Eddie Van Halen’s 1982 Kramer to Lead Sotheby’s Rock & Pop Auction This October

A rare Kramer guitar once wielded by Eddie Van Halen—and subsequently owned by Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars—is set to be a major highlight at Sotheby’s upcoming “Rock & Pop” auction later this year.

The Iconic Kramer: Van Halen’s 1982 Tour Axe

This particular guitar pays homage to Van Halen’s legendary “Frankenstein” guitar, featuring the signature red, black, and white striped design. Eddie Van Halen played it extensively during the band’s 1982-83 Hide Your Sheep Tour, supporting the Diver Down album. Fans caught glimpses of the guitar on stage in cities across the globe, including Philadelphia, Caracas, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires.

The guitar is expected to attract serious bidding during Sotheby’s auction on October 24, part of the company’s week-long Grails Week event. Alongside this historic axe, memorabilia from icons such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles will also be up for grabs. Sotheby’s estimates the guitar could fetch between $2 million and $3 million.

Personal Inscriptions and Legendary Ownership

Van Halen’s personal touch is evident on the guitar’s body, inscribed with a heartfelt note to his longtime guitar tech Rudy Leiren: “Rude – It’s Been a Great Ten Years – Let’s Do Another Ten. Eddie Van Halen.”

After Van Halen, the guitar found a new home with Mick Mars, who played it heavily during the recording of Mötley Crüe’s 1989 album Dr. Feelgood. Mars included a letter of authenticity with the auction lot, writing, “Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also, it’s a great piece of history.” The package also comes with the original factory Kramer case.

A History of High-Profile Van Halen Auctions

This upcoming auction continues a trend of Van Halen guitars commanding jaw-dropping sums. In 2023, another Kramer guitar, famous for its appearance in the “Hot for Teacher” video, sold for an eye-popping $3.9 million—setting a high bar for rock memorabilia sales.

Photos: Sotheby’s