Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones is auctioning off a range of studio equipment, and it includes an amp that was blown after being left at Dave Grohl’s house.
The auction is being organised by a UK company called Soundgas, which specialises in the sale of vintage and rare recording equipment and instruments. According to a description, the Led Zeppelin legend is wanting to sell much of his gear because, while he “is still very active musically – writing, recording and performing”, he “but no longer requires so much studio equipment”.
It also goes on to state that Jones has owned most of the items going to sale since they were brand new, and is letting go of them as “he feels it should be in the hands of people who will put it to good use”.
“It is offered here without formal provenance, with the intention that it continues to be used as intended,” the description reads.
Among the items up for grabs is a a rare Simmons SDS V electronic drum kit, a pair of AKAI digital samplers, a pair of Yamaha NS-10M speakers, and a sought-after Arbiter Soundimension mechanical echo unit that dates back to the ‘60s.
Dustin Rabin Photography, Job #2456
One eye-catching item listed is also a Guild Thunderbass amplifier, which was used by the iconic bassist during his time with the supergroup, Them Crooked Vultures. The band comprised Jones, Foo Fighters‘ Dave Grohl and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, and a description for the amp says it was left at Grohl’s house where it went out on a loan, and returned to Jones with the speakers blown.
Despite it being worse for wear, the amp – which is currently untested – is predicted to sell for roughly £1,300 (as per Louder).
Soundgas has clarified that the items going to auction are from the artist’s own private studio and were not used with Led Zeppelin. You can find out more about the items listed here.
Going forward into 2026, John Paul Jones has written a 20-minute composition for mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, and it will be performed for the first time tomorrow (Wednesday January 7) at London’s Wigmore Hall. It was commissioned by the Philharmonie de Paris (via Britten Sinfonia).
As for Them Crooked Vultures, the supergroup released their self-titled debut album in 2009, and have not released any new music since then. Back in March 2024, however, Homme opened up about the side project and revealed that he “would love” for them to reunite.
Before then, Grohl shared a similar outlook back in 2021 when he expressed his own hopes that Vultures would reform – saying that it was “a dream band for any drummer” and he “hope[s] that someday we do it again.”
While they have not dropped any new music since their debut album in 2009, the group did briefly reunite in 2022 to play at the late Taylor Hawkins’ tribute concert.
Last October, Queens Of The Stone Age also made a nod to the band during their run of ‘Catacombs’ live shows. At the US dates, the band surprised fans by breaking out rarities – including the first performance of ‘You Got a Killer Scene There, Man…’ in almost two decades – and also dropped their version of Crooked Vultures’ ‘Spinning In Daffodils’ while in Chicago.
