💰The 17 Most Expensive Guitars Ever Sold: Instruments That Made History

In the world of guitar auctions, condition is secondary — story is everything. Scratches, worn frets, and battle scars only add value when an instrument is tied to a legendary artist. That’s why a road-worn guitar with history can easily outperform a pristine 1959 Gibson Les Paul.

Below is the definitive list of the most expensive guitars ever sold at auction — clear proof that musical legacy outweighs cosmetic perfection.

The Brands That Dominate Guitar History

The top 11 is ruled by just three names: Fender, Gibson, and Martin. Five of those are Stratocasters, reinforcing their status as the most iconic electric guitars ever made. One boutique instrument — crafted for Jerry Garcia — also earns a place among the giants.

Due to unverifiable private sales, several famous guitars were excluded. What remains is a fully documented list of record-breaking auction instruments.

When guitars appear at major auctions, condition alone rarely determines the final price. What truly drives values into the millions is who played them. The most expensive electric and acoustic guitars in the world often show heavy wear, refrets, finish damage, and decades of hard touring — yet their direct connection to legendary artists makes them far more valuable than even a pristine 1959 Gibson Les Paul.

Below is a definitive list of the most expensive guitars ever sold at auction — clear proof that musical legacy outweighs cosmetic perfection.

Among the top 11 instruments, only three major manufacturers dominate: Fender, Gibson, Kramer and Martin. This will surprise no one. However, there is also space for one independent boutique creation once owned by Jerry Garcia. Five of the top 11 guitars are Stratocasters, reinforcing their place in the ongoing debate over the most iconic guitar design of all time. Interestingly, there is little stylistic variety — classic models like the Telecaster, SG, and Flying V fail to appear.

Because private sales are notoriously difficult to verify, several famous guitars are excluded — including Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock Stratocaster (rumored to have sold for $1.3 million in 1993) and Peter Green’s legendary Les Paul, allegedly purchased by Kirk Hammett for $2 million in 2014. Everything else listed below is fully documented. Let’s explore the guitars that achieved the highest prices ever under the auction hammer.

17. Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Fender Stratocaster

Sold: New York, 2004
Price: $959,000

When “Blackie” changed hands in 2004, it set a new auction record. Today, it barely holds a spot near the top — a testament to how extreme the market has become.

In 1970, Eric Clapton walked into Nashville’s Sho-Bud store and bought every Fender Stratocaster they had. Three were gifted to George Harrison, Pete Townshend, and Steve Winwood. From the remaining parts, Clapton assembled his ultimate Strat: a 1956 body, a 1957 neck, and pickups sourced from a third guitar.

Played almost exclusively between 1974 and 1985, the guitar was worn to the point where the low E string slipped off the fretboard — likely the reason it stopped just short of the million-dollar mark.

16. Bob Dylan’s 1964 Fender Stratocaster

Sold: New York, 2013
Price: $965,000

At the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan shocked the world by going electric with this very Stratocaster. After the show, the guitar was accidentally left on a private plane and remained with the pilot’s family for nearly five decades.

Auction images showed remarkable condition for a heavily used instrument. Even without its history, this pre-CBS Strat would have been highly collectible. Originally estimated at $500,000, it ultimately surpassed Clapton’s “Blackie.”

15. David Gilmour’s Martin D-35

Sold: New York, 2019
Price: $1,095,000

David Gilmour once described his Martin D-35 as the single luxury he’d want if stranded alone. Nearly every Pink Floyd composition flowed through this guitar, most famously on Wish You Were Here.

Used on every album from The Dark Side of the Moon through The Final Cut, the instrument was later auctioned to support environmental charity ClimateEarth — proving that even priceless tools can serve a higher cause.

