In 2000, the iconic American guitar maker Gibson presented Hugh Hefner, Playboy magazine’s founder, with a custom, limited-edition guitar. This unique piece showcased the magazine’s famous rabbit silhouette, crafted from hand-carved pearl, and was part of a 10-guitar collection. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio received these exclusive guitars, with Hefner owning the first, marked with the serial number “PBY 001,” enhancing its prestige.
That particular guitar, bearing signatures from Hefner and the band Tool, was eventually acquired by a collector in Dubai. Rick Vlemmiks, the founder of Art of Guitar, purchased it for nearly Dh350,000 at an auction held after Hefner’s death in 2017.
Beyond its regular inventory of Fenders, Yamahas, and Gibsons, Art of Guitar has distinguished itself as the sole Middle Eastern store selling exclusive, unique instruments. One highlight is a guitar signed by Ed Sheeran during his visit in early 2024. “About 500 guitar stores worldwide vied for Ed’s visit, and he chose us,” Vlemmiks shared with KT LUXE. “People assumed we paid him a lot, but he didn’t take a dime.”
Sheeran was set to perform for 70,000 fans at The Sevens Stadium that night. Despite his agent’s insistence on leaving, Sheeran stayed at Art of Guitar for hours, engaging with students. Vlemmiks noted that Sheeran was drawn to their music school, which offers 100 free lessons to children with special needs. “My son, who has autism, benefits from music,” Vlemmiks explained. “Ed was genuinely interested in our school.”
Vlemmiks launched Art of Guitar six years ago in Dubai’s vibrant Courtyard center. Establishing the store took a year, as storing these valuable guitars required meticulous attention to factors like temperature and humidity. Today, Vlemmiks’s collection includes rare guitars, amplifiers, and autographed posters from the guitar industry’s biggest names.
His most expensive acquisition was a prototype of Eric Clapton’s acoustic guitar, developed with Martin Guitars. Vlemmiks purchased it for $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) and later sold it for $700,000 (Dh2.5 million).
Other notable items for music lovers include signed guitars and prototypes from John Lennon, Jeff Beck, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones.
Does more money equal better sound?
The age-old debate: do luxury guitars, adorned with mother of pearl, gold flakes, or rare Alaskan Sitka spruce wood, sound superior? “Some claim there’s no difference beyond a certain price point, but I disagree,” Vlemmiks said.
He elaborated: “I have Dh5,000 guitars that sound fantastic. If someone wants the best guitar within that budget, I’ll find it. But if budget isn’t a concern, I’ll show them the Slash guitar.”
Slash, from Guns N’ Roses, owns a guitar crafted from ancient Alaskan Sitka spruce, accented with copper and gold, and quilted in carbon fiber. “Ultimately, it’s the player who brings out the guitar’s best. It’s about rarity and collectability,” Vlemmiks added.
NDA for a guitar?
Vlemmiks shared with KT LUXE that some guitars are so exclusive they require a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to keep details confidential. “We sign NDAs to not disclose incoming guitars, yet clients trust us with repairs under such agreements,” he said.
When opening his store, Vlemmiks understood the need for a diverse guitar range for various occasions. Guitarists seek variety, desiring electrics for metal and rock, others for blues, and acoustics for organic sound. “Unlike pianists or violinists, guitarists prefer versatile instruments,” he stated.
