Tools of the trade - Greeny

 

Peter Green, Gary Moore, Kirk Hammett, and the $2 Million 1959 Gibson Les Paul “Greeny.”

“Greeny” is one of the most iconic guitars in music history. Already coveted as a ‘59 Les Paul, “Greeny” is famous for its distinct tone and of course, the legendary players who’ve owned it along the way.

Its journey began in the mid-1960s when Peter Green, the founder of Fleetwood Mac, purchased it secondhand. Unbeknownst to Green at the time, the guitar’s neck pickup had been altered, reversing its polarity and creating a unique “out-of-phase” tone when combined with the bridge pickup. This gave the guitar its signature haunting, nasal sound.

Green used the Les Paul during Fleetwood Mac’s early years, crafting classics like “Albatross,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Oh Well.” Its tone became synonymous with Green’s soulful, melancholic playing, cementing his place as one of the British blues movement’s key figures. However, after leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1970 due to personal struggles, Green sold the guitar to a young Gary Moore for around $300, however Moore always insisted that Green could have the guitar back whenever he wanted. An offer he never accepted.

Gary Moore, who was already an up-and-coming guitarist, made the ‘59 Burst his main instrument for decades. He used it extensively in both his work with Thin Lizzy and his solo career, notably on songs like “Parisienne Walkways” and “Still Got the Blues.” Moore often referred to the guitar as “magical” and credited its unique tone for inspiring much of his music. In 1995, Moore released Blues for Greeny, an album dedicated to Peter Green and performed entirely with the guitar.

In the early 2000s, Moore sold the Les Paul to a private collector, reportedly for a substantial sum. The guitar disappeared from public view for several years, passing between collectors, as its value—and mystique—continued to grow.

In 2014, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett purchased Greeny from a UK collector for a reported $2 million, making it one of the most expensive guitars ever sold. Hammett, a fan of both Peter Green and Gary Moore, saw the guitar not only as a piece of rock history but also as a working instrument.

Unlike many collectors, Hammett brought Greeny back to the stage and studio. He began playing it live with Metallica, incorporating its unique tone into songs like “Fade to Black” and “The Unforgiven.” Hammett has spoken about feeling a deep responsibility to honor the guitar’s legacy while continuing to use it as it was intended—making music.

Who will own it next, I wonder? 🤔🤔