So, big Floyd fan here, I know many others are as well. I remember the black strat quite well, think Echoes from Pompeii video!
David Gilmour's Guitars Shatter Records at Auction
By Jackson Maxwell 7 hours ago News
The Pink Floyd legend's iconic Black Strat alone takes in an unbelievable $3,975,000.
To say the least, today's highly anticipated auction of David Gilmour's personal guitar collection rocked the guitar world. As expected, the much-publicized sale started shattering records almost as soon as it started — and it just kept on going.
The biggest news of the morning was the $1,095,000 sale of Gilmour's 1969 Martin D-35, the same guitar heard on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, most natobly on the iconic title track. Despite starting off with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 to 20,000, it became the most valuable acoustic guitar ever sold, according to Christie's.
But the undisputed star of the auction was Gilmour's legendary 1969 Black Strat, which took in a mammoth $3,975,000 by the end of the day, establishing a new world auction record for any guitar sold at auction — ever. This is, of course, the "David Gilmour guitar" — the axe heard on Pink Floyd's “Comfortably Numb,” “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” “Money” and so many others. The guitar went through many modifications over the years, which only added to its mystique. With its battle-scarred surface, it wouldn’t be hard to believe this guitar had been to The Dark Side of the Moon and back. And in some ways, it had, appearing on that album, as well as many others in the Floyd catalog.
Speaking of Fender products, Gilmour's Olympic White "#0001" Stratocaster took in $1,815,000 after a four-minute bidding war. Gilmour used the guitar on Pink Floyd’s The Wall, most famously on the funky rhythm guitar part on “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).” While some of this guitar’s history is foggy (although most stories involve a young Seymour Duncan), Gilmour is clear as to why it was special to him: “Some guitars make everyone sound the same. Others tend to emphasize the differences, which this one does.”
Gilmour's Candy Apple Red 1984 Fender Strat realized an impressive $615,000, much higher than its $25,000 estimate. It can be heard throughout much of A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. A black 1984 Strat that was once played by George Harrison sold for $212,500.
His 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop sold for $447,000, setting a new world auction record for a Les Paul, according to Christie's. Gilmour used it on The Wall tour for “Happiest Days of Our Lives,” “One of My Turns” and “Last Few Bricks.”
Meanwhile, the guitarist's incredibly rare 1958 Gretsch White Penguin was let go for $447,000 — and an attractive 1981 Charvel sold for $75,000. His 1985 Gibson J-200 Celebrity (originally owned by Dire Straits' John Illsley) took in $243,750 against an original estimate of $5,500, while a 1974 Jedson lap-steel sold for $300,000, despite its $2,000 estimate.
“[Parting with the guitars] is something I’ve thought about for years,” Gilmour told Guitar World. “These guitars have served me very well. They’ve given me songs and tunes, but I thought it would be good for them to move on and create new music with different people. Hopefully, they’ll also raise a fair bit of money, which I plan donate to charity, and that will do some direct good in this world with all its difficulties.”
To read more about five highlights of the collection, step right this way.
David Gilmour's Guitars Shatter Records at Auction
By Jackson Maxwell 7 hours ago News
The Pink Floyd legend's iconic Black Strat alone takes in an unbelievable $3,975,000.
To say the least, today's highly anticipated auction of David Gilmour's personal guitar collection rocked the guitar world. As expected, the much-publicized sale started shattering records almost as soon as it started — and it just kept on going.
The biggest news of the morning was the $1,095,000 sale of Gilmour's 1969 Martin D-35, the same guitar heard on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, most natobly on the iconic title track. Despite starting off with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 to 20,000, it became the most valuable acoustic guitar ever sold, according to Christie's.
But the undisputed star of the auction was Gilmour's legendary 1969 Black Strat, which took in a mammoth $3,975,000 by the end of the day, establishing a new world auction record for any guitar sold at auction — ever. This is, of course, the "David Gilmour guitar" — the axe heard on Pink Floyd's “Comfortably Numb,” “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” “Money” and so many others. The guitar went through many modifications over the years, which only added to its mystique. With its battle-scarred surface, it wouldn’t be hard to believe this guitar had been to The Dark Side of the Moon and back. And in some ways, it had, appearing on that album, as well as many others in the Floyd catalog.
Speaking of Fender products, Gilmour's Olympic White "#0001" Stratocaster took in $1,815,000 after a four-minute bidding war. Gilmour used the guitar on Pink Floyd’s The Wall, most famously on the funky rhythm guitar part on “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2).” While some of this guitar’s history is foggy (although most stories involve a young Seymour Duncan), Gilmour is clear as to why it was special to him: “Some guitars make everyone sound the same. Others tend to emphasize the differences, which this one does.”
Gilmour's Candy Apple Red 1984 Fender Strat realized an impressive $615,000, much higher than its $25,000 estimate. It can be heard throughout much of A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell. A black 1984 Strat that was once played by George Harrison sold for $212,500.
His 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop sold for $447,000, setting a new world auction record for a Les Paul, according to Christie's. Gilmour used it on The Wall tour for “Happiest Days of Our Lives,” “One of My Turns” and “Last Few Bricks.”
Meanwhile, the guitarist's incredibly rare 1958 Gretsch White Penguin was let go for $447,000 — and an attractive 1981 Charvel sold for $75,000. His 1985 Gibson J-200 Celebrity (originally owned by Dire Straits' John Illsley) took in $243,750 against an original estimate of $5,500, while a 1974 Jedson lap-steel sold for $300,000, despite its $2,000 estimate.
“[Parting with the guitars] is something I’ve thought about for years,” Gilmour told Guitar World. “These guitars have served me very well. They’ve given me songs and tunes, but I thought it would be good for them to move on and create new music with different people. Hopefully, they’ll also raise a fair bit of money, which I plan donate to charity, and that will do some direct good in this world with all its difficulties.”
To read more about five highlights of the collection, step right this way.
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