A Fabled Clapton Guitar Fetches $1.27 Million at Auction

An Eric Clapton guitar used to record two of his earliest and most celebrated albums with the rock group Cream sold for $1.27 million at auction last week.

The auction made the guitar, a Gibson SG known as "The Fool" for its ornate psychedelic painting of a jester covering its surface, the 10th most expensive guitar ever auctioned, according to Guitar World. The top two most expensive guitars auctioned both belonged to Kurt Cobain and went for more than $6 million and $4.55 million respectively.

The artwork for the guitar was created by members of The Fool, an art collective which also designed costumes for The Beatles. Clapton's instrument was valued between $1 million and $2 million by Julien's Auctions, the house that handled the deal, and received 21 bids.

A collector's entity overseen by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Isray won the guitar. The Jim Isray Collection, along with the auction house, plans to donate some of auction proceeds to Kicking the Stigma, a mental health initiative started by the Colts and the Isray family.

Clapton used the guitar to record Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire and Goodbye with rock group Cream, according to The Met, which showcased the guitar in an exhibit of instruments from rock-n-roll history in 2019.

In 1967, Clapton said: “I am playing more smoothly now. I’m developing what I call my ‘woman tone.’ It’s a sweet sound, something like the solo on ‘I Feel Free.’ It is more like the human voice than the guitar. You wouldn’t think it was a guitar for the first few passages. It calls for the correct use of distortion.” His ‘woman tone’ evolved on The Fool, Julien’s Auction added.

Clapton’s guitar was part of Julien’s Auctions “Played, Worn & Torn: Rock ‘N’ Roll Iconic Guitars and Memorabilia" sale which also included a Johnny Cash guitar which went for $63,500, a signed Elvis Presley yearbook which was auctioned for $6,500 and Janis Joplin’s ring which went for $76,200.