthems in the 1970s, including such hits as Takin’ Care Of Business, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, Let Ir Ride, Hey You and Roll on Down the Highway.

Beyond his work with bands, Bachman’s solo career has been equally impressive, showcasing his versatility as a musician and songwriter. 

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada native also put his white 1955 Fender Stratocaster, which he used to play live and in the recording studio with B.T.O., as part of the set of instruments on auction.

Julien’s has set an estimated sale price for the classic white Fender at between $100,000-200,000. 

Bachman actually had it as  his back-up for live concerts, and performed some of the rhythm parts of for such songs as Hey You and Let It Ride.

The collection of prized guitars also includes a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar that was formerly owned by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, which is believed to fetch $20,000-40,000. 

There’s also a 1977 Gretsch Super Axe gifted to the musician by Chet Atkins that could sell for $1,000-2,000; a Harmony H1215 Acoustic Guitar that has the distinction of being Bachman’s first-ever guitar estimated to go for $600-800; a Wolfgang Huttl Op-Art Archtop acoustic guitar said to sell for between $4,000-6,000; and a 1955 Hoyer Bianka acoustic guitar that could go for $8,000-10,000.

Bachman had previously disclosed that he was inspired to become a musician at the age of 15 when he saw Elvis Presley with a guitar around his neck while playing Tommy Dorsey’s television show in 1958.

Bachman was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016. 

The Randy Bachman collection, selling as part of the Music Icons auction, is going off as part of a two-day event at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on May 29 and 30.