The renowned electric guitar known as the “Black Strat,” extensively used by David Gilmour in Pink Floyd albums and as a solo artist, was auctioned for a staggering $14.55 million US, setting a new record for the highest-priced guitar ever sold. An unidentified bidder successfully acquired the iconic instrument during a live Christie’s auction following a competitive bidding session lasting about 20 minutes. This sale surpassed the previous record set at a 2020 Julien’s auction when Kurt Cobain’s Martin guitar from MTV Unplugged fetched $6.01 million.
David Gilmour initially acquired the black Fender Stratocaster guitar off-the-shelf in New York in 1970 as a replacement for Pink Floyd’s stolen equipment during a U.S. tour. Gilmour described it as his primary guitar, utilized extensively across various projects unless a different sound was desired. The instrument underwent multiple modifications and customizations over the years, serving as a platform for Gilmour’s experimental work. After being displayed at the Hard Rock Café, the Black Strat notably made a comeback during Pink Floyd’s reunion at Live 8 in London’s Hyde Park in 2005.
The Black Strat, auctioned by Gilmour in 2019 to raise funds for charity and purchased by Jim Irsay, owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, for $3.975 million, was part of a collection of iconic guitars and memorabilia owned by Irsay that were featured in a recent live sale. This auction was one of four events this month showcasing the eclectic guitar collection of the late music aficionado, often acclaimed as one of the world’s finest guitar assortments.
Apart from the Black Strat, four other guitars also achieved record-breaking sales on Thursday, entering the top 10 list of the most expensive guitars ever sold at auction. These included Jerry Garcia’s custom guitar used during his final performance with the Grateful Dead, fetching $11.56 million, and one of Kurt Cobain’s guitars from Nirvana’s albums, sold for $6.9 million. Additionally, Eric Clapton’s Cream-era Gibson SG and the Martin acoustic played during MTV Unplugged also made it to the list of top-selling guitars. All 44 lots offered on Thursday were sold, generating a total revenue of over $84 million, inclusive of the auction house commission.
