The most expensive guitar in the world. David Gilmour's 'Black Stratocaster' from Pink Floyd sold for $14.6 million
Among the lots were several other musical instruments that belonged to rock stars.
Photo: MJ Kim/Getty Images
Auction house Christie's announced that the famous electric guitar, which David Gilmour used during the recording of all Pink Floyd albums from 1970 to 1983, was sold for a record sum of $14.6 million, writes BBC.
Thus, the guitar, known as the 'Black Stratocaster', became the most expensive of all ever sold in the world. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.
This guitar can be heard on Pink Floyd's most popular recordings, including the albums 'The Dark Side of the Moon', 'Wish You Were Here', and 'The Wall'.
Christie's had predicted that Gilmour's Fender Stratocaster would sell for between two and four million dollars.
Before this, the world's most expensive guitar was considered to be the electro-acoustic 'Martin D-18E', released in 1959 and used by Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain at the famous MTV Unplugged concert in 1993. This guitar was sold at auction in 2020 for $6 million.
At this auction, another guitar belonging to Kurt Cobain was also sold — a blue Fender Mustang, which the leader of 'Nirvana' used during the recording of the music video for the song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' — its value was $6.9 million.
The instruments were sold as part of an auction featuring the property of American billionaire Jim Irsay, who died in 2025.
Among the lots were several other musical instruments that belonged to rock stars.
Among them, John Lennon's piano was sold for $3.2 million — it is believed to be the largest sum ever paid for an item associated with 'The Beatles'.
'After each lot, we had the feeling that historical events were taking place,' said Julien Pradels, head of Christie's American division.
Among other items sold:
- An electric guitar made especially for Jerry Garcia, vocalist and guitarist of the American band Grateful Dead. The instrument, known as 'Tiger', was purchased for $11.6 million.
- Handwritten lyrics for the song 'The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan — $2.5 million.
- A drum kit that belonged to 'Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr — $2.4 million.
- The trumpet of legendary jazz musician Miles Davis — $1.6 million.
- A notebook with Sylvester Stallone's handwritten script for the film 'Rocky' — $508 thousand.
- A robe worn by legendary boxer Muhammad Ali for weigh-ins — $444.5 thousand.
According to Christie's, the total value of the 44 items from Irsay's collection put up for auction amounted to $84 million.