The world's most expensive guitar is still a Stratocaster, after the other strat, Eric Clapton's 'Blackie'. This guitar was sold at an auction in Doha, Qatar on November 16th, 2005, to raise funds for tsunami victims in Asia. The guitar was signed by several rock musicians to benefit a tsunami charity, ‘Reach out to Asia’. Co-ordinated by Bryan Adams, it is signed by Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus & Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard, and Bryan Adams himself.
It was initially by Qatar’s royal family for $1 million and then donated back to the Asia Program, bringing in $2.7 million USD. The guitar has generated a total of $3.7 million USD for charity, making it the most expensive guitar yet.
The event was conducted by Sotheby's Henry Wyndham, who said, "I have auctioned many items for charity in my life but never have I witnessed the levels we achieved tonight. This will stay in my memory for a very long time indeed." at the more recent auction, whose attendees included US Former President Bill Clinton.
