In most cases, the value of a thing is determined by its quality and the materials from which it is made, but guitars are another matter. Their value depends on the story behind them. It is not so important how the instrument sounds and who made it: it is much more important who played it and when.
Fans are ready to pay a fortune for musical instruments owned by iconic rock artists, and today we will talk about the ten most expensive guitars in the world (acoustic and electronic).
List
- 10. Fender Broadcaster, $ 375,000
- 9. Eric Clapton's Gold Leaf Stratocaster, $ 455,550
- 8. Gibson SG by George Harrison, $ 570,000
- 7. Fender Composite Stratocaster Stevie Ray Vaughn, $ 623,500
- 6. C.F. Martin & Co. Eric Clapton, $ 791,500
- 5. Gibson ES 0335 TDC Eric Clapton, $ 847 500
- 4. Eric Clapton's Stratocaster hybrid, $ 959,500
- 3. Bob Marley's Washburn 22 series Hawk, under $ 2,000,000
- 2. Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix, $ 2,000,000
- 1. Fender Stratocaster Fund Reach out to Asia, $ 2,700,000
10. Fender Broadcaster, $ 375,000
Electric guitar Fender broadcaster was developed by Leo Fender in 1951 and became the first guitar to receive two pickups.
Name Telecaster she received later, at the time of launching mass production. With her stunning sound, she quickly gained fame among musicians and music lovers, and the prototype of the very first model went under the hammer in 1994.
9. Eric Clapton's Gold Leaf Stratocaster, $ 455,550
Eric Clapton, who began his musical career in 1962, is considered one of the most famous British performers, and he is also a real fan of good acoustic guitars (we will mention his name more than once).
In 1996, he wanted a special copy in his collection and turned to Fender, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
He described his desire like this: “I want a guitar that does not get lost even among the exhibits of the Louvre”. Soon he received this: Gold leaf stratocaster it bears its name for a reason and is covered with gold of the highest standard, but as it sounds ... He spoke with her until 1997, until he decided to auction Christie’s.
8. Gibson SG by George Harrison, $ 570,000
Rolling Stone Magazine put George Harrison on the 21st place in the hundred best guitarists of all time, so it is not surprising that his instrument costs such money.
The Liverpool Four solo guitarist played it in the band's video works (Paperback Writer and Rain), in front of the crowd of thousands of Wembley Stadiums in London, and all the riffs recorded during the Revolver were played on this Gibson SG.
It also adds value to the fact that when recording the album “The White Album” the guitar was owned by John Lennon, whom Harrison gave it to her.
Then she fell into the hands of Peter Ham (Badfinger), and after his death went to his brother - John Ham. For almost 30 years, she was in his possession, until in 2004, due to financial problems, he was not forced to sell it to an unknown collector.
7. Fender Composite Stratocaster Stevie Ray Vaughn, $ 623,500
What are you used to not getting a birthday from your spouse? Watch, wallet, phone, new tires for cars? Lenny, wife of blues star Stevie Ray Vaughn, gave him 26 years Fender composite composite stratocaster with engraving SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughan).
The musician was so impressed with the gift that he called the guitar the name of his beloved and since then played exclusively on it, rarely picking up another instrument. If not for his tragic death in 1990, then he would now light the public, holding a valuable gift in his hands.
She got to the auction 15 years ago, and the entire amount from her sale went to charity.
6. Eric Clapton, $ 791,500
And again Eric Clapton, but now with an acoustic guitar, not gold, but classical wood. True, it was made by the legendary Martin company in 1939 (the company has been manufacturing musical instruments since 1833).
In 2004 Slowhand, nicknamed Clapton) decided to participate in a charity event by selling C.F. Martin & Co and donating all the money for good deeds. After that, he “moved” to another model of the same Martin company.
5. Gibson ES 0335 TDC Eric Clapton, $ 847 500
Yes, Clapton again, but now the guitar has gone under the hammer for such a price tag solely due to the importance of its owner.
Gibson, of course, makes good instruments, but if it weren’t for the fact that it was with her help that Eric learned the best solos in 1964, it wouldn’t cost so much. Gibson ES 0335 TDC - The most expensive guitar of this manufacturer.
4. Eric Clapton's Stratocaster hybrid, $ 959,500
Stratocaster hybrid Eric Clapton made his own hands from three other guitars, for which he spent a total of $ 300. Your nickname Blackie - Stratocaster received due to the black lacquered case, which Clapton removed from the guitar in 1956 release.
For 13 years, he did not let his darling out of his hands, having recorded 13 albums, but in the end decided to part with her for charity: all the proceeds from her sale went to finance the construction of a rehabilitation center.
3. Bob Marley's Washburn 22 series Hawk, under $ 2,000,000
Washburn 22 series Hawk - The custom guitar of the legendary Rastafarian Bob Marley, which he presented to a friend in the early 70s. It was not a gesture of goodwill or gratitude, as Marley's gift was accompanied by a mysterious phrase: “Take her, she will be needed for business. Which one - you will understand later ”. It is hard to say what the musician had in mind, but after the death of Bob, the new owner of the instrument ordered the guitar in his own way: he organized a charity lottery, the winner of which will receive this beauty.
2. Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix, $ 2,000,000
The greatest guitar player of all time, according to the magazine Time, did things with the instrument that seemed to his contemporaries to be fantastic. The game of this virtuoso was not simply admired: it was idolized and raised to a cult, as was the personality of Hendrix himself.
The early death of a musician (he died at the age of 27) only increased the odiousness of his figure. Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix, sold in 1998 to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is the guitar with which Jimmy drove the Woodstock audience crazy on August 18, 1969. His set is considered the greatest ever performed, and people who were lucky enough to hear and see it alive remember these moments until now.
1. Fender Stratocaster Fund Reach out to Asia, $ 2,700,000
Standard Fender stratocaster has no background: none of the great guitarists touched its strings and it does not have a gram of precious materials, but the instrument is full of good.
The tsunami that brought destruction and death to Southeast Asia at the age of 15 impressed Brian Adams so much that he decided to create the Reach out to Asia fund. The goal was to raise as many funds as possible and send them to help the victims of the disaster, but there were not many options for raising a large sum.
It was then that it was decided to take the ordinary white “Stratocaster” and let the musical stars sign on its body. In addition to Adams himself, Sting, Mick Jagger, Angus Young, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Brian May and many others left their autographs there.
The emir from Qatar, who paid $ 1 million, became the first owner of the "painted" guitar. The most interesting thing is that he did not take it, but returned it to the auction so that it could be sold again.