Two of Eddie Van Halen’s Kramer guitars are up for auction – accompanied by his used cigarette butts
Two Kramer guitars that belonged to Eddie Van Halen have gone up for auction, with a unique additional offering: both come accompanied by used cigarette butts that are tucked under the strings on the headstocks.
The models up for grabs are a 1986 Zeke Clark Customised 5150 and 1987 Zeke Clark Customised 5150. Both are listed with a minimum bid of $50,000 each, and are being sold via Backstage Auctions.
READ MORE: “I can’t imagine where guitar players would be without Eddie. We’d be listening to electronic music”: Sammy Hagar says Eddie Van Halen “saved” guitar players
The guitars have been “meticulously maintained” and put up for sale by Eddie’s lead guitar and amplifier technician, Randall ‘Zeke’ Clark, according to the auction website. Each one includes a signed letter of authenticity from Clark, who worked with Van Halen from 1985 to 1993, maintaining the band’s gear through the 5150, OU812, and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge eras.
The 1986 model is the first he custom built for Eddie. It is described as in “raw, production-used condition” and is stamped with EV5150 on the rear back plate. It also features nine authentic guitar picks from the 5150 tour and, of course, retains the “stage-used cigarette”.
The lucky buyer will also receive a number of memorabilia, including an Ernie Ball EVH-branded leather guitar strap, three sets of vintage 5150-branded strings, a blue Van Halen-branded golf divot tool, an original fan-made EVH button, a Zeke Clark decal, a photo of Clark with the guitar, his personal business card, and more.
The instrument is housed in its original plush-lined hardshell case, described as “heavily weathered” and decorated with fifteen authentic backstage passes.
The 1987 version is in the same condition, and is also stamped with EV5150 on the rear back plate. This one comes with ten vintage white guitar picks, each printed with OU812 on one side and Eddie’s printed signature with 5150 on the other.
Other goodies included are: a notarised letter of provenance directly from and signed by Zeke Clark, two 8×10 colour photos of Zeke with the guitar, two full sets of strings, one incomplete set, and a guitar strap. It also has its original plush-lined hardshell accompanied by a rare 1988 Monsters of Rock Staff laminate.
Further Van Halen items are up for auction, including some as bizarre as a stage-used Frankendrill. Find out more in the video below:
To view all lots, head over to Backstage Auctions.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
