Eddie Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” Guitar Auctioned for Multi-Million Dollar Bid

The iconic guitar, Kramer CO176, that Eddie Van Halen played in Van Halen’s 1984 “Hot for Teacher” music video goes up for auction.

The Kramer CO176 is a custom-made electric guitar built by Kramer luthier Paul Unkert. It was the first rear-loaded striped guitar that Van Halen received from Unkert in January 1983 and it became one of his staple guitars to use until 1984.

Sotheby is putting the guitar up for sale with a starting bid of $1.8 million and is expected to be sold between $2 and $3 million, making it one of the most expensive guitars ever sold at auction if the estimation takes place. The auction has started and will close on April 18.

According to the auction house, the late guitarist handed the Kramer over to their drum tech, Gregg Emerson, around 1990. Emerson then passed it along to his nephew, Joshua Box, who sold the guitar to Neal’s Music in Huntington Beach, California, where it was purchased by the current owner.

The Kramer CO176 is made from poplar wood and features the famous red, white, and black stripe paint that originally was part of Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat” that he built in the ’70s. It’s also the first of his guitars to feature a flip-up rest that he invented and patented. There are screw holes on the back that indicate where the instrument could be placed and played horizontally.

The guitar comes with an accompanying letter from Unkert, noting that it was his last project for Van Halen and Kramer. It also comes with its original case and Warner Brothers tags, and the straight jacket and white gloves worn by Van Halen in the music video.

Check out the guitar on Sotheby’s official site.