Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones Is Selling His Studio Gear in an Auction

John Paul Jones, the bass player and keyboardist from the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, is putting a large collection of his studio equipment up for auction. He says he no longer needs so much gear and wants it to go to musicians who will use it well.

The sale includes 53 pieces of music gear from Jones’s personal studio — but none of it was used on Led Zeppelin records. The auction began in late December and is running through January 18, 2026 with the auction house Soundgas handling the sale. 

Rare and Valuable Equipment Up for Sale

Among the many items on offer are both vintage and modern pieces of technology that musicians and collectors value:

• A modified Moog Model 15 synthesizer — a rare analogue synth that can be worth about £24,000. 
• An EMS Synthi Hi-Fli, a unique and very rare guitar effects unit that only about 350 were ever made.
• Akai digital samplers, Roland drum machines, and rack-mounted effects. 
• Other classic studio gear like vintage delays, preamps, compressors and equalizers.

These pieces appeal to both musicians and collectors because they can be used to make music or add vintage character to recordings.

Why He’s Selling the Gear

John Paul Jones has had a long music career — from Led Zeppelin in the 1960s and ’70s to collaborations with artists like R.E.M., Peter Gabriel, Foo Fighters and Brian Eno as well as playing in the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. 

In a statement, Soundgas said that Jones:

• Still plays and records music, but
• Doesn’t need so much studio equipment anymore, and
• Wants the gear to be used creatively by other musicians.

So he decided to sell it without official historical labels, meaning the gear isn’t presented as museum pieces, but as tools for people to make music with.

What’s in the Auction

Here are some of the kinds of gear being sold — all of which could inspire creative music projects:

Type of Gear	What It Does
Synthesizers	Make electronic sounds and tones.
Samplers	Play back recorded sounds.
Drum Machines	Create rhythmic beats.
Effects Units & Delays	Change or add textures to sounds.
Preamps & Equalizers	Shape and control audio quality.

Some gear is rare and collectible, while other pieces are useful in modern recording studios.

Who Might Want This Stuff

Musicians, producers and even collectors may want this gear because:

• Vintage analog equipment can have unique sound qualities not found in digital tools,
• Some items are rare and hardly available today,
• The gear could be used in recording, live performance, or music production,
• And serious fans may want instruments connected to a famous musician’s personal studio.

Even though the items aren’t officially linked to famous recordings, some have long histories of use by Jones and were part of his creative process.

Auction Details

• The auction runs through January 18, 2026.
• It’s a timed online auction with bids accepted over several weeks.
• Items range from high-end vintage synthesizers to useful modern recording tools.

Musicians and fans can view and bid on the gear at Soundgas.com, where full details and photos are available.

Bottom Line

John Paul Jones’s auction gives musicians a chance to own real studio gear from a legendary musician’s private setup, including rare instruments and classic equipment. His goal is for the gear to be used for making music again, not just stored away. This auction blends music history with real-world creative tools that could inspire new sounds for years to come.