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Sotheby’s auctioned a custom Kramer guitar associated with Eddie Van Halen in October 2025, five years after his death. The auction house estimated the circa-1982 instrument at $2 million to $3 million, but its accessible listing does not disclose the final sale price. The lot closed on October 24, 2025.
What happened to the guitar?
Sotheby’s announced on August 12, 2025, that the guitar would be offered at Sotheby’s New York. Its listing identifies the instrument as lot 20 and records the auction as closed on October 24, 2025, at 04:20 PM GMT. The announcement and lot details are available from Sotheby’s announcement and the Sotheby’s lot listing.
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The five-year timing refers to the interval between Van Halen’s death in October 2020 and the October 2025 auction. Euronews described the instrument as the first guitar with his trademark design to be auctioned; that “first” characterization is the outlet’s report, not a claim established by Sotheby’s lot page (Euronews, August 13, 2025).
How much was Eddie Van Halen’s guitar expected to sell for?
Sotheby’s estimated the guitar at $2,000,000–$3,000,000. That figure is an auction estimate, not a confirmed sale price. The accessible lot page does not reveal the realized price, so the final amount cannot be established from that listing.
#1 Best Overall
- Traditional Mahogany body and Maple neck
- Powerful single coil and humbucker pickups with Alnico V magnets
- 5-way pickup selector switch
- Kramer Traditional Tremolo
What guitar was offered?
Sotheby’s catalog described lot 20 as a custom-built, owned, and stage-used Kramer electric guitar associated with Van Halen, dated circa 1982. The listing gives its serial number as B1297. Its double-cutaway body has red, white, and black stripes in the “Frankenstein” style; the reverse of the headstock bears “#1 Edward Van Halen Model” in white Gothic-style lettering.
The catalog also describes a neck pickup in place, bridge and middle pickups wired together, one black tone knob, a worn black pickguard, and a silver tremolo. These details are the auction house’s catalog description; the listing alone does not establish that this was Van Halen’s only or definitive guitar in 1982.
Rank #2
- Features two powerful Kramer Alnico 5 SC-1 single coil pickups and a Kramer Alnico 5 humbucker
- 5-way pickup selector switch
- Kramer Traditional tremolo
- Mahogany Body
What came with the instrument?
Sotheby’s listing says the guitar was inscribed to Rudy Leiren, Van Halen’s guitar technician in the 1980s: “Rude – Its Been a Great Ten Years – Lets Do Another Ten. Eddie Van Halen”. The lot also included a hard-shell case with a gold Kramer logo and black faux-fur lining, a key, a coiled extra string in its original sleeve, and a provenance letter from Mick Mars. The letter’s inclusion is a cataloged lot detail, not independent proof of the instrument’s history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was its condition?
Sotheby’s condition text says, “Guitar finish exhibits extensive wear and soiling from use.” The detailed condition report requires login, so the public listing does not provide a fuller account of the guitar’s condition or modifications.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- JS Series Solidbody Electric Guitar with Arched Basswood Body
- Bound Amaranth Fingerboard
- Tremolo - Satin Black
- 2 Humbucking Pickups
- Maple Neck
Rank #4
- Solidbody Electric Guitar with Poplar Body
- 2 Humbucking Pickups - Snow White
- Amaranth Fretboard
- Maple Neck
Rank #3
- Solidbody Electric Guitar with Meranti Body
- 2 Humbucking Pickups - White
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 1 Single-coil Pickup
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