Andy Greene
View all posts by Andy Greene April 8, 2026
Elvis Presley during a performance at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA. Gary Null & Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images This Hagstrom Viking II electric guitar that Elvis Presley played during his 1968 Comeback Special is headed to auction. Sotheby’s is selling the Swedish-made semi-hollow-body instrument that Elvis used throughout the famous broadcast, on songs like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Trouble,” and “Guitar Man.” He’s also holding the guitar on the cover of his 1969 LP Elvis in Memphis. It’s estimated to sell for somewhere between $1 and $2 million.
“This guitar became a symbol of Elvis’ legendary comeback,” says Sotheby’s Music and Pop Culture Specialist Craig Inciardi. “Guitars have always been central to his image, but seeing Elvis return to the stage after years away, dressed in his iconic black leather outfit and playing this guitar, created one of the most enduring images in rock history. It marked a pivotal moment, reconnecting him with a generation of fans and cementing his status as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.”
Bidding for the online auction opens April 9 and will conclude April 23. The guitar will be on display at Sotheby’s New York Breuer Building from April 13 – 20. “Unlike most of Elvis’ guitars, which were acoustic, this is an electric Hagstrom, known for its distinctive look and sound,” says Inciardi. “Its rarity and its association with that singular performance make it one of the most iconic instruments linked to Elvis.”
