A remarkable pre-war Gibson L1, with an enchanting sound and history… This is the famous “Aunt Mabel,” a 1922 guitar. Discover its story.

Pre-war guitars often carry a magical and fascinating aura. The passage of decades has left them with a delicate patina and placed them in a special category: instruments surrounded by a unique aura. This 1922 Gibson L1 acoustic guitar is no exception. Its story intersects with the legends of rock ’n’ roll: Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Waylon Jennings, Keith Moon, and Steve Jones.

Indeed, it was in the hands of a young music enthusiast named Pamela Des Barres that this guitar weathered the tests of time. Dreaming of a music career, she coveted her aunt’s guitar, Mabel Virginia Miller’s 1922 Gibson L1, discovered in a Kentucky pawn shop. Mabel played it during Sunday morning church services, even carving her initials MVM on the top. In 1969, Pamela finally got her hands on this precious guitar. She allowed friends and lovers to play it, acknowledging that this lovely brown guitar was a “musician’s magnet.” She recalls the many personalities fascinated by the instrument: Gram Parsons, Chris Hillman, Frank Zappa.

Regarding Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, she remembers sitting between the two in her Hollywood apartment, watching them pass the guitar and play blues all night. Jimmy Page even offered to buy it for $2,500, which she refused. The extraordinary pedigree doesn’t stop there: Waylon Jennings also played it.

Over the years, Pamela Des Barres placed this precious 1922 guitar in the hands of her favorite musicians. When Steve Jones was her roommate, he gave guitar lessons to her son on that very guitar. It was played repeatedly by talented personalities who all appreciated its beauty, delicate name, and remarkable history. Discover it at Matt’s Guitar Shop!