The legendary electric guitar known as the “Black Strat,” which was extensively used by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame and as a solo artist, was recently sold at a live Christie’s auction for a staggering $14.55 million, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a guitar at an auction. The iconic instrument was acquired by an undisclosed buyer after intense bidding that lasted around 20 minutes, surpassing the previous record set at a 2020 Julien’s auction when Kurt Cobain’s Martin guitar from MTV Unplugged fetched $6.01 million.
David Gilmour originally obtained the black Fender Stratocaster in 1970 in New York as a replacement for Pink Floyd’s stolen equipment during a U.S. tour. It became Gilmour’s primary guitar, used on almost all recordings unless a specific sound was required. The instrument underwent multiple modifications and customizations over the years, and after being displayed at the Hard Rock Café, it returned to the spotlight during Pink Floyd’s Live 8 reunion performance in London in 2005.
The Black Strat, which Gilmour described as his experimental tool for various musical endeavors, was previously sold to Jim Irsay, the late owner of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, for $3.975 million. The recent auction, part of a series of sales showcasing Irsay’s extensive guitar collection, included a variety of iconic instruments and music memorabilia. Additionally, four other guitars, including Jerry Garcia’s custom guitar and instruments used by Kurt Cobain and Eric Clapton, also made it to the top 10 list of most expensive guitars ever sold at auction.
In total, all 44 lots offered at the auction were successfully sold, generating a combined total of over $84 million, inclusive of the auction house commission.