# David Gilmour's guitar collection going to auction. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837 "2019-04-01T04:14:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/21 "2019-04-07T00:51:13Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > For me, personally, yes I want to ogle. Pink Floyd was one of the bands that made me make my parents change my violin lessons to bass lessons. I don’t make a living off of playing bass, but it has given me over 30 years of joy. A chance to see some of the tools of a band that inspired me before they disappear forever? I can’t miss that. Thanks for posting about it. I doubt I would have found out about it if you hadn’t. I don’t live anywhere near New York, but I think Christie’s has done a great job of virtually presenting the collection online for those of us who are fans but aren’t able to see it in person. Reading the backstory on some of these items has been fascinating! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/22 "2019-04-07T11:51:32Z")
[Moderating] Why in the world is this topic getting contentious? Of course we’re just guessing, here: None of us is David Gilmour (at least, I don’t think so), so all anyone can do is guess about his motives. If anyone has a problem with that… why are you in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/23 "2019-06-20T15:56:10Z")
In case anyone is interested, this auction is happening now - been going for about an hour. They started late because there’s an overflow crowd. Prices so far are nuts! > **[Upcoming Auctions and Events](https://www.christies.com/calendar)** > > Browse Christie's upcoming auctions, exhibitions and events ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/24 "2019-06-20T22:10:28Z")
It’s over. The Black Strat went for $3.9 million. Shit, the Black Strat’s _case_ went for $200,000. I watched most of it and couldn’t believe the prices these instruments fetched. The auction house’s estimates were often off by a factor of 20 or 30. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/25 "2019-06-20T22:11:19Z")
The auction [raised over $21 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141826253902794752), with the Black Strat going for [just under $4 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141824792615690241). Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/26 "2019-06-20T22:13:19Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > The auction house’s estimates were often off by a factor of 20 or 30. I guess the market of billionaire Floyd-fan guitar players is poorly understood ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/27 "2019-06-21T02:06:05Z")
Christie’s tends to undervalue their estimates, so I wasn’t surprised the actual prices paid were higher, but they were so much higher for everything it was pretty amazing - the most paid for any guitars at auction ever. Unfortunately the total proceeds reported also include the taxes and (hefty) fees that will go to Christie’s, so it’s hard to know how much his designated charity [ClientEarth](https://www.clientearth.org/) will get, but it’s still going to be a boatload of cash. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/28 "2019-06-21T03:30:47Z")
Hmm, I just realized I have a chance to own a celebrity guitar. In three easy steps: Pull my guitar out of the closet, play it better, become famous. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/29 "2019-06-21T07:11:52Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The auction [raised over $21 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141826253902794752), with the Black Strat going for [just under $4 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141824792615690241). Wow. Yeah, I can’t say I’m surprised, when I saw the original estimate it was clearly ridiculously low. When one of the world’s most famous guitarists in the world’d most famous band sells one of the world’s most most famous guitars used to record some of the world’s most famous songs…big money is going to happen. Heck, the instrument is even known by a specific name, we are in 722 Mercedes territory here. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/30 "2019-06-21T12:52:30Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Hmm, I just realized I have a chance to own a celebrity guitar. > > In three easy steps: Pull my guitar out of the closet, play it better, become famous. Reminds me of all those “how to draw superheroes” books I read as a kid: [ol] [li]Draw a circle for the head and cylinders for the body and limbs.[/li][li]Divide the circle in half horizontally and vertically to locate the facial features.[/li][li]Finish drawing a superhero.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/31 "2019-06-21T13:23:45Z")
I guess a string would go for $20k or $10k for a pick ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/32 "2019-06-21T20:59:45Z")
Sooo, how much did the lefty go for? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/33 "2019-06-22T00:02:17Z")
Jim Irsay (owner of the Colts) bought the Black Strad and the case. He has quite the collection… mostly guitars but he also has the bass drum head from when the Beatles performed the first time on Ed Sullivan. He actually spent $5.245 million which was 24% of all sales. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/34 "2019-06-22T02:47:16Z")
> [@carnalk](#): > > sooo, how much did the lefty go for? 🙂 $52,500. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/35 "2019-06-22T19:57:47Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The auction [raised over $21 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141826253902794752), with the Black Strat going for [just under $4 million](https://twitter.com/ChristiesInc/status/1141824792615690241). Wow. I knew the Black Strat would go for big money. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837/36 "2019-06-22T20:04:05Z")
I’m curious how many buyers were rich fans vs investors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-gilmours-guitar-collection-going-to-auction/831837.md?page=1)