The 12 Most Expensive Guitars in the World (Update: Aug 2023)

Do you know which are the Most Expensive Guitars in the World?

The guitar is a stylish musical instrument and many musicians choose this instrument. It is available in the market in several sizes and shapes.

Various types of guitars have different price tags. The guitar is not a cheap item, if you will want to buy it you will pay a huge amount of money.

When someone buys a guitar from a music store, always try to purchase it at a reasonable price.

Discovering a perfect guitar is hard and only the holder can say about the fitness of the guitar in his hand. There are many famous and costly guitars in the world.

When a famous person holds the guitar automatically the price is high and creates history.

A-List of  The Most Expensive Guitars in the World

Here you find the list of the top 12 most expensive guitars in the world.

The guitars are so expensive because of their federation to legends and the music that has been generated through them. Only music lovers can understand the greatness of acquiring a guitar.

12. David Gilmour Martin D-35

The David Gilmour Martin D-35 is a limited-edition acoustic guitar that was designed in collaboration between the iconic Pink Floyd guitarist, David Gilmour, and the renowned guitar manufacturer, C.F. Martin & Co. This guitar is a tribute to Gilmour and his signature sound.

The D-35 is known for its rich and balanced tone, thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and three-piece East Indian rosewood back. It also features a low-profile neck shape, providing comfort and ease of playability, and a modified low oval neck profile that allows for faster fingering.

The guitar is decorated with a black pickguard, a special black lacquered Martin headstock with Gilmour’s signature, and a custom inlay design at the 12^th fret depicting the periodic table element symbols for nitrogen, oxygen, and dysprosium, which spell out “NOD” – a reference to Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson.

Only 250 of these guitars were produced, making them highly sought after by collectors and fans of David Gilmour. Its premium features and exclusive design make it a desirable instrument for guitarists who want to capture Gilmour’s signature sound and style.

11. John Lennon’s 1964 Rose– Morris Rickenbacker 1996

John Lennon‘s 1964 Rose -Morris Rickenbacker 1996 is one of the most expensive guitars in the world. The holder of the guitar was Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara.

This famous guitar was auctioned at Julien’s in the year 2015 December 3 to 5. Did you know who purchase this guitar? Jin Irsay bought this John Lennon’s popular guitar.

Because of its popularity, the guitar becomes the most expensive guitar. In the year 1964, this guitar was an alternate for Lennon at a concert.

Where the Beatles were executed after his own black 1964 Rickenbacker 325 was destroyed during the achievement.

John Lennon always played this guitar at concerts and recordings. The guitar was a gift to Ringo Starr in the year 1968.

After the auction, the collected money was allotted for the charity Lotus Foundation U.S. This renowned charitable organization works for women’s issues and child welfare.

10. Jerry Garcia’s Doug Irwin Tiger

Jerry Garcia‘s famous guitar was made by Luthier Doug Irwin. In the year 1972, he started to make guitars for Jerry. Garcia renovated his guitar named Wolf with Tiger which he had authorised in the year 1973.

Luthier has total freedom in its innovation. The builder of this instrument creates an extraordinary and wonderful product.

The guitar was made of beautiful tonewoods like vermillion, maple, and cocobolo in differing layers. The manufacturer had thoroughly constructed pearl inlays.

The guitar is simply awesome and has many hi-fi electronic features. It was one of the most expensive guitars in the world.

All the advanced features make Tiger Garcia’s favorite guitar for eleven years.

The guitar was also auctioned and sold in 2002. The owner is Jim Irsay who also bought many famous guitars. The price tag of this guitar was 957,500 dollars.

So this is the reason why the guitar, Tiger is one of the most expensive guitars in the world.

9. Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Stratocaster Hybrid

Eric Clapton‘s Blackie is one of the most expensive guitars in the world. The guitar set history in the auction. The auction price gained the position that Blackie entered into the list of top 12. The price is $959,000.

When Clapton loved a Fender Stratocaster in the year 1970. He had bought the whole stock from Nashville‘s Sho-Bud.

Eric gave his three friends George Harrison, Pete Townshend, and Steve Winwood the three parts of the guitar to assemble. The famous guitar was a black finish and it’s named Blackie.

Since the year 1973 Clapton regularly used this guitar on the stage. He created his own identity to make the guitar an integral part of him.

After finishing his tour in 1985 Clapton stopped to use the guitar. Blackie is sold in the year 2004 at an auction.

Eric‘s instrument is the most expensive guitar of all time. The cautioned money is donated to the supporter of Crossroads Centre.

8. Bob Dylan’s 1964 “Newport Folk Festival” Stratocaster

Bob Dylan‘s guitar creates a history of its own and its price is 965,000 dollars. Bob Dylan’s 1964 “Newport Folk Festival “ Stratocaster is one of the most expensive guitars all over the world. The star icon performed his concert with the guitar in the year 1965.

The concert made history in the music industry. The star Dylan turned up with an electrical band and the audience reacted to some mixed actions.

This musical instrument is lucky for him.

It is a tragedy that the guitar was left behind on the plane by Victor Quinto. It was either an accident or deliberately done.

After many years Dylan and Quinto’s daughter had agreed to auction the guitar at Christie’s auction.

People know it was the most expensive guitar in the world. It was at last sold in the year 2013 December. Bob Dylan‘s “Newport Folk Festival “ was bought by Jim Irsay the proprietor of the Indianapolis Colts.

When Dylan’s 50^th anniversary occurred Jim loaned the guitar at the concert at Newport Folk Festival in the year 2015.

