NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Belmont University this week opened a new on-campus museum dedicated to a priceless collection of unique musical instruments.
Randy Skaggs, Vince Gill and famed Nashville instrument dealer George Gruhn were on hand for the dedication of The Gig. The museum houses a collection of some 500 instruments donated to the university by the late collector and philanthropist Steven Kern Shaw.
During the dedication ceremony for the museum, Ricky Skaggs played a tune with a collection instrument that he referred to as music legend Bill Monroe’s "partner."
"Truly, this F5 Gibson mandolin is what helped to create a whole genre of music called Bluegrass."
Among the other instruments in the collection: A 1939 Martin acoustic guitar valued at $350,000, and a 1960 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar worth $225,000.
You can learn more about The Gig at Belmont by visiting the museums' website.