Eddie Van Halen’s iconic ‘Kramer Ad’ electric guitar has sold at auction for $2,734,000, making it one of the most sought-after guitars in history.
This remarkable price makes it the sixth most expensive guitar ever sold at a public auction. Sold on October 24.
In August, Sotheby’s announced it would auction one of the most high-profile Van Halen guitars ever. Built in the early 1980s, this Kramer guitar was among the first models Van Halen built and played, and it was famously featured in the “It’s very simply the best guitar you can buy today” Kramer advertisement.
The Kramer was also one of the first builds the brand and Van Halen collaborated on together, and was modeled after Van Halen’s iconic Frankenstein, carrying over the black/red/white striped colorway from the OG six-string.
According to Sotheby’s reports, the guitar was built circa 1982 and was used on stage during a number of occasions across ’82 and ’83, in locations such as Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela.
When the auction was announced, Chris Gill—EVH expert and author of Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen—confirmed the guitar’s provenance and verified that it was played during that period.
Gill told Guitar World that the ‘Kramer Ad’ guitar was used during performances at the Philadelphia Spectrum on October 19 and 20, as well as throughout Van Halen’s South American tour in January and February 1983.
“Among Van Halen enthusiasts, this instrument is known as the ‘Kramer Ad Guitar,'” says Gill. “It symbolizes Ed’s growing partnership with Kramer, which fueled the company’s rapid success and briefly made it the best-selling electric guitar brand of the mid-1980s, even surpassing Fender’s sales.”
In the July 1985 issue of Guitar World, a photo of Van Halen working on a guitar — which is presumed to be the first Kramer model — was published, along with an interview with brand founder Dennis Berardi looking back on his partnership with EVH.
“It was really strange, the way I met Edward. I was on my way to the 1982 NAMM show in LA, and on the plane I met one of his equipment managers,” Berardi said. “So, to make a long story short, we got to talking about the different tremolo bars and things about guitar design, and he asked me if I wanted to meet Edward.
“I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ So he made a couple of phone calls and that was it. We went up to his house, and Edward got his guitar out — it looked like something you’d throw in the garbage. But that was the famous guitar. So after he played for a while we talked.
“I told him about the kinds of things Kramer wanted to do, and he was very receptive; we talked for about three hours that day. Anyway, the result was that we established the relationship that we still have today.
“He’ll actually come down to the factory and spend three, four hours on the line assembling or testing guitars, checking out different components to make sure they’re up to the standards he wants maintained.
“I guess the best way to look at it from my perspective is this: Les Paul designed a revolutionary guitar for Gibson that made history. The simplest way to put it is, what Les Paul was for Gibson, Edward Van Halen is for Kramer.”
After using the guitar in the early 1980s, Van Halen eventually gifted it to his tech, Rudy Leiren, signing it: “Rude—it’s been a great ten years—let’s do another ten. Eddie Van Halen.” The back of the headstock is inscribed with “#1 Edward Van Halen model.”
Leiren later sold it to Mick Mars, who played it while recording Mötley Crüe’s Dr. Feelgood.
Van Halen’s Balance turns 30 this year, and Rhino is celebrating with an expanded edition of the band’s multi-platinum tenth studio album.
Available in three formats — 2 LPs, 2 CDs, and a Deluxe, Limited Edition Boxed Set. Order directly from Van Halen Store.