The Most Expensive Instruments of All Time

Start saving your pennies now, because we’re counting down the most expensive musical instruments ever sold! While many would consider these ultra-rare instruments and the stories behind them to be priceless, they have been sold to collectors looking to preserve important moments in musical history. So, do you think you know what the most expensive musical instrument of all time is?

10. Gasparo Bertolotti da Salò Viola

As one of the earliest violin makers, only about 80 instruments made by Gasparo are still in existence today. The son and nephew of accomplished Italian musicians, Gasparo developed the art of string making during the 16th century and took on pupils to continue the tradition.

For many generations, Gasparo was considered to be the first violin maker and was credited for creating the violin design that we currently see. While this claim has since been disproved, his violas and violins continue to be venerated today. Gasparo’s viola sold at auction for $542,500 in April 2010.

9. OM-45 Deluxe Acoustic Guitar from C.F. Martin and Company

C.F. Martin started producing guitars in America in the mid-1800s, and today makes more than 50,000 instruments per year. Martin guitars have been played by Civil War soldiers at campsites to superstar icons, like Jimmie Rodgers, at sold-out arenas. Martin guitars continue to be played in all genres of music.

From 1929 to 1930 Martin started producing their OM (Orchestra Model) line, which is regarded by many as the most beautiful guitar ever made.  The OM-45 Deluxe was Roy Rogers‘ guitar of choice and was auctioned for $554,500 in 2009 (although you can get your hands on a modern, albeit rare, replica at a steal for less than $80,000).

8. Eric Clapton’s Fender Stratocaster: Blackie

Perhaps the only musical instrument known by its first name, Eric Clapton’s Blackie was assembled by the legendary Ted Newman Jones using a ’56 Stratocaster body, a ’57 neck, and pickups from another instrument. Clapton often referred to Blackie as his “mongrel” guitar.

Blackie’s live debut occurred in 1973 at the Rainbow Concert and continued to be Clapton’s main guitar for the next 12 years. His custom guitar can be heard on dozens of Clapton hits, such as “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Cocaine,” as it was his favorite both in the studio and on stage. Clapton sold Blackie at Christie’s in 2004 for $959,500 to raise funds for his Crossroads rehab center.

7. The Lady of Tennant Stradivarius

Stradivari is perhaps the best-known name in string instruments, but these instruments are very rare and very expensive. Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari crafted instruments from 1680 through the 1730s. The Lady of Tennant-Lafont Stradivarius was a violin made in 1699, the year before what is considered Stradivari’s ‘golden era.’

This particular Strad is known for its impeccable form and beautiful appearance. Three centuries after it was made, the Lady of Tennant is still known for its exceptional craftsmanship. Prior to selling at Christie’s for a record-breaking $2.03 million in April of 2005, and subsequently being loaned to numerous modern violin luminaries, The Lady Tennant was gifted to a Scottish millionaire’s wife who was an amateur violinist.

6. John Lennon’s Steinway Z Piano

In addition to the iconic white grand Steinway, John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a 1970 Steinway Model Z upright piano on which he composed and recorded “Imagine” in 1971. George Michael purchased the well-worn instrument, which is said to have cigarette burn marks, at auction in October of 2000 for $2.1 million.

Michael sent the piano on tour to sites of violent tragedies, echoing the sentiment of the words in “Imagine.” He also used this Steinway to compose the song, “Patience,” on his final studio album