The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

How much would you pay to feel like a legend? Would you really pay a million bucks to have that experience? Let’s take a look at the most insanely expensive guitars ever sold!

By George CassadrianContributing Author

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold


How much would you pay to feel like a legend? While we cannot step into the shoes of our favorite rockstars, we can definitely play their guitars… if we can afford that, of course. Indeed, owning an iconic instrument is surely overwhelming, but would you really pay a million bucks to have that experience? Some folks did. Let’s take a look at the most insanely expensive guitars ever sold:


15. George Harrison and John Lennon's 1964 Gibson SG - Sold For $570,000

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

This Gibson SG guitar was sold at auction in New York. George Harrison used it first in 1966 for the Revolver album and then two years later in 1968, was used by John Lennon during White Album sessions.


14. "Lenny" Stevie Ray Vaughan's Fender Composite Stratocaster, - Sold for $623,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

This guitar was bought for Vaughan by his wife, Lenora. It was one of the guitars he used the most. It was put up for auction in 2004 and Guitar Center paid a solid amount of $623,500 just to add it to their huge collection.


13. Jerry Garcia’s Wolf - Sold for $789,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

This beauty, handmade by Doug Irwin, was bought by two anonymous buyers on May 8, 2002, at Guernsey's Auction, New York. Wolf was sold along with Tiger, and Doug himself handled the guitars to the buyers.


12. Eric Clapton's CF Martin & Co. Acoustic Guitar - Sold for $791,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Made in 1939, this guitar was Clapton’s companion for decades. For instance, it was the guitar he used in his multi-million seller “Unplugged” album. Sold in 2004.


11. Eric Clapton’s 1964 Gibson ES0335 TDC - Sold for $847,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Clapton used the ES0335 TDC with the Yardbirds, and then during his recording sessions with Blind Faith and the following two tours. It was sold for $847,500 in 2004.


10. John Lennon's 1964 Rose-Morris Rickenbacker 1996 - Sold for $910,000

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

It all started with an accident. John’s Rickenbacker 325 was damaged during a performance in 1964, and John obtained the Rose-Morris as a replacement. Lennon gifted it to Ringo Starr later. Sold in a Los Angeles auction in 2015.


9. Jerry Garcia's "Tiger" - Sold for $957,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Tiger was almost as expensive as Clapton’s iconic 'Blackie'. It was sold along with Wolf in 2002.


8. Eric Clapton's Blackie Stratocaster Hybrid - Sold for $959,500

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

The legendary 'Blackie' was auctioned in 2004 to raise funds for Crossroads Centre Antigua (a drug and alcohol treatment center). Eventually, Guitar Center won the bet.


7. Bob Dylan’s 1964 Fender Stratocaster - Sold For $965,000

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Yeah, this is exactly the guitar Bob used at the Newport Folk Festival, on 25 July 1965. The guitar was lost and found again 40 years later. Sold in December 2013. 


6. Keith Richards 1959 Les Paul Standard - Sold for $1 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Keith Richard’s Les Paul has been used by many guitar legends, including Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Peter Green. Sold in 2006 to an anonymous music producer in Sweden. 


5. Bob Marley's Washburn 22-Series Hawk- Estimated $1.2 to $2 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

It’s said that the guitar still carries Bob Marley’s vibes. The Jamaican government made probably the best investment ever when it bought the guitar for a seven-digit sum.


4. Jimi Hendrix's "Woodstock" 1968 Fender Stratocaster - Sold for $2 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Jimi had a number of guitars in his collection, and all of them proved to be quite expensive. This white Strat, played by Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, was no exception. In 1998, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen bought the relic for $2 million.


3. Peter Green and Gary Moore's 1959 Les Paul Standard - Sold for $2 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

This guitar has been known as the 'Holy Grail' for its distinctive, out-of-phase sound. It spent more than 37 years in Moore’s hands and was bought by Kirk Hammett from Metallica in 2014. 


2. John Lennon's 1962 Gibson J-160E, - Sold for $2.4 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

Lost and found… and sold for $2.4 million! The guitar has an unusual story. This is the exact instrument Lennon used to record the 'Please Please Me' album. He lost the guitar in 1963 and had never seen it again. Eventually, 52 years later, the instrument reappeared and was sold during a live Julien's auction in LA, in 2015.


1. Reach out to Asia Fender Stratocaster - Sold for $2.7 million

Article photo - The 15 Most Insanely Expensive Guitars Ever Sold

This Fender relic is actually considered the most expensive guitar ever made. In 2005, this masterpiece was sold for almost three million dollars in one of the auctions in Qatar. The funds collected from the auction were used to help 'Reach Out to Asia', a charity formed to help the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster. The instrument is signed by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus and Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard and Bryan Adams who initiated the project.

About George Cassadrian

One of the two lead singers of Mobvibe, George is an avid songwriter with a refined taste in retro music and beautiful electric guitars.

Contact George Cassadrian at georgecassadrian@musicngear.com

About Music Gear

In this section of the Musicngear blog you can find reviews, how-tos, buying guides & comparisons across a wife range of music gear.

Are you interested in writing a story for this section as a guest or joining the Musicngear team as a Contributing Author? Contact us at info@musicngear.com

Would you like to send us sample gear for reviews? Reach out to Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@musicngear.com