Eric Clapton’s guitar sells for $1.3 million after being considered one of the most famous instruments in the world
History has been made.
One of Eric Clapton’s guitars sold for $1.27 million this week at an auction in Nashville, Tennessee, making it the most expensive Clapton guitar ever sold at auction.
Julien’s Auctions is currently in the middle of a three-day auction for iconic musicians called “Touched, Worn and Broken: Iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitars and Memorabilia.”
On Thursday, November 16, Clapton’s “The Fool” guitar was sold to The Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a bidding war that took place live at Nashville’s Hard Rock Café.
The guitar is a 1964 Gibson SG electric guitar that the guitarist first played on stage while touring the United States with the rock band Cream, according to Julien’s Auctions.
Julien’s Auctions states that the guitar is named after the Dutch art collective The Fool, who were selected to custom paint the guitar with a psychedelic finish.
Clapton is also believed to have created his “feminine tone” sound on this particular guitar, which was a staple sound for the musician, as stated by Julien’s Auctions.
Other notable items in the auction include a fully restored 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V, previously owned and driven by Elvis Presley; a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray owned and driven by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash; and Dolly Parton’s custom-made stage-worn 1970s cape, which sold for more than $10,000.
Other guitars on the auction item list include a stage-played electric guitar from the collection of Eddie Van Halen, which sold for $117,000.
Additionally, Albert King’s “Lucy” electric guitar sold for more than $63,000, according to Julien’s Auctions.
Darren Julien, President and CEO of Julien’s Auctions. He told FOX Business that selling Clapton’s guitar was “like selling a Mona Lisa.”
“It is an instrument of great visual and sonic beauty that could only have been originally played by the one and only Eric Clapton,” he said.
Julien said the sale of the item was an “exciting” moment.
“The auction was an exciting night with a world record achieved for sale as the most expensive Clapton guitar ever sold at auction,” he continued.
Julien said the company is hoping for another two successful nights at the rock ‘n’ roll auctions.
