Recently, an auction sold a legendary guitar, which rock legend Eddie Van Halen once used as his primary instrument, for nearly $4,000,000. The custom-made Kramer electric guitar appeared in the iconic music video for Halen’s “Hot For Teacher”.
The guitar fetched a price of $3,932,000, surpassing the auction house’s estimation by nearly $1,000,000 and confidently securing a spot on the list of the most expensive guitars ever sold.
The guitar is now in fourth place, dislodging the $2.7m Reach Out to Asia Fender Stratocaster and coming in just $43,000 below David Gilmour’s Black Strat, whose third spot stays intact. Only two other guitars have ever sold for more at auction, both of which were once owned by Kurt Cobain.
Paul Unkert built the Kramer CO176, which served as one of Van Halen’s primary instruments in ’83 and ’84. The guitar features a 22-fret, bolt-on maple neck, a sole Seymour Duncan humbucker and a lone volume knob, and a Floyd Rose bridge.
Van Halen gifted the guitar to Gregg Emerson, the band’s retiring drum tech, around 1990. Neal’s Music in Huntington Beach, California bought the guitar from its original owner and sold it to its pre-auction owner.
Furthermore, the guitar has been shipped to its new owner, accompanied by a letter of provenance from Paul Unkert, as well as a signed photo from Eddie Van Halen. Furthermore, the shipment contained not only the guitar but also its original case and the straight jacket and white gloves that Van Halen wore in the music video, making for a complete and authentic collection.
The sale of this legendary guitar is a testament to the enduring impact that Eddie Van Halen has had on the music industry. Additionally, the sale of this guitar serves as a powerful reminder that the influence of music can persist long after the notes have stopped playing.
To learn more about the sale of this iconic guitar, head over to Sotheby’s website. This guitar’s sale serves as a reminder that the impact of music can endure long after the notes have ceased playing.
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