[Slowhand] Christie's Auction

[Len Moskowitz]

The Crossroads Guitar Auction raised more than $6.4 million dollars.  It was
held in Christie's New York facility at Rockefeller Center.  Compared to the
first auction when the room was packed wall-to-wall, the room seemed empty
even though most seats were filled.

It started at 6 PM and was over before 9.  Prior to the auction a friend and
I viewed the collection.  We arrived at 3 PM and there were very few people
there.  Even at 5 PM when the auction hall opened it was not the mob scene
we expected.  All the guitars were on view, none in cases, but all had
"Please Do Not Touch" signs.  Every few minutes a Christie's employee would
take a guitar down in response to a request from a known bidder/dealer.  I
saw SRV's "Lenny" played briefly and Eric's ES-335TDC carried by.

The expected money makers (Blackie, the ES-335TDC, "Unplugged" 000-42 and
Lenny) brought in $850k, $750k, $700k and $550k respectively.  The Zemaitis
("Ivan The Terrible") brought in $220k.  The "Tears In Heaven" Alvarez
donated by Giorgio Armani brought in $220k.

The surprises of the evening were the other more recent stage guitars.  The
Crash guitar used until yesterday on the current tour went for $280k.  The
first black EX Signature Strat, used on stage between 1990 and 1993 went for
$200k.  The Brizio Strat ("Rainbow Rod") went for $190k.  A master built
production sample of the EC Signature Strat used on-stage from 1998 to 1999
went for $160k.  And the gilded 50th Anniversary Strat used on-stage in 1997
went for $400k!

The other 000-42 went for $95k.

At the end of the night they distributed commemorative red guitar picks with
"Christie's" printed on one side and "Crossroads Guitar Auction, Eric
Clapton & Friends, June 24".

Eric might have been there, in the room overlooking the rear of the hall.

It was a fun night!


Len Moskowitz
Teaneck NJ