The late entrepreneur and local musician Arthur “Skip” Maggiora was the owner of Skip’s Music in Sacramento, California, and also happened to own a legendary guitar collection. Made up of nearly 150 instruments, some of which have been played by artists like Eddie Van Halen and Gene Simmons, this collection will be sold in a live charity auction beginning on December 17.
Maggiora’s 50-Year Guitar Collection
Following a long battle with kidney disease, Maggiora passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 75. For 50 years, the entrepreneur provided professionals and aspiring musicians with just the right instruments for them, all while amassing his own collection of rare and legendary guitars.
An Auction Dedicated to Supporting Youth Music Education
The Skip Maggiora Legacy Guitar Collection Charity Auction, which will be facilitated by Heritage Auctions starting on December 17, will donate all proceeds to music and youth charities. This decision falls in line with Maggiora’s own vision for promoting music education.
Maggiora started Skip’s Music’s Stairway to Stardom and Weekend Warriors programs. The first is a summer-long music camp for young, amateur musicians considering music careers, while the second is a program for adults looking to return to music.
“We are honored to present Skip’s collection, especially given its beneficiaries—future generations of music-makers,” Aaron Piscopo, Heritage Auction’s director of vintage guitars and musical instruments, commented. “Skip was a legend in Northern California and across the country, with Skip’s Music standing as a landmark in Sacramento. Cataloging and showcasing these guitars has been a true pleasure. This treasure trove of vintage guitars is truly a dream come true for collectors and enthusiasts.”
Notable Pieces for Auction
The legendary guitar collection is full of stories from equally legendary artists and guitar designers. Some of the most notable pieces in the collection are the following:
- A 1954 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst solid body electric guitar, an instrument which dates back to the first year of its production. With the exception of the strings, the guitar is all-original, meaning the instrument holds historical significance for both collectors and musicians.
- A 1955 Fender Stratocaster metallic green solid body electric guitar, whose finish is a rare example of custom color during the period, with only a few examples documented. The guitar has undergone some modifications but remains in good condition as a whole.
- A red, black, and white-striped Eddie Van Halen-signed and smashed electric guitar. While the instrument itself is obviously beyond repair, the guitar is cemented as a piece of rock history and includes the original hard case.
- A late 1980s Kramer Monsters of Rock Baretta guitar signed by all four members of the Van Halen band in excellent condition. The guitar is painted with a Monsters of Rock Theme but apparently shows little sign of use.
- Eight instruments that once belonged to Billie “Tiny” Moore. Hailing from Port Arthur, Texas, the instrumentalist played the electric mandolin and fiddle with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys throughout the 1940s.
- A 1981 Kramer Gene Simmons Axe-Shaped Electric Bass Guitar with a black finish, signed and dated by Gene Simmons himself.
- What is believed to be either a 1963 prototype or one of the first 80 1964 Mosrite Ventures black solid body guitars. The instrument has simulated signatures of The Ventures members.
Instruments With Souls
According to Maggiora’s son, Creed, he hopes that the instruments will go to actual guitar players. He feels this would honor his father’s wishes, saying, “A lot of them need to be played. They have souls.”
Arthur Maggiora opened his first music store in 1973 before moving to a once-iconic location on Auburn Boulevard in 1980. He expanded the business, but now the shop’s only location is on Madison Avenue.
