David Lynch 's collection of musical instruments and equipment is up for sale. The auction of the director's personal belongings will take place on June 18, 2025, at Julien's Auctions.
While David Lynch is primarily known to the general public as a director, music was also one of the filmmaker's interests. During his lifetime, Lynch wrote several soundtracks and solo albums and participated in the recordings of other artists.
Lynch died on January 16, 2025, from pulmonary emphysema. Following his death, a significant amount of personal items and memorabilia associated with his work remained. His relatives put these items up for sale through Julien's Auctions.
The auction will be held on June 18 and will include props from the set, personal belongings, furniture, and other items used by Lynch. A total of 441 lots will be presented at the event. A separate section of the auction will be dedicated to the director's collection of musical instruments and equipment.
Among these instruments, the E-MU Emulator III sampler stands out. First released in 1981, the instrument has undergone three iterations, each with a different set of features. The third generation of the sampler, released in 1987, was the first in the series to support 16-bit audio.
This sampler from Lynch's collection comes with an impressive carrying case. The director's name is stenciled on the side of the case. The Emulator III's starting price is $3,500, which significantly exceeds the original estimated value of $2,000, according to representatives of the auction house.
Also exhibited at the auction is the electric piano Fender Rhodes Mark II 88, which bidders have already driven up to $7,000. Notably, the piano was not the only instrument whose value increased significantly during the auction. For example, a Stylophone from Lynch's collection, originally offered for $30, is now selling for $800.
Other interesting lots include a Korg Kaoss Pad 3 sampler and a Kaossilator phrase synthesizer, priced at $900. The director's Termovox is also for sale and bidders are ready to pay more than $2,000 for it.
In addition to electronic musical instruments, the auction features a collection of electric guitars. Representatives of the auction house assume that the stringed instruments will be the most expensive items in the entire collection.
The semi-acoustic Epiphone Joe Pass Emperor (released in the 1980s) and the Parker Fly electric guitar-synthesizer hybrid Roland VG-8EX are particularly popular among guitars. Roland VG-8EX was released in 1997 and offers a wide range of built-in effects that can alter the sound of the guitar beyond recognition.
There are also unusual lots. For example, a Danny Ferrington Custom Console guitar with five fretboards, released in 2012, is for sale. Bidders are ready to pay more than $10,000 for this instrument.
The results of the auction will be summarized on June 18, 2025, at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles. The final value of the instruments is expected to significantly exceed the figures currently displayed on the auction house's website. Read the full catalog of David Lynch lots on this page.
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