7. Keith Richard’s 1959 Les Paul Standard

This musical instrument is one of the most expensive guitars in the world. In the year 2003, it was auctioned and the price tag is 1 million dollars. Keith Richard‘s 1959 Les Paul Standard was sold in a huge amount.

The star Keith Richards performed the concert with the guitar between 1964 and 1967.

Keith was a star of the Rolling Stones. Later the most expensive guitar was sold to Mick Taylor. He also joined the band Rolling Stones after two years.

Les Paul Standard has been used by many popular guitarists. But the guitar is misplaced or missed. Keith’s guitar at last sold to a private collector at an auction.

6. Bob Marley’s Washburn Hawk

Bob Marley‘s guitar is one of the most expensive guitars all over the world. Because of its popularity and cost, it earned its position on the list.

Bob said that he had seven different guitars in her career and Washburn Hawk is one of them.

His guitar’s value is 1.2 million dollars. Each of his guitars is a real gem for the Jamaican Government.

The government called them national treasures. His musical instrument is unique. It is a 22 frets double cut and a personalised series of Washburn series.

He had gifted his guitar to Gary Carlsen. He was Bob’s guitar technician. But later The Jamaican Government acquired it and placed it in a museum for public showing.

5. Jerry Garcia’s Wolf

Jerry Garcia’s guitar Wolf is one of the most expensive guitars in the world. Jerry Garcia ordered a personalized guitar at Luthier Doug Irwin.

His order was completed in 1973 and delivered to Jerry Garcia. Wolf is their main musical instrument of Jerry’s for the next four years.

But the most expensive guitar was sold at Guernsey’s auction in the year 2002 on 8^th May. The price value is 789,500 dollars.

The guitar Wolf was auctioned again in the year 2017. The price of the guitar during the auction was 1.9 million dollars. The guitar earned its position on the list according to the price list.

4. Jimi Hendrix’s Fender Stratocaster

Fender Stratocaster is the most expensive guitar in the world. Jimi Hendrix is an iconic and popular singer, guitarist, and songwriter in the music industry.

Jimi created a history of rock music. He is always left-handed and for this reason, he turned the right-handed guitar into left-handed.

He performed with the guitar in  Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock. The guitar was lost under unusual conditions for many years but later the guitar resurfaced.

Fender Stratocaster was traded at an auction and finally, it was purchased by the co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen.

The price value of this guitar is 2 million dollars. So because of this Jimi Hendrix‘s most expensive guitar becomes so famous.

The Top #3 Most Expensive Guitars are Below

3. Peter Green / Gary Moore’s 1959 Les Paul

The guitar is one of the most expensive guitars all over the world. The price value of Peter Green/Gary Moore’s 1959 Les Paul is 2 million dollars.

The holder of the guitar is the founder of Fleetwood Mac and after some years Gary Moore used this guitar. In the year 2014 Peter Green/ Gary Moore‘s 1959 Les Paul was sold.

The renowned metallic guitarist Kirk Hammet bought it from Richard Henry Guitars. The price tag becomes the instrument’s most expensive guitar all over the world.

2. John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J – 160E Acoustic – Electric

Rush Worth‘s Music House which was situated in Liverpool was selling the 1962 J–160E to John Lennon. In the year 1962 on the 19th of September at a nominal sum of 161 pounds.

The guitar was one of the most expensive guitars in the world and the guitars were twin guitars. Both the guitar was bought by John Lennon and George Harrison.

Many masterpieces from Lennon such as I Saw Her Standing There, This Boy, I want to hold your hand, and She loves You etc correlated with the guitar.

This most expensive guitar was lost in the year 1963 concert.  The new possessor of this guitar was John McCaw. He used this famous guitar during his performance.

The amount of John Lennon’s1962 Gibson J – 160E Acoustic is 2.41 million dollars. The guitar is the second most expensive guitar all over the world. The revenue of the sale was distributed by the owner of the guitar and the widow of John Lennon. She provided all the auctioned money to the Spirit Foundation.

1. Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster

The amount of this guitar is unbelievable at 2.7 million dollars. Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster is one of the most expensive guitars in the world.

So it acquires its position on the list of top 12 guitars. It was created by a white Stratocaster for 17000 Euros. The idea was developed by Bryan Adams, Canadian Rocker, to boost budgets.

The famous guitar was traded by Sotheby’s as part of a charity to help the Tsunami victims and the earthquake that occurred in the Indian Ocean in the year 2004. Over 230000 people were slaughtered by this catastrophe. A huge number of people were badly affected.

In the year 2005 on 16^th November Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster was sold. Several rock stars were signed for this guitar like Ritchie Blackmore, Sting, Tony Iommi, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger etc.

Conclusion of The Most Expensive Guitars

If you are a music admirer then follow the above list. The most expensive guitars were famous all over the world.

The guitars were made with good quality wood, pick-ups, and strings, plus build quality and craftsmanship all add up to pick up all the guitars into a high rank.

But you do not find any of these in an ordinary shop but they are the most popular instruments on earth.

Topic Summary

Here Are A Quick List Of The Most Expensive Guitars in the World

1. Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster
2. John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J – 160E Acoustic – Electric
3. Peter Green / Gary Moore’s 1959 Les Paul
4. Jimi Hendrix’s Fender Stratocaster
5. Jerry Garcia’s Wolf
6. Bob Marley‘s Washburn Hawk
7. Keith Richard’s 1959 Les Paul Standard
8. Bob Dylan’s 1964 “Newport Folk Festival” Stratocaster
9. Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Stratocaster Hybrid
10. Jerry Garcia’s Doug Irwin Tiger
11. John Lennon’s 1964 Rose- Morris Rickenbacker 1996
12. David Gilmour Martin D-35

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