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Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World
Guitars are one of the most popular instruments in the world, and their prices can range from a few hundred dollars to millions. While the majority of people can’t afford the most expensive guitars, there’s no denying that they’re works of art.
Guitars are one of the most popular instruments in the world, enjoyed by musicians of all genres and levels of experience. For many, the guitar is synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll – but the truth is, there are all kinds of different guitars out there, each with its own unique sound and capabilities.
If you enjoy playing the guitar, you probably already know how expensive it can be.
As you advance in the guitar world, better wood, pick-ups, and strings, as well as build quality and craftsmanship, all add up.
While some guitars are mass-produced and quite affordable, others are handmade by master luthiers and can fetch a pretty penny.
In this post, we’ll be taking a look at the 10 most expensive guitars in the world. These guitars are the most sought-after on the planet, therefore you won’t find any of them in your neighborhood guitar shop, the guitars are truly works of art, and their prices reflect that. From a $2.7 Million Fender Stratocaster to a $957,500 Jerry Garcia’s Custom Doug Irwin “Tiger”, these are the most expensive guitars in the world!
Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World
The table below contains the name and prices of the Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World.
| Rank | Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World | Price |
| 1 | Reach Out To Asia Fender Stratocaster | $2.7 Million |
| 2 | John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J-160E Acoustic Electric | $2.4 Million |
| 3 | Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 Fender Stratocaster | $2 Million |
| 4 | Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” | $1.9 Million |
| 5 | Bob Marley’s Washburn 22-Series Hawk | $1.2 Million |
| 6 | 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer | $1.1 Million |
| 7 | Keith Richards 1959 Les Paul | $1 Million |
| 8 | Bob Dylan’s “New Port Folk Festival” 1964 Fender Stratocaster | $965,000 |
| 9 | Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” | $959,000 |
| 10 | Jerry Garcia’s Custom Doug Irwin “Tiger” | $957,500 |
1. Reach Out To Asia Fender Stratocaster
Price: $2.7 Million
The most expensive guitar ever sold is “Reach Out To Asia,” which fetched $2.7 million at Sotheby’s auction in 2015!
Bryan Adams’ “Reach Out to Asia” project, which was started to aid the victims of the tsunami and earthquake that struck the Indian Ocean in 2004, produced this guitar. It claimed the lives of 230,000 people in 14 different nations.
The guitar is special since it features the signatures of some of the most well-known rock stars all over its body.
Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Brian May, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Liam Gallagher, Angus, Malcolm Young, and Brian Adams are among the nineteen artists who have signed it.
2. John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J-160E Acoustic Electric
Price: $2.4 Million
John Lennon and George Harrison bought two nearly identical acoustic guitars in London in 1962, one of which was the Gibson J-160 E electric acoustic played by John Lennon.
It was used to collaborate on Beatles songs like “She Loves You” and “I Saw Her Standing There” with Paul McCartney.
The guitar mysteriously vanished after the Beatles played a show in 1963 and was thought to be lost before turning up again some years later.
The acoustic guitar went on to sell at auction in 2014 for a mind-blowing $2.4 million dollars, It had to be something exceptional for the only acoustic guitar to make it onto our list of the most expensive guitars in the world, it is very special.
3. Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 Fender Stratocaster
Price: $2 Million
This 1968 Fender Stratocaster, owned by Jimi Hendrix, is currently the world’s most expensive guitar. It was sold at auction for a whopping $2 million in 2012.
This guitar was used by Hendrix during his time with the band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He played it on some of their most famous songs, including ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Fire’, and ‘The Wind Cries Mary.
Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft, paid about $2 million for the guitar in 1998 because of its intriguing past.
4. Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf”
Price: $1.9 Million
The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and has been for centuries. There are many different types of guitars, from acoustic to electric, and each one has its own unique sound. Guitars can be very expensive, and some are even considered works of art.
“Wolf” is Jerry Garcia’s 4th guitar to be included on our list of the most costly guitars ever made.
Its name comes from the distinctive wolf artwork on the guitar’s body, just like his bespoke Doug Irwin, “Tiger.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center benefitted from the sale of “Wolf,” which was able to fetch over $2 million at auction in 2002.
