: A thundering two-hour sale, carried by waves of fierce bidding
and outbursts of excitement from many Eric Clapton fans, took
place at Christie's "Crossroads" auction on June 24.
In the fully packed salesroom, bidders from all over the world
competed passionately to acquire guitars from Eric Clapton's
collection or instruments donated by his musician friends.
The sale was 100 percent sold and totaled $7,438,624, easily
eclipsing the $5 million result achieved for the first Eric
Clapton sale organized by Christie's in 1999.
The top lot of the evening was "Blackie," the black and white
composite Fender Stratocaster that served as Clapton's sole stage
and studio guitar from 1970 till 1985. Blackie, offered with a
$100/150,000 estimate, was sold for $959,500, becoming the most
expensive guitar ever to have been sold at auction. Proceeds of
the sale will benefit Crossroads Centre in Antigua, an addiction
treatment center established by Clapton in 1998.
Upon hearing the results of the auction, Clapton, who is
currently touring the country, commented: "I am thrilled at the
result which is going to be of enormous help to us in achieving
our long term aims at the center. On behalf of myself, but above
all on behalf of all the future clients who will benefit from the
enhanced facilities at the center, I want to say a big 'thank
you.'"
Gibson ES-335, 1964, $847,500.
One of the most significant guitars to come up for sale was
undoubtedly Blackie, the composite Fender Stratocaster, circa
1956/1957, that in Eric Clapton's own words "has become part of
me."
Clapton expressed tremendous affection for this guitar, and had
an intense working relationship with Blackie throughout the 1970s
and early 1980s. The first copy of the "Eric Clapton Signature
Stratocaster," modeled after Blackie and extensively used by
Clapton from 1990 onwards was bought for $231,500 against an
estimate of $8/12,000.
A credible rival to Blackie in stellar ranking was Clapton's 1964
cherry-red Gibson ES-335 that carried a presale estimate of
$60/80,000. This famous Gibson is the second electric guitar
Clapton ever bought, and the one he was the most sentimental
about. Clapton used this guitar throughout his career, from his
time with the Yardbirds until today. The Gibson was offered with
its case, which had "Cream" and the initials "EC G ES" stenciled
in white paint on the exterior. The intense bidding war sent
shocks of excitement through the room and when the hammer finally
came down the price had soared to $847,500, a world auction
record for any Gibson guitar.
The instrument that changed the role of the acoustic guitar in
rock music forever was the 1939, 000-42 Martin Clapton played on
the Unplugged album. Against a $60/80,000 estimate, it
sold for $791,500, a world auction record for any Martin guitar.
Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Lenny," $623,500.
Other spectacular prices were achieved throughout the
auction. "Ivan," the 12-string guitar Clapton co-designed with Tony
Zemaitis in 1969 sold at $253,900; a custom, gold-leaf decorated
Fender Stratocaster, numbered EC-1, commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the model brought $455,500; and "The Rainbow Rod," a
Fender Stratocaster, circa 1996, with an iridescent finish, created
by Roy Brizio, the famed Californian hot rod builder, realized
$220,300.
From the group of guitars donated by musician friends was
"Lenny," the Fender Stratocaster Stevie Ray Vaughan played from
the 1970s until his tragic death in 1990.
The guitar was donated by Stevie Ray Vaughan's brother, Jimmie,
and is the only personal guitar from Vaughn to have been released
from the estate. It sold after competitive bidding for $623,500,
the second highest price ever realized at auction for a Fender
Stratocaster.
