Rock & Roll

Online Auction: 5–18 April 2023 • 10:00 AM EDT • New York

S otheby’s is pleased to present our latest auction devoted to the icons of classic rock. Rock & Roll is comprised of a fine selection of music memorabilia from some of the biggest names in music, including Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Van Halen; and those once alternative acts that became part of the vinyl canon such as David Bowie, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and Nirvana. Collectors will have the opportunity to browse and bid on significant instruments, original manuscript lyrics, photographs, important contracts, stage worn clothing, vintage posters, rare signed albums, and more.

In this sale we are thrilled to offer Eddie Van Halen’s legendary “Hot for Teacher” stage used and filmed guitar, one of the most iconic guitars of the MTV era. The Kramer CO176 is the first rear-loaded striped guitar that Eddie Van Halen received from Kramer luthier Paul Unkert. Unkert worked for Kramer in this key era of the early 1980s, and made the guitars for Eddie Van Halen, including the famous yellow and black double neck, the present guitar, and supplied the parts for the 5150 guitar that Eddie himself put together in Kramer’s workshop. Unkert was the main luthier in the Kramer shop at the time and did the detail work, contributed designs, and functioned as an artist relations rep.

CO176 is believed to have been completed in late 1982 and delivered to Eddie in January of 1983. It was made from poplar wood and was one of Eddie’s main guitars throughout 1983 and 1984 until Alan Holdsworth introduced Eddie to basswood (Holdsworth’s playing also heavily influenced Van Halen’s soloing at this time).

The famed red, white and black stripe paint on CO176 was the iconic Eddie Van Halen style that originally emerged from the original striped “Frankenstrat” (now at the Smithsonian) that he built in the 1970s, and this abstract design continued to define Van Halen’s look after the release of their album 1984. Its legacy continues today, with 5150 homage guitars available today, but it was the present guitar, the precursor to the basswood 5150 that provides an important stage in Van Halen’s evolution of his guitars.

With the original Frankenstrat now at the Smithsonian and other key EVH instruments retained by the family, the present is the most important and historic Van Halen instrument available to collectors.

Lot

Eddie Van Halen

"Hot for Teacher" Guitar

18 April 2023 | Sale price: 3,932,000 USD

Rock & Roll

5–18 April 2023 | 10:00 AM EDT | New York