Dozens of prized instruments have hit the auction block as Nash2o, the Nashville-based flood-relief effort, marked its kickoff with a party at Music City’s Hard Rock Cafe October 12.

With Vince Gill and John Jorgenson in attendance, Nash2o founders Joe Glaser, George Gruhn, and Bruce Bouton displayed flood-damaged guitars donated by Gill, Jorgenson, Peter Frampton, Kathy Mattea, Duane Eddy, Brad Paisley and others. The auctions will run in three groups, into December.

More than 50 instruments will be sold, with proceeds going to Nashville’s emergency responders, musicians affected by the May ’10 flood, and Music Cares, a charitable organization based in Nashville.

The Nash2o auctions are unique, says Gruhn, as these instruments have real connections to the artists who donated them. "These aren’t like the typical artist instruments that come up, where someone hands a guitar to a famous person, he signs it, and sends it on. These are the artists’ actual instruments – their favorites, the ones they played every day. When you bid on one of the two Les Pauls from Peter Frampton, you’re bidding on Peter’s guitar.

To read more and submit a bid, go to www.nash2o.org.