14. Rory Gallagher’s 1961 Fender Stratocaster

Sold: London, 2024
Price: $1,160,000

When news broke that Rory Gallagher’s family planned to sell his iconic 1961 Stratocaster along with other personal gear, the reaction was immediate and global. The guitar’s cultural importance was so great that even members of the Irish government supported a public fundraising initiative aimed at keeping the instrument in Ireland. Prominent guitarists, including Joe Bonamassa, openly backed the campaign.

This particular Strat carries legendary status—many believe it was the first Fender Stratocaster ever to arrive on Irish soil. Gallagher relied on this heavily worn instrument throughout his entire career, and it became inseparable from his sound and reputation as one of blues-rock’s true giants.

At auction in October 2024, bidding reached £700,000 (£889,400 including buyer’s premium), roughly $1.26 million. In a fitting conclusion, the winning bidder donated the guitar to a national museum, ensuring it remains part of Ireland’s musical heritage.

13. Duane Allman’s 1957 Gibson Les Paul

Sold: Dallas, 2019
Price: $1,250,000

Contrary to expectations, the most valuable Les Paul ever sold was not a sunburst “Burst,” but a 1957 Goldtop once owned by Duane Allman. This guitar featured prominently on the first two Allman Brothers Band albums and on Derek & the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs before Allman traded it for a Burst—while insisting on keeping the pickups.

Those original humbuckers remain installed today. After suffering an unfortunate refinish by a later owner, the guitar was meticulously restored by master luthier Tom Murphy. Former owner Scot Lamar frequently loaned it out, meaning it has since appeared on stage with players such as Billy Gibbons, Kirk Hammett, and Derek Trucks.

12. Eric Clapton’s 1964 “The Fool” Gibson SG

Sold: Nashville, 2023
Price: $1,270,000

Few guitars embody an era quite like Eric Clapton’s 1964 SG, famously nicknamed The Fool. Decorated by a Dutch art collective, its psychedelic artwork made it visually inseparable from the late ’60s counterculture movement.

During Clapton’s Cream years, this SG became his main instrument as the band developed the riff-driven sound heard on Disraeli Gears. Beyond its striking appearance, the guitar played a key role in shaping Clapton’s legendary “woman tone,” characterized by warmth, sustain, and rich harmonics—heard on classics like Sunshine of Your Love and White Room.

In late 2023, collector Jim Irsay paid over $1 million to acquire The Fool, making it the most expensive Eric Clapton guitar ever sold at auction.

11. Kurt Cobain’s 1993 Fender Mustang “Sky Stang I”

Sold: Nashville, 2023
Price: $1,587,500

The Sky Stang I holds a special place in Nirvana history, having been used extensively during the In Utero tour and at the band’s final concert on March 1, 1994. One of ten Mustangs commissioned by Kurt Cobain in mid-1993, the guitar was built in Japan at the Fujigen factory by luthier Scott Zimmerman.

At the time, Fender’s U.S. Custom Shop did not produce left-handed models, making Japan the only viable option. After Cobain’s death, the guitar passed to his brother Chad before eventually appearing at auction nearly three decades later. Purchased by Japanese entrepreneur Mitsuru Sato, the instrument effectively returned to its country of origin.

10. David Gilmour’s 1954 Fender Stratocaster

Sold: New York, 2019
Price: $1,815,000

This early Stratocaster would be highly collectible even without its Pink Floyd association. Bearing serial number #0001, it is among the earliest pre-production Strats issued to Fender-endorsed artists. Originally owned by country musician Rex Gallion, it later passed through the hands of Seymour Duncan before reaching David Gilmour.

In addition to its rarity, the guitar was used to record rhythm parts on Another Brick in the Wall. Christie’s initial estimate of $100,000–$150,000 proved wildly conservative once bidding began.

9. Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf”

Sold: New York, 2017
Price: $1,900,000

Unlike most guitars on this list, the Wolf was not produced by a major manufacturer. Built by luthier Doug Irwin specifically for Jerry Garcia, it featured laminated maple and purpleheart, along with groundbreaking electronics and modular pickup systems.