5. Bob Marley’s Washburn 22-Series Hawk
Price: $1.2 Million
Bob Marley’s Washburn 22-Series Hawk is the fifth most expensive guitar in the world according to the top 10 most expensive guitars in the world.
Bob Marley, arguably the most well-known reggae musician ever, only ever had seven guitars in his whole life.
He gave one of those guitars a 22-Series Hawk Washburn as a gift to Gary Clausen, his guitar tech.
Rumor has it that the Jamaican government, which designated the guitar as a national treasure, paid between $1.2 and $2 million for the instrument at auction.
6. 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer
Price: $1.1 Million
The Gibson Korina Explorer is a 1958 Gibson model electric guitar that was designed by Gibson luthier Ted McCarty and guitarist Les Paul. The Explorer was first introduced in the 1958 Gibson catalog as a “futuristic” design. It is similar in appearance to the Gibson Flying V, which was introduced the following year.
The Explorer was originally produced with a sunburst finish and gold hardware, but today it is available in a variety of finishes and hardware options.
The Gibson Korina Explorer is one of the most collectible and expensive guitars in the world. In 2012, a 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer was sold at auction for $1.1 million, making it the most expensive guitar in the world at that time.
The 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer is the sixth most expensive guitar in the world.
7. Keith Richards 1959 Les Paul
Price: $1 Million
Keith Richards 1959 Les Paul is the seventh most expensive guitar in the world and Keith Richards sang this specific song on the Rolling Stones’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan program, a significant event in Rock & Roll history.
Many well-known bands and performers owe a portion of their fame to appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and investors and collectors of memorabilia are aware of how occasions like these significantly raise the value of things like Keith Richards’ 1959 Les Paul.
8. Bob Dylan’s “New Port Folk Festival” 1964 Fender Stratocaster
Price: $965,000
It goes without saying that this guitar has significant historical significance because it was the very first electric guitar that Bob Dylan ever played live.
His own fans actually booed him on stage at that point in time because they weren’t impressed with the guitar he had chosen.
When he appeared on stage at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, they made sure to let him know that they were accustomed to hearing just the acoustic versions of all of his songs.
Dylan’s use of a guitar during this performance signaled his switch to use more electronic instruments.
The 1964 Fender Stratocaster sold at auction for an astonishing $965,000 due to who had it and its history of it.
9. Eric Clapton’s “Blackie”
Price: $959,000
According to legend, Eric Clapton made the decision to purchase six guitars and gave one each to Steve Winwood, George Harrison, and Pete Townsend.
The song “Blackie” was then composed by Clapton using pieces from the remaining three guitars.
As a result of using it for numerous live performances as well as studio recordings, it became his most well-known guitar.
After a successful run, Clapton retired “Blackie” in 1985. He later sold it at auction for $959,00 in 2004.
10. Jerry Garcia’s Custom Doug Irwin “Tiger”
Price: $957,500
The last on the list is Jerry Garcia Custom Irwin Tiger, Jerry Garcia used his specially constructed Doug Irwin guitar from 1979 to 1989, a whole ten years.
The custom-painted tiger head Jerry had ordered for the guitar’s body gave it the name “Tiger.”
One of the reasons the custom Doug Irwin sold for so much at auction was because it was the final guitar Jerry ever played in front of an audience.
In 2002, Guernsey’s auctioneers sold Jerry Garcia’s Custom Doug Irwin “Tiger” to Jim Irsay, owner, and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, for $957,500.
Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World
The table below contains the name and prices of the Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World.
| Rank | Top 10 Most Expensive Guitars in the World | Price |
| 1 | “Reach Out To Asia” Fender Stratocaster | $2.7 Million |
| 2 | John Lennon’s 1962 Gibson J-160E Acoustic Electric | $2.4 Million |
| 3 | Jimi Hendrix’s 1968 Fender Stratocaster | $2 Million |
| 4 | Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” | $1.9 Million |
| 5 | Bob Marley’s Washburn 22-Series Hawk | $1.2 Million |
| 6 | 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer | $1.1 Million |
| 7 | Keith Richards 1959 Les Paul | $1 Million |
| 8 | Bob Dylan’s “New Port Folk Festival” 1964 Fender Stratocaster | $965,000 |
| 9 | Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” | $959,000 |
| 10 | Jerry Garcia’s Custom Doug Irwin “Tiger” | $957,500 |
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