The World’s Most Expensive Guitar
There are some guitars are considered expensive in the world. Some special reasons make these guitars have expensive prices of which they are owned by very famous artists, has a signature from artists or famous figures, has historical value because it is made of a material or expensive and scarce. Some people have the opportunity to collect these expensive guitars. In addition, to its expensive price, these world's most expensive guitars have its own meaning and value as compared to its nominal value. There are two categories of the world's most expensive guitar. First, based on the material of what guitars were made. Second, based on an auction where the highest price offered for the guitar. Let's see what kind of guitar that has become the winner of the second category and is given the title as the most expensive guitar in the world.
Based on materials: The GoldCaster Guitar
If it is made with scarce or expensive materials, of course the price of the guitar will be expensive too. The GoldCaster guitar is the world’s most expensive guitar based on the material of what guitars were made. The GoldCaster guitar's body made with solid 18 Karat gold and 18 Karat for the additional hardware that consists of 33 items including Nut, Bridge, Saddles (6), String tree, Neck Plate, Switch knobs (2), Tone knob, Volume knob, Ferrules (6), Strap buttons (2), Headstock logo and Headstock lettering. This guitar made by Jhoseph King who is known as a maker of custom guitars with metal body and various other instruments that use gold material or a gold-layered for famous names in the music industry. The GoldCaster guitar is offered by Jhoseph King with price of $1 million.
Based on auction/charity
There is only one guitar that known as the world’s most expensive guitar based on an auction where the highest price offered for the guitar. A Fender Stratocaster standard series has been sold $2.8 million at auction in Doha, Qatar. The auction aims to helped the victims of tsunami disaster that happened in 2004.
According to Fender’s website, the idea began when Jamie Crompton from Fender Europe contacted Bryan Adams and talk about how people from the music industry can be participated to help the victims of Tsunami disaster. Gather contacts from his phone book, Bryan then lists about nineteen of rock’s most treasure artist to sign on a Fender Stratocaster standard series guitar. The several artist names who signed the guitar including Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Mick Jagger, Ray Davies, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Tony Iommy, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Keith Richards, Ronnie wood, Sting, and Paul McCartney.
World's most expensive guitar owned by famous artist
- Jimi Hendrix's 1968 Stratocaster: The World's most expensive guitar owned by famous artist is 1968 Stratocaster that belongs to Jimi Hendrix. This guitar is played by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969. Rumor said that this guitar now owned by Paul Allen who is co-founder of Microsoft, he bought it estimated around $2 million. This guitar is very unique because it has a cigarette burns on the headstock along with its reverse stringing which is became Jimi Hendrix's Trademark.
- Bob Marley’s Custom made Washburn 22 series Hawk:
The Custom made Washburn 22 series Hawk belongs to Bob Marley also one of the world's most expensive guitar ever recorded with estimated price around $1.2 million to $2 million. This guitar has become a national asset that declared by the government of Jamaica. Bob Marley gave this guitar to a technician Gary Carlsten after a gig in Vancouver on November 21, 1971. The guitar then offer as a prize in the lottery in charity event.
World's most expensive guitar owned by Eric Clapton's
Some of the most expensive guitar ever sold is the property of renowned singer and guitarists Eric Clapton, among others are:
Blackie Stratocaster
Blackie Stratocaster sold for $ 959,000. This guitar is made of three vintage Stratocaster where Clapton bought from a guitar shop in Texas. He then unloads the 3 guitars and just takes the best part from the guitar and used it to customize his own guitar. This guitar used by Clapton around 1970-1985.
1964 Gibson ES335
1964 Gibson ES335 sold at auction for $ S847, 500. This guitar is owned by Eric Clapton that he used when joining bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall Bluesbreakers and Blind Faith.
939 CF Martin
939 CF Martin sold for $ 791.500. After the successful release of the song Tears in Heaven in 1992, Eric Clapton gain success and having a career revival. This guitar seen was used by him when he appeared on MTV Unplugged. This guitar is valued at $ 80,000 but was sold at ten times than that.
Gold Leaf Stratocaster
Gold Leaf Stratocaster guitar was made for Eric Clapton by Mark Kendrick, who is a master guitar builder from Fender. This guitar is used by Clapton during the Legends tour in 1997. This guitar was later sold to Christie's.
Brownie Stratocaster
This guitar was used to record “Layla”. Clapton also use this guitar when Derek and the Dominos finishing the album called Layla beside completing some other love songs. This guitar sold with a value of $ 450,000 and currently located at the Experience Music Project in Seattle owned by Paul Allen.
