The “Black Strat,” a renowned electric guitar extensively used by David Gilmour during his time with Pink Floyd and as a solo artist, was recently auctioned off for a staggering $14.55 million US. This sale set a new record as the highest price ever paid for a guitar at an auction. The iconic instrument was acquired by an undisclosed buyer after a competitive bidding session lasting about 20 minutes at a live Christie’s auction.
Originally obtained by Gilmour in 1970 in New York as a replacement for Pink Floyd’s stolen equipment during a U.S. tour, the black Fender Stratocaster became his primary guitar for various recordings and performances. Over the years, the instrument underwent multiple modifications and customizations, and after being displayed at the Hard Rock Café, it made a notable return during Pink Floyd’s Live 8 reunion in 2005.
The guitar, described by Gilmour as “battered and beat-up,” served as a creative tool for his musical experimentation. In 2019, Gilmour decided to sell the Black Strat to raise funds for charity, and it was purchased by Jim Irsay, the late owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, for $3.975 million. The recent auction featured a selection of guitars and memorabilia from Irsay’s collection, which is considered one of the world’s finest.
In addition to the Black Strat, several other guitars achieved record-breaking prices at the auction, with five guitars now ranking among the top 10 most expensive guitars ever sold at auction. Notable sales included the custom guitar played by Jerry Garcia, which fetched $11.56 million, and one of Kurt Cobain’s guitars used in Nirvana’s albums, including the iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video, selling for $6.9 million. Two guitars associated with Eric Clapton also made the list of top sellers.
Overall, all 44 lots offered at the auction were sold, generating a total of over $84 million, including auction house fees. This event marked one of four auctions this month featuring items from Jim Irsay’s extensive music collection, which has been celebrated for its exceptional range of guitars and music memorabilia.
