History has been made.
One among Eric Clapton’s guitars sold for $1.27 million this week at an auction in Nashville, Tennessee, making it the costliest Clapton guitar ever sold at auction.
Julien’s Auctions is currently in the course of a three-day auction event for iconic musicians called the “Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock ‘N’ Roll Iconic Guitars And Memorabilia.”
On Thursday, Nov. 16, Clapton’s “The Idiot” guitar was sold to The Jim Irsay Collection in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a bidding war that took place live on the Hard Rock Café in Nashville.
The guitar is a 1964 Gibson SG electric guitar that was first played on stage by the guitarist while touring in the USA with rock band Cream, based on Julien’s Auctions.
Julien’s Auctions states that the guitar was named after the Dutch art collective, The Idiot, who were chosen to custom-paint the guitar in a psychedelic finish.
Clapton can be thought to have created his “woman tone” sound on this particular guitar, which was a staple sound for the musician, as Julien’s Auctions stated.
Other notable items within the auction include a 1977 fully restored Lincoln Continental Mark V, which was previously owned and driven by Elvis Presley; a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray owned and driven by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash; and Dolly Parton’s Seventies custom-made and stage-worn cape — which sold for over $10,000.
One among Eric Clapton’s guitars sold for $1.27 million this week at an auction in Nashville, Tennessee, making it the costliest Clapton guitar ever sold at auction.Getty Images for Crossroads Guitar Festival
Other guitars on the auction item list include a stage-played electric guitar from Eddie Van Halen’s collection — which sold for $117,000.
As well as, Albert King’s “Lucy” electric guitar sold for over $63,000, based on Julien’s Auctions.
Darren Julien, president and chief executive officer of Julien’s Auctions. told FOX Business that selling Clapton’s guitar was “like selling a Mona Lisa.”
“It’s an instrument of great great thing about sight and sound that would only have been originally played by the one and only Eric Clapton,” he said.
The guitar is a 1964 Gibson SG electric guitar that was first played on stage by the guitarist while touring in the USA with rock band Cream, based on Julien’s Auctions. AFP via Getty Images
Julien said the selling of the item was an “exciting” time.
“The auction was an exciting night with a world record achieved in its sale as the costliest Clapton guitar ever sold at auction,” he continued.
Julien said the corporate is looking forward to a different two nights of rock ‘n’ roll auction success.
