David Gilmour’s long-standing electric guitar, famously known as the “Black Strat,” which he used extensively during his time with Pink Floyd and as a solo artist, was sold for a staggering $14.55 million US at a recent auction. This sale set a new record for the highest price ever paid for a guitar at auction, surpassing the previous record set in 2020.
The iconic instrument was acquired by an undisclosed buyer during a live auction hosted by Christie’s, following a competitive bidding war that lasted approximately 20 minutes. This sale eclipsed the previous record achieved when Kurt Cobain’s Martin guitar, used during the “MTV Unplugged” performance, sold for $6.01 million.
Originally purchased by Gilmour in 1970 in New York as a replacement for Pink Floyd’s stolen equipment during a U.S. tour, the Black Strat became his primary guitar for various recordings and performances. Over the years, the instrument underwent multiple modifications and customizations. After a period of display at the Hard Rock Café, it returned to the limelight during Pink Floyd’s Live 8 reunion in 2005.
The Black Strat, described by Gilmour as his “experimental work bed,” was put up for sale by him in 2019 to raise funds for charity. It was acquired by Jim Irsay, the late owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, for $3.975 million. The recent auction, featuring a collection of guitars and music memorabilia from Irsay, marked one of four auctions this month of his renowned eclectic music collection.
In addition to the Black Strat, several other guitars also achieved record-breaking prices at the auction. Jerry Garcia’s custom guitar, used extensively during his time with the Grateful Dead, sold for $11.56 million. One of Kurt Cobain’s guitars from Nirvana’s albums, including the iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video, fetched $6.9 million. Eric Clapton’s guitars, such as the Cream-era Gibson SG and the Martin acoustic from his “MTV Unplugged” performance, also made it to the list of top 10 most expensive guitars ever sold at auction.
Overall, all 44 items offered at the auction were sold, with the total sales for the evening reaching over $84 million, including the auction house commission.