Dual outputs allowed Garcia to route effects independently, a revolutionary concept at the time. Revered by Grateful Dead fans, the Wolf was the centerpiece of an auction that raised $3.2 million for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

8. John Lennon’s Gibson J-160E

Sold: Los Angeles, 2015
Price: $2,410,000

By installing a pickup into a standard acoustic guitar, Gibson created a tool perfectly suited for early rock ’n’ roll—and John Lennon made full use of it. This J-160E was instrumental in writing and recording Beatles material from 1962–1963, including I Want to Hold Your Hand.

The guitar appeared on Love Me Do, the band’s first U.S. number-one single, before being stolen in 1963. Its rediscovery decades later led to a record-breaking sale that reflected its immense historical value.

7. Reach Out to Asia Fender Stratocaster

Sold: Qatar, 2005
Price: $2,700,000

This Stratocaster stands apart for one reason: it was never owned by a single superstar. Instead, it was auctioned to raise funds for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. A standard Mexican-made Strat, it was covered in the signatures of dozens of legendary musicians, from Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton to Paul McCartney and Sting.

Given its original retail price of around $350, it may be the most expensive signature guitar ever created relative to its base value.

6. Eddie Van Halen’s “Kramer Ad” Guitar

Sold: New York, 2025
Price: $2,734,000

Built in the early 1980s, this Kramer was among the first guitars Eddie Van Halen helped design with the brand. Modeled after his famous Frankenstein guitar, it retained the signature red, black, and white striping and appeared in the iconic Kramer advertisement declaring it “the best guitar you can buy today.”

The guitar saw extensive stage use during tours across South America in 1982 and 1983, cementing its place in Van Halen history.

5. John Lennon’s Help! 12-String Framus Hootenanny

Sold: New York, 2024
Price: $2,857,500

Discovered after being missing for half a century, John Lennon’s 12-string Framus Hootenanny caused a sensation when it resurfaced in 2024. Used extensively during the recording of Help! and featured in the film of the same name, the guitar was found stored away in an attic.

Although it didn’t break the all-time auction record, it far exceeded expectations, becoming the most expensive Beatles-related guitar ever sold.

4. Eddie Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher Kramer

Sold: New York, 2023
Price: $3,932,000

Among the many Van Halen guitars to reach auction, this one stood above the rest. Built by Paul Unkert, the striped Kramer was a primary instrument during 1983–1984 and starred in the legendary Hot For Teacher music video.

Its close association with one of rock’s most iconic videos helped push the final sale price to nearly $4 million, making it one of the most valuable guitars ever auctioned.

3. David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster

Sold: New York, 2019
Price: $3,975,000

Despite extensive modifications, Gilmour’s Black Strat shattered expectations at auction. Equipped with custom Seymour Duncan pickups and a shortened tremolo arm, it was Gilmour’s main guitar from 1970 to 1986 and the instrument behind the unforgettable Comfortably Numb solo.

While some collectors shy away from modified guitars, this one proved that musical legacy outweighs originality.

2. Kurt Cobain’s Smells Like Teen Spirit Fender Mustang

Sold: New York, 2022
Price: $4,550,000

Initially estimated at just $800,000, this Mustang obliterated expectations. Its appearance in the Smells Like Teen Spirit video played a crucial role in catapulting Nirvana to global fame, and the video has since amassed nearly 1.5 billion views.

Despite suffering damage during live performances, the guitar was repaired and continued to be used on stage. It was ultimately acquired by Jim Irsay for his renowned rock memorabilia collection.

1. Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E

Sold: Los Angeles, 2020
Price: $6,010,000

Used during Nirvana’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance, the Martin D-18E stands as the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. The televised concert—and Cobain’s haunting rendition of The Man Who Sold the World—cemented the instrument’s legendary status.

Purchased by Rode Microphones founder Peter Freedman, the guitar shattered all previous records and remains one of the most culturally significant instruments in modern music history.