Noel used this Gibson Les Paul during the Be Here Now studio sessions and during the live tour in 1997 and 1998. The guitar was made specifically for him by Gibson’s custom shop in 1997.
That’s the best guitar in the world, It’s not one of the best guitars, it’s the best guitar. The thing about that guitar is it’s got that extra..You know what I mean? When you’ve got everything turned all the way up, this one gives you more. It goes to ’11’.
Noel Gallagher – Spin magazine, 1997
Specs
This guitar, serial number “7 9007,” was based on a Gibson Les Paul Custom model but featured a partially hollow body, hence the “f” holes and the Florentine name. It’s possible that Noel specifically requested this design, as he preferred lighter guitars for live performances. This guitar seems to have been an attempt to create a Les Paul that was both lightweight and ideal for stage use.
In terms of specs, it featured an ebony fingerboard, a silver glitter finish on the body, nickel-plated hardware, two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a selector switch.
The “U” Underworld sticker seen on the guitar was added by Noel around June 1997. Underworld was a company that produced Oasis merchandise during the 1990s. Interestingly, there are residue marks on the “U” sticker where a “Metalheadz” (a drum and bass record label) sticker was previously placed over it.
Auction
The guitar was part of a batch of instruments that Noel sold in the early 2000s through the New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium—among them, his 1967 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse. According to its next owner, who was interviewed by Microdot on YouTube, he bought it directly from the store. Having met Noel a couple of weeks earlier, he went straight to Noel’s house after the purchase to tell him he’d bought one of his guitars. Noel greeted him and even played the guitar for a while.
A few years later, the owner sold the guitar to someone else. After some time, the second owner passed away, and the original owner got in touch with the estate to ask if he could buy the guitar back.
In 2022, the guitar was listed for sale at Propstore’s “Best of British Music” auction. However, it’s unclear if it sold at that time, as it appeared at auction again in 2024. During the second auction, it was successfully sold for £226,000, roughly $286,000.
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