Wiltshire: "very rare" five-neck guitars to be sold at auction

Two "very rare" five-neck guitars are expected to fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

A pair of Hutchins guitars, each weighing two-and-a-half stone (15.8kg), are being sold as part of a specialist auction by Gardiner Houlgate in Corsham, Wiltshire.

Also in the sale will be a Hutchins six-neck guitar called The Beast, as played by comedian Bill Bailey and spoof rock band Spinal Tap.

The instruments, set to attract bids between £3,000 and £5,000 each from across the world, are being sold over four days from 11 to 14 March.

The creator of The Beast, Sussex-based Gary Hutchins, called it "the guitar that should never have been made".

It is believed only a handful of the five and six-neck guitars have ever been made.

"You need to be in pretty good physical shape to play one of these instruments – and a sturdy guitar strap," said auctioneer Luke Hobbs.

"We've only ever sold one of them before so they're very rare on the open market."

The auction will also feature guitars owned by Jeff Beck, Gordon Giltrap, Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks.

"I think they make great stage props or the perfect gift for the guitarist who's got everything," Mr Hobbs added.