Guitars used by Eric Clapton, Elvis and Eddie Van Halen to be auctioned off http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/guitars-clapton-elvis-van-halen-auctioned-article-1.2522521 About 300 guitars, including instruments associated with Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley and Eddie Van Halen, are heading to a New York City auction. Also on tap at Guernsey’s sale Feb. 27 are acoustic guitars from the late 1800s and one played by actor Robert Blake in the film “In Cold Blood.” Among the top highlights is a 1952 Gibson Super 400 CES 7-String made for late studio guitarist Tony Mottola that could bring as much as $100,000. Mottola worked with such music greats as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis and Rosemary Clooney. There are two “In Cold Blood” guitars. One was used by Blake in the role of killer Perry Edward Smith in the 1967 Academy Award-winning movie based on the blockbuster book by Truman Capote, and the other is the actual guitar owned by Smith. They are being offered as one lot with a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. This custom guitar from Eddie Van Halen (l.) is expected to fetch up to $80,000 A yellow-and-black Charvel guitar, customized for Eddie Van Halen in the 1980s, could bring $60,000 to $80,000. The original bill of sale made out to Van Halen is included. A 1959 Gibson owned by Franny Beecher, the lead guitarist for the rock and roll band Bill Haley & His Comets, could fetch $20,000 to $25,000. It’s one of only 57 made in 1959 in the natural finish. Also in the auction catalog are four guitars associated with Eric Clapton, two of them signed; several Elvis Presley items, including a signed guitar; and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar strap from Woodstock. The sale also includes vintage guitars and mandolins made by string instrument maker Joseph Bohmann and more than 40 guitars from the late arranger and jazz musician Robert Yelin. About two dozen instruments owned by guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson also are being offered.
Did Ed have another bumble bee guitar other than the one that Dimebag was buried with , I thought there was only one …… but maybe he had more made and never even played this one ?
Cut2TheCrash: Did Ed have another bumble bee guitar other than the one that Dimebag was buried with , I thought there was only one …… but maybe he had more made and never even played this one ?
There is footage of Ed playing this Bee on an old Entertainment Tonight interview with Ed & Val from the early 80′s. I dont think there is footage of him playing the original “Dime” bee.
Dutchie: There is footage of Ed playing this Bee on an old Entertainment Tonight interview with Ed & Val from the early 80′s. I dont think there is footage of him playing the original “Dime” bee.
Cut2TheCrash: Did Ed have another bumble bee guitar other than the one that Dimebag was buried with , I thought there was only one …… but maybe he had more made and never even played this one ?
I thought I read somewhere that possibly as many as 10 were made for Eddie. I know Joe Bonamassa owns one too.
The Eddie Van Halen-owned 1982 Charvel guitar is a replica of the instrument featured on the back cover of the 1979 album Van Halen II. Van Halen built the original guitar in 1978 prior to the group’s European tour, using a body and neck purchased from Wayne Charvel and Lynn Ellsworth. Van Halen painted it in a yellow-and-black-striped motif and used it as his main guitar on subsequent tours through 1980.
Grover Jackson purchased the Charvel name in late 1978 and started producing Charvel brand guitars from a factory in San Dimas/Glendora, California. When the company started selling “Van Halen Model” guitars painted with Van Halen’s signature yellow-and-black-striped patterns to the general public without Eddie’s authorization in June 1979, his relationship with Jackson/Charvel began to sour, as he was not paid royalties. Charvel produced the “Van Halen Model” in very limited amounts (estimates are less than 100 guitars) through late 1982, when Van Halen filed a cease and desist order against the company.
Apparently, Van Halen personally ordered five guitars made by Charvel/Jackson in April 1982 before the cease and desist order was filed, or Grover Jackson gave the guitars to Van Halen as a peace offering. This instrument was one of those Charvel guitars. Allegedly, the guitars were built according to Eddie’s exacting specifications, including necks with the wide nut width and slim profile that he preferred. This guitar has a brass vintage Strat-style non-locking vibrato tailpiece, DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucking pickup, cream-colored pickup mounting ring (most other examples have black mounting rings), and a “butterfly” string tree for the high E and B strings, which Van Halen preferred for his stringing technique that kept his guitar in tune when using the vibrato. The body’s neck pocket is dated 4/27/82 in pencil and features the work order number #2149 in black marker, while the neck heel features work order #2150 in black marker.
