Bob Dylan's Newport Guitar Becomes most expensive guitar ever sold

[geochem1st]

Bob Dylan's Newport Guitar Sells for Nearly a Million Bucks

Surpasses Clapton's 'Blackie' as the most expensive guitar ever auctioned

Epic rock memorabilia brings epic money: Bob Dylan's sunburst Fender Stratocaster, first unsheathed at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, sold at auction for a record-breaking $965,000 on Friday, according to the Associated Press.

Dropping nearly a cool million on an axe might seem excessive, but this guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in music history. Dylan's three-song Newport performance is the stuff of legend: Many folk diehards booed the set, viewing the switch to amplified rock as a sell-out (and labeling Dylan a traitor to the folk movement).

Despite the historical importance of the instrument, Christie's auction house wasn't expecting such a massive price: pre-auction estimates for the guitar (which also included the original leather strap and hardshell case) were between $300,000 and $500,000. Within the case itself was another hidden gem: early-draft lyrics to three Dylan tunes ("Absolutely Sweet Marie," "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and two others). Those pieces were estimated between $3,000 and $30,000 by the auction house.

Dylan's guitar now holds the record for the most expensive guitar ever auctioned, topping Eric Clapton's "Blackie," which sold for $959,500 back in 2004.
The buyer of Dylan's Stratocaster remains unnamed for now, but the story of its prior ownership is fascinating: Dylan left the guitar on a private plane, and when the pilot notified the songwriter's management, he never received a response. The Strat has remained in the pilot's family for nearly 50 years, and it was authenticated last year when the his daughter, Dawn Peterson, brought it on the PBS program History Detectives.

Read more: Bob Dylan's Newport Fest Guitar Sells for Nearly a Million Bucks | Music News | Rolling Stone
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[bertzie]

So does this one not count?

Signed Strat Fetches Record $2.8M at Auction | Fender News & Tech Talk | Fender Guitar

 

[geochem1st]

So does this one not count?

Signed Strat Fetches Record $2.8M at Auction | Fender News & Tech Talk | Fender Guitar

nope.

That was a fundraiser. That's like saying that $50,000 dollar a plate fund raising dinners in DC reflect market values of actual meals.

 

[bertzie]

Then wouldn't Bob Dylans guitar also be disqualified, as it's not exactly a normal guitar either.

 

[lǎo​wài]

Another guitar that will never be played again.

 

[truckermde]

Take that, Strat haters!!

 

[Mr Insane]

nope.

That was a fundraiser. That's like saying that $50,000 dollar a plate fund raising dinners in DC reflect market values of actual meals.

Under that logic, Blackie wouldn't count either as Clapton gave the proceeds to his Crossroads center.

It was an auction, so I say it counts.

 

[Airplane]

now we're all waiting for a strat NGD post to see who bought it..

 

[geochem1st]

Under that logic, Blackie wouldn't count either as Clapton gave the proceeds to his Crossroads center.

It was an auction, so I say it counts.

I could be wrong, but I don't think that Blackie was advertised in that manner when it was auctioned. That Clapton used the money for his own charity project after the fact is different.

EDIT:

OK, I'm wrong. Blackie was auctioned in 1999 with the intent as advertised by Christie's for the proceeds to go towards Crossroads. So I wouldn't count it either.

 

[geochem1st]

Then wouldn't Bob Dylans guitar also be disqualified, as it's not exactly a normal guitar either.

The market value of the Hope Diamond doesn't reflect average prices but what that unique stone would bring if sold.

Fundraisers distort market prices because of their nature.

 

[stinkfoot]

Take that, Strat haters!!

hah! anybody who pays more than $500 for a Strat.. paid too much!@!

 

[garweft]

All the top priced guitars sold are strats..... lol

Post that list in the vintage section and watch them melt.

 

[colchar]

nope.

That was a fundraiser. That's like saying that $50,000 dollar a plate fund raising dinners in DC reflect market values of actual meals.

As others have pointed out, Blackie was sold to raise funds too so if it counts, the autographed one counts too.

 

[SJJMcGhee]

You think any guitars could top that figure?

Maybe something like Lennon's first 325 or Page's LP could do it, but I somehow doubt it'll be beaten for a while.

 

[HenryHill]

How do you leave your strat in a private plane and not remember it, and then say no way it's yours?


I can see being buzzed, but that seems more like stupid.


When you no longer have it, and someone says they found yours, and you still say 'no, it's not'; that's stupid.

 

[geochem1st]

How do you leave your strat in a private plane and not remember it, and then say no way it's yours?


I can see being buzzed, but that seems more like stupid.


When you no longer have it, and someone says they found yours, and you still say 'no, it's not'; that's stupid.

It was the 60's..... 'nuff said.

 

[dennis g]

I remember that PBS show when it aired, and as I remember, the "authentication" was based mostly on "experts opinions" more than any specific things, like serial #'s, et al, although the case was labeled with the name of Dylan's "company". And as I remember (always questionable), the show got into some detail as to whether or not Dylan actually admitted that it was his guitar, saying that Dylan wouldn't comment one way or the other. I think without a signed CofA by old Bob himself, not sure I'd pay much more than what a vintage mid 60's Strat would go for. It's not like you really knew it was authentic, no? Then again, I own a MIM Strat, and it gets very little playing time, so I probably wouldn't have popped for it either way

And when all else fails, I like Geochem's response...it was the '60's

 

[stinkfoot]

I think without a signed CofA by old Bob himself, not sure I'd pay much more than what a vintage mid 60's Strat would go for. It's not like you really knew it was authentic, no?

one of the stories mentioned that found in the guitar case were some draft lyrics for three of his songs, in Dylan's own handwriting.. while not a coa I would think that would be pretty damn close to one.

 

[HenryHill]

one of the stories mentioned that found in the guitar case were some draft lyrics for three of his songs, in Dylan's own handwriting.. while not a coa I would think that would be pretty damn close to one.

Yeah, saw that, and it seems to me that it would be enough for him to have remembered.

 

[Barcham]

All the top priced guitars sold are strats..... lol

Post that list in the vintage section and watch them melt.

Even at the auction of Les Paul's estate, the highest priced guitar sold was a Tele, not a LP of any kind.