This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Mark Stone 1980s-2000s Unfinished Bass Guitar With Rosewood Neck With COA
Item Details: Up for auction is a striking, custom-made bass guitar featuring a beautifully crafted wooden body with a unique red, white, and blue stained wood motif running straight through it, sourced directly from the personal collection of original Van Halen bassist and accomplished luthier Mark Stone. The body is lacquered and shows minor dents and dings from long-term storage, while the rosewood neck is temporarily attached with only two bolts for placement. Completely unfinished and lacking hardware, tuners, a bridge, a backplate, or electronics, this piece is sold strictly as-is as a collectible artifact with no guarantees of playability, making it a spectacular display piece or project for any rock historian.
Provenance / Authenticity: This lot originates directly from the personal collection of Mark Stone, a multi-talented artist who was the original bass player and backing vocalist for Mammoth and Van Halen from 1972 to 1974 and an accomplished luthier. As a foundational figure in the band's legendary early history, Stone performed on their seminal studio demos and extended his creative contributions by designing the iconic original band logo utilized by Mammoth and early Van Halen. Offered directly from his estate, these historic items will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by an authorized representative of the Stone estate.
Mark Stone was the original bassist in Mammoth, the Pasadena, California band formed around brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen that became Van Halen, and he played with the group in its formative years before Michael Anthony took over on bass in 1974. Van Halen went on to become one of the most commercially successful hard rock acts of its era, and Eddie Van Halen's two-handed tapping technique and hands-on modification of his own guitars reshaped rock guitar playing and influenced how players approached their instruments. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, and its early Southern California club years remain a closely studied chapter in the history of American hard rock.
Condition: Good, as-is with no electronics, no hardware, no backplates. Mild dings and dents and other common signs of age and storage.
SKU: DST1032