A legendary electric guitar, famously known as the “Black Strat,” extensively used by David Gilmour during his time with Pink Floyd and as a solo artist, was sold for a staggering $14.55 million US in a recent Christie’s auction. The unnamed buyer secured this iconic instrument after a heated bidding session lasting about 20 minutes, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a guitar at auction.
David Gilmour acquired the black Fender Stratocaster in 1970 in New York as a replacement for Pink Floyd’s stolen equipment during a U.S. tour. Over the years, this guitar became Gilmour’s primary instrument for most of his musical endeavors. Despite undergoing various modifications and being displayed at the Hard Rock Café, the guitar gained significant attention during Pink Floyd’s reunion at Live 8 in London’s Hyde Park in 2005.
Jim Irsay, the late owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, acquired the Black Strat from Gilmour in 2019 for $3.975 million. The recent Christie’s auction, featuring a selection of iconic guitars and memorabilia from Irsay’s collection, marked one of four auctions this month showcasing his eclectic assortment, often regarded as one of the finest guitar collections globally.
In addition to the Black Strat’s record-breaking sale, four other guitars achieved top rankings in the 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, which sold for $11.56 million, and Kurt Cobain’s guitar from Nirvana’s iconic albums, fetching $6.9 million. Two Eric Clapton guitars, including a Cream-era Gibson SG and the Martin acoustic from his MTV Unplugged performance, also made it to the list.
The auction saw all 44 lots being sold, generating a total revenue of over $84 million, including the auction house commission.