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David Gilmour's "Black Strat" Just Became the Most Expensive Guitar Ever Sold, at $3.975 Million
Paste Magazine ^ | 21 Jun 19 | Jim Vorel

Posted on 06/23/2019 6:35:53 AM PDT by Drew68

The minds of a lot of Dads, worldwide, must be boggling right about now. Not only is there a new record for the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction, it’s

A. An item deeply connected to the legacy of Pink Floyd, and
B. contributing almost $4 million to charity in the process.

Regardless of your opinion of a media mogul like Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Isray, the guitar’s new owner, that is still one heck of an impressive figure. And David Gilmour’s legendary “Black Strat” wasn’t even the only item that Isray picked up at the Thursday auction from the David Gilmour Guitar Collection at Christie’s New York. All in all, he got the following:

— A 1969 black Fender Stratocaster, The Black Strat,” for $3.975 million.
— A 1969 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, for $1.095 million.
— A travel case used for “The Black Strat,” for $175,000.

All in all, that’s a tiny little $5.245 million expenditure that heads in Gilmour’s direction, who announced on Wednesday that he would donate all proceeds from the auction to ClientEarth, an environmental law charity that will use the funds to help in the fight against climate change. In total, the auction raised an astounding $21.491 million from more than 120 guitars and amplifiers. We’re not surprised, per se, that Gilmour has more than $20 million in guitars to get rid of on any given day, but still—damn.

“The Black Strat” is as valuable as it is due to the recordings Gilmour used it on, including the albums The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall. The Martin D-35 acoustic, on the other hand, features prominently in the title track of “Wish You Were Here,” which is one of the more iconic guitar tunes of all time.

The previous record for the most expensive guitar was a Stratocaster sold in 2005 for $2.7 million, to benefit tsunami relief in Asia. That guitar had been signed by a bevy of rock superstars, including Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Gilmour as well. But it was presumably the real-life history of “The Black Strat” that pushed its value into totally uncharted territory.

Isray, understandably, was pretty chipper about his new purchase. Hopefully he’ll feel the same way after waking up tomorrow morning and remembering he spent $4 million on it.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: davidgilmour; fender; fenderstratocaster; guitar; jimirsay; pinkfloyd; stratocaster
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To: Drew68

So he wants the Ice age to return. Oh well...


41 posted on 06/23/2019 12:04:49 PM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
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To: Chode
damn... all that money to a bunch of socialists

I doubt very much the lawyers who are getting paid here are socialists.

42 posted on 06/23/2019 12:08:37 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: VietVet876

If you love guitar, you might be aware of my ex-brother in law, his name was Stephen Michael King and he was the world free finger champion 3 or 4 times. Here’s some info on him:

https://www.guitarbystevenking.net/

At some point he has worked for a number of the different big name guitar companies touring and performing with their instruments. Haven’t seen or heard from him for about 10 years when he and my sister divorced.

rwood


43 posted on 06/23/2019 2:16:00 PM PDT by Redwood71
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To: Drew68

OK... socialist CAUSES! better?


44 posted on 06/23/2019 6:53:55 PM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors, and come heavily armed!)
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To: Drew68

Well Gilmour isn’t a shredder by any means but he’s has a monster guitar sound. Another guy like that is Billy Gibbons. Their sounds are instantly recognizable.


45 posted on 06/23/2019 7:32:13 PM PDT by Free in Texas (Celebrate diversity. Own firearms of every caliber.)
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To: dfwgator

I have a Strat that sounds like that one.
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups.
I have 6 Strats and the one I’m talking about is actually a Squire Affinaty.
All the hardware is upgraded. Indonesian rosewood neck.
I think it might be plywood.
I love the neck on it, it’s a player with terrific resonation.
I can’t resist any Meth head pawned Squire with full thickness body.


46 posted on 06/23/2019 7:40:27 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
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To: Chode

Socialist Suckers.
That really bites.
But, I love Pink Floyd.


47 posted on 06/23/2019 7:42:58 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope.)
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To: right way right

yup, Dark Side of the Moon one of the best concerts i ever saw... Tampa stadium 1973


48 posted on 06/23/2019 7:51:58 PM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors, and come heavily armed!)
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To: Redwood71

I saw him play on one of those guitar tours many years ago....He is very, very good.He was a personable guy....enjoyed his clinic.


49 posted on 06/23/2019 9:06:49 PM PDT by chasio649 (Donald Trump is not the president we need, he is the president SJWs deserve)
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To: chasio649

He was, shall we say, different. His religion was middle eastern and he lived it to the blue print. Had some strange ideas about life and how to live it. We were never really close. But I have to give it to him he was very good at his music. I sat in with him and his band in L.A. a few times and that language is universal. He asked me to go on tour with the band and I had to turn it down as I was in the military at that time and I didn’t want to change my lifestyle.

rwood


50 posted on 06/24/2019 5:16:48 AM PDT by Redwood71
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To: KC Burke

I’ve had friends tell me it is well worth visiting, just haven’t made the time yet. The Rock & Roll Museum (or whatever they call it) in Seattle was... well, some parts were neat, others were predictably “Seattle”... I could take or leave that.

I love that the MIM is focused on instrument history. Now I’ve got to schedule a visit! Thanks, KC!


51 posted on 06/24/2019 7:19:51 AM PDT by SparkyBass
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To: SparkyBass

I do want to stress that you not put off the visit for too long as I don’t know how long the special Electric Guitar exhibition will be there. They have great exhibits on all sorts of string instruments and wind instruments of every era as the normal 75% of the space but the Guitar Exhibit is something that they put together for only a year or so — I saw it at New Years week.

I have some family near Kalamazoo and with the history of amps and Gibson, Kalamazoo items play a great role in the history.


52 posted on 06/24/2019 8:15:52 AM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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To: Drew68

I had a Jimmie Vaughn Strat until very recently.

People rave about them.


53 posted on 06/24/2019 5:27:00 PM PDT by sauropod (Yield to sin, and experience chastening and sorrow; yield to God, and experience joy and blessing.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

As a Baltimore Colts fan, I agree.


54 posted on 06/25/2019 8:48:56 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, Democrats believe every day is April 15th.)
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To: sauropod
I had a Jimmie Vaughn Strat until very recently.

People rave about them.

They're great guitars. I almost bought one and then I bought a Highway 1 instead with at the time was Fender's entry-level American-made guitar. It wasn't a particularly well-crafted instrument and I never really bonded with it. The Mexican-made Jimmy Vaughan is far better in fit and finish. The mid-level MIM Fenders are great guitars. I have two MIM Classic Series Telecasters that are superb. My #1 Strat however is a MIA '54 "thin skin nitro" that was a special run for Wildwood Music in Colorado. It's basically a '54 reissue with a modern neck and a thin nitro finish. It's awesome!

55 posted on 06/25/2019 2:00:18 PM PDT by Drew68
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