A rare Japanese electric guitar used by Jimi Hendrix in the early 1960s prior to his explosion in popularity is going up for auction next month. The non-branded guitar being sold through GWS Auctions for a starting bid of $50,000 was used by Hendrix beginning in 1962, shortly after the famous late rocker returned home from his service in the U.S. Army.

The guitar’s description details Hendrix first started using the instrument sometime shortly after moving to Clarksville, TN where he played on the “Chitlin’ Circuit” alongside names like Wilson Pickett, Slim Harpo, Sam Cooke, Ike and Tina Turner, and Jackie Wilson. Hendrix moved to New York City in early 1964 and left the guitar behind at the apartment of one of his good friends when he moved to London in late 1966.

The sunburst electric which remains in fantastic condition and without strings includes a letter of provenance from surviving brother Leon Hendrix along with a notarized letter from Hendrix’s unnamed New York friend with whom he left the guitar.

Related: Iconic Prince Guitar, “Blue Angel”, Sells For $563K At Auction

Watch Leon Hendrix discuss the guitar’s backstory in relation to the early years of Jimi’s career.

GWS Auctions Leon Hendrix Interview

[Video: Brigitte Kruse]

Guitars famously played by deceased and living rock stars have sold for staggering sums of money over the last few years. Notable auction sales include David Gilmour’s black Fender Stratocaster which sold for $3,975,000 in 2019, Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” guitar which sold for $3,200,000 in 2017, Kurt Cobain‘s 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic played during the band’s well-known MTV Unplugged performance in November 1993 sold for a record-setting $6,010,000 just last month.

Click here to see the guitar’s official auction listing.

[H/T Guitar World]