News

In March, Christie’s will auction more than 120 of David Gilmour‘s guitars, including his legendary “Black Strat.”

The auction will take place at Christie’s in New York City on June 20. All proceeds will go to charity.

The entire collection will be on display at Christie’s on King Street, London, March 27-31. Selected guitars will then be displayed in Los Angeles May 7-11 before the New York sale preview June 14-19.

Gilmour’s highly-modified 1969 black Fender Stratocaster is the auction’s highlight. Expected to fetch $100,000-$150,000, Gilmour used it extensively between 1970 and 1986 on albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977) and The Wall (1979).

The only explanation offered as to why he’s liquidating his collection comes from this statement provided by Christie’s:

“Many of the guitars in this sale are guitars that have given me a tune,” says Gilmour. “So a lot of them have earned their keep, you might say.

“These guitars have given so much to me, and it’s time for them to move on to other people who hopefully will find joy, and perhaps create something new.”

Presumably, Gilmour has many other instruments to keep him strumming along.

Also included in the sale: his 1954 white Fender Stratocaster #0001 (estimated at $100,000-150,000); a 1955 Gibson Les Paul played on “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) ($30,000-50,000); a rare Gretsch White Penguin 6134 ($100,000-150,000); and many others.

Learn more at the Christie’s website

(Pictured, top: David Gilmour playing the Black Strat for the “Live at Abbey Road” series, Aug. 29, 2006. Photo: Polly Samson. Also: The Black Strat.)