David Gilmour’s guitar auction nets MILLIONS AND MILLIONS. WOW!
In one of the most remarkable cases of decluttering in the known universe, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour decided to unload 126 guitars at auction with all proceeds going to a climate change charity.
After touring the guitar through a couple of markets, the auction was held yesterday. The amount of money involved was staggering. Here are just two examples.
Gilmour’s favourite guitar, a Martin D-35 acoustic which had a guide price of around $100,000 ended up selling for–wait for it–US$1,095,000. That’s an all-time record, beating the sale price of an Eric Clapton guitar that went for $791,000 back in 2004. Wow, right?
#AuctionUpdate The C.F. Martin & Company, Nazareth, 1969 Acoustic Guitar, D-35 has set a new #worldauctionrecord for a C.F Martin guitar realizing $1,095,000, surpassing Eric Clapton’s 1939 OO0-42 which sold for $791,500 in 2004 https://t.co/ydaAiLuxsg pic.twitter.com/KPfKFf2Pp8
— Christie’s (@ChristiesInc) June 20, 2019
Then came The White Strat. a 1954 model with serial number 0001. That’s what we hear Gilmour play on “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.” It sold for US$1.8 million, a new high-water mark for a guitar.
That world record stood for a couple of hours. But then it was time to sell the famous and legendary Black Strat, a 1969 guitar used by Gilmour on virtually every Floyd album and tour plus for his solo work.
That guitar solo we hear on “Comfortably Numb?” The Black Strat. The twang on “Money?” The Black Strat. Those gorgeous sounds on “Shine on You Crazy Diamond?” The Black Strat.
When the Black Strat finally came up, bidding went crazy. In the end, the price was stratospheric. (See what I did there?)
The legendary Black Strat achieves $3,975,000, establishing a new #WorldAuctionRecord for any guitar sold at auction #GilmourGuitars https://t.co/pVR93GBhFz pic.twitter.com/Hs0He9TMIn
— Christie’s (@ChristiesInc) June 20, 2019
The final tally from the eight-hour auction was US$21,490,750 and involved the participation of bidders from 66 different countries.
More on the auction at Rolling Stone.
