Bidders from all over the world compete to buy guitars from the personal collection of the Pink Floyd singer and songwriter, including ‘The Black Strat’, which realises $3,975,000
21 June 2019 | Christies
The David Gilmour Guitar Collection, the largest and most comprehensive sale of guitars ever offered at auction, told the story of one of the world’s most influential guitarists. The 126 lots, which included iconic instruments played by Gilmour on Pink Floyd’s greatest tracks as well as his solo albums, totalled $21,490,750 — the most valuable musical instruments sale in auction history — with proceeds being donated to ClientEarth.
In the months leading up to the auction, over 12,000 fans attended the tour stops in London, Los Angeles and New York to get up-close to the guitars played by the Pink Floyd guitarist, singer and songwriter. In excess of 500,000 people viewed the content around the sale on Christies.com, and more than 2,000 bidders from 66 countries registered for the sale, which took place at Christie’s Rockefeller Center HQ.
On the day of the auction, the unprecedented level of interest was evident in the queues that snaked around the block and the fact a second saleroom had to be opened up to accommodate the crowds. The lucky ones who made it inside witnessed some extraordinary results.
The best, however, was saved until last when ‘The Black Strat’, which was integral to the recording of Pink Floyd albums The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979), sold for $3,975,000 — a new world record for a guitar at auction.
more: https://www.christies.com/features/David-Gilmour-Collection-auction-results-9974-3.aspx
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Lovely instruments, yes, and of course it's fantastic that so much money was raised for a great cause.
However, at these prices, most of these guitars are either going on the wall at home - if you have enough security - or into a bank vault. Which is a shame.
I seem to remember an interview with Gilmour when the sale was first announced, in which he had a very refreshing unsentimental attitude towards the guitars. Something like "I've had a great time with them, but I don't need them all, so now it's time for someone else to make use of them." He wanted them to be played, not to hang on a wall or languish in a bank vault.
Wow! Some beautiful instruments there - David had really good taste in guitars. Some of the early Gretsch models were incredible works of art; I saw one that resembled the Gretsch that Pete Townshend got from Joe Walsh, which was played on the Quadrophenia album.