George Michael’s Faith Gretsch Goes to Auction

A 1940s Gretsch Synchromatic 160 used by George Michael in the video for “Faith” will go under the hammer at Sworders on October 29 at 2pm BST. The archtop acoustic, with its cats-eye f-holes and art deco tailpiece, was an unusual choice for a pop star in 1987. In the video, Michael leaned into a Bo Diddley-style groove over a LinnDrum beat, and the vintage Gretsch became part of the image: pop stardom borrowing hardware from rock ’n’ roll’s early years.

The guitar also went on the road during the Faith World Tour. It is being sold with its original hard-shell case, marked with a “Rockabilly rebel” sticker, and remains in strong condition. The instrument comes from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, Michael’s former personal assistant. Following her death in 2014, her widower consigned the guitar and other George Michael ephemera to the auction house.

Sworders chairman Guy Schooling called the Gretsch “the jewel in the crown” of the sale. The auction, titled Faith & Fame: A Personal George Michael Collection, is expected to fetch upwards of £100,000, roughly $135,000