USA/FILE: Eric Clapton's guitars and amps sell above estimated prices at New York auction

Record ID: 722382

  • Title: USA/FILE: Eric Clapton's guitars and amps sell above estimated prices at New York auction
  • Date: 11th March 2011
  • Summary: IMAGE OF ERIC CLAPTON IN THE WINDOW OF BONHAM'S AUCTION HOUSE EXTERIOR OF BONHAM'S AUCTION HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5QCQVRWP170AZT72KNM7D8AW3
  • Story Text: Eric Clapton's guitars and amplifiers go up for auction to benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua and bring in more money than expected.
    More than 70 guitars belonging to legendary British music icon Eric Clapton went up on the auction block in New York on Wednesday (March 9) to raise money for his drug and alcohol treatment center in the Caribbean.
    Sale prices were higher than originally estimated by Bonham's experts.
    A 2008 Martin acoustic guitar sold for 58 thousand dollars (USD) before buyer's commission, well over its presale estimate of $3 thousand (USD) to $5 thousand (USD). Clapton played the song "Motherless Child" on the instrument, which shows Bonham's said showed significant wear and pick marks.
    Another surprising lot was a 2005 black finish Zemaitis guitar with mahogany neck that sold for 62 thousand (USD) before buyer's commission. The presale estimate for the engraved guitar was 12 thousand (USD) to 18 thousand (USD).
    Another highlight from the sale, was an original Daphne Blue 2008 Fender Signature Stratocaster used by Clapton on stage during his Asia Oceania tours in 2009 as well as at the O2 in 2010 and the 3rd Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago in 2010 brought in 42 thousand (USD) before buyer's commission. The estimated presale price ranged between 25,000-30,000 (USD).
    The auction had a total of 150 lots that included 70 amplifiers from Clapton's personal collection. A 1957 Fender Twin amp that was customized by Cesar Diaz sold for 32 thousand (USD), before commission. The amp was originally estimated to fetch between 7,500 and 10 thousand (USD).
    Other items included a Versace suit worn by Clapton and a gold-records plaque given to Clapton for his album "Journeyman", which was released in 1989.
    Before the sale was over Bonham's said the sale brought in more than 1.722 million (USD).
    Proceeds of the auction will benefit the Crossroads Center in Antigua, which Clapton, a recovered alcoholic and former heroin addict, founded in 1998.
    Two previous auctions have been held to benefit the Crossroads Center, in 1999 and 2004.
    The 65-year-old singer is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine named him fourth on their list of the 100 best guitarists in music history.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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