Two of rock’s most iconic guitars — David Gilmour’s ‘Black Strat’ and Jerry Garcia’s ‘Tiger’ — sold for astronomical sums this week at the Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame Auction, held at Christie’s in New York City.
The auction, featuring 44 historically significant instruments, brought in a record $84 million in total sales, setting multiple music memorabilia benchmarks.
Gilmour’s Black Strat Sets Record
David Gilmour’s 1969 Fender Stratocaster, famously used on Pink Floyd hits like Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond, sold for $14.55 million, making it the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction.
The instrument was heavily modified over decades, with changing pickups, necks, and hardware, allowing Gilmour to craft his signature tone.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleJerry Garcia’s Tiger Guitar
Garcia’s ‘Tiger’ guitar, custom-built by Doug Irwin in 1979, fetched $11.56 million. Equipped with onboard electronics, multiple pickups, coil taps, a built-in preamp, and an effects loop, it allowed Garcia to integrate pedals directly into his playing.
Other Highlights from the Auction
- Kurt Cobain’s 1969 Fender Mustang, used in the Smells Like Teen Spirit music video, sold for $6.91 million
- Eric Clapton’s ‘The Fool’ Gibson SG: ~$3 million
- Clapton’s 1939 Martin 000-42 Acoustic Guitar: ~$4.1 million
- Prince’s yellow Cloud electric guitar and Johnny Cash’s Martin acoustic guitar also fetched multimillion-dollar sums
- A 1964 Rickenbacker used by The Beatles and Elvis Presley’s 1976 Bicentennial Harley-Davidson were also featured
Playing the Instruments
True to Jim Irsay’s philosophy, historically significant instruments are meant to be played rather than preserved in glass cases. Shortly after the auction, Derek Trucks performed on Garcia’s Tiger with the Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Beacon Theatre in New York, giving fans a rare live experience of the legendary guitar.
Legacy of the Jim Irsay Collection
Irsay, former owner of the Indianapolis Colts, spent decades collecting guitars and memorabilia that shaped the sound of modern rock. His collection includes instruments from Pink Floyd, Nirvana, The Grateful Dead, Prince, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, and more, cementing its status as one of the most extraordinary music collections ever auctioned.
