A 1993 Gibson SG Standard electric guitar (serial #93283401) owned and used by Marcie Bolen of The Von Bondies as her sole guitar throughout her career with the band, including on the Pawn Shoppe Heart album (Sire Records, 2004), live at the Glastonbury Festival (June 26, 2004), and on the Late Show with David Letterman (June 23, 2004). Also used in the music videos for “C’mon C’mon” and “Tell Me What You See.” Acquired directly from Marcie Bolen via her personal Reverb shop, sold to benefit her medical bills. Includes original Gibson USA hardshell case.
Video Documentation
Historical Context
The Von Bondies were a Detroit-based garage rock band formed in 1998, comprising Jason Stollsteimer, Marcie Bolen, Carrie Smith, and Don Blum. They were among the most prominent acts to emerge from the early 2000s Detroit rock revival that also produced The White Stripes and The Dirtbombs. Jack White produced their debut album Lack of Communication (2001), cementing their connection to that scene. Their follow-up, Pawn Shoppe Heart (Sire Records, 2004), was their major label debut and most commercially successful release, generating the single “C’mon C’mon” which received significant radio and television exposure.
The band’s relationship with Jack White became publicly contentious in late 2003 when White was charged with assault following an altercation with frontman Jason Stollsteimer at a Detroit venue — an incident that received substantial press attention and became one of the most documented episodes of that era’s Detroit rock scene. Despite the fallout, the band’s profile continued to rise through 2004 with their Sire debut, Glastonbury appearance, and Letterman performance — all documented on this guitar. Marcie Bolen has continued to perform and record with Slumber Party, Silverghost, and F’ke Blood.
Per her original Reverb listing, this guitar was Bolen’s only guitar, making its presence across the band’s recorded and live output during the Pawn Shoppe Heart era a near-certainty.
Stage, Studio & Music Video Use
Per Bolen’s original Reverb listing: the guitar was “gigged/toured with extensively including the 2004 Glastonbury festival, played on David Letterman, and used on The Von Bondies ‘Pawn Shoppe Heart’ album.” Purchased at Junkyard Guitars in Royal Oak, Michigan in the early 2000s. As her only guitar during this period, it appears throughout the band’s live and recorded output. The June 26, 2004 Glastonbury Festival full set and the June 23, 2004 Letterman broadcast of “C’mon C’mon” are both documented in the linked videos. Both music videos — “C’mon C’mon” and “Tell Me What You See” — are also linked above.
Specifications
· Manufacturer: Gibson (Made in U.S.A., Nashville)
· Model: SG Standard
· Serial: 93283401
· Year: 1993
· Body: Solid mahogany; black gloss finish with heavy play wear including finish worn through on back of neck
· Neck: Visible wood chipping on headstock edges consistent with extensive road use
· Fretboard: Rosewood with trapezoid pearl position inlays; bound neck
· Pickups: Two humbuckers in chrome-edged covers
· Hardware: Chrome throughout — tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, Grover-style tuners
· Output jack: Significant rust and oxidation consistent with extensive touring use
Condition
Very Good. The guitar plays well and is fully functional. Condition reflects extensive gigging and touring use. Notable wear includes a large area of black finish worn through on the back of the neck revealing orange/amber wood beneath — characteristic of a heavily played instrument; significant rust and oxidation on the output jack hardware; and general surface scuffs and scratches throughout consistent with extensive professional use.
Included Items
Original Gibson USA hardshell case. Brown exterior with Gibson USA branding. Case exterior bears a vintage “The Romantics” promotional sticker and a The Futureheads sticker. Side shows touring wear including FRAGILE shipping stickers and tape residue — direct evidence of the instrument’s road history.
Provenance
Acquired directly from Marcie Bolen via her personal Reverb shop. Bolen’s original listing confirmed the guitar’s history, described it as her only guitar during this period, and noted that sale proceeds were designated to benefit her medical bills.
Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance
This lot will be accompanied by a Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance — a document printed on official Nostalgia Bandit letterhead, signed by Nostalgia Bandit’s principal, and affixed with the official Nostalgia Bandit embossed seal. The Letter of Provenance reproduces the complete final auction description for this lot in full, memorializing all provenance documentation, attribution, supporting evidence, and condition details as presented herein. It is designed to travel with the lot through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent physical record of the item’s documented history.
Shipping & Measurements
FIRST AND THIRD PARTY SHIPPING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. Contact Nostalgia Bandit for a shipping quote: shipping@nostalgiabandit.com
» Guitar: 39.5 x 13 x 3″ · 6.96 lbs.
» Case: 43 x 16 x 5″ · 9.42 lbs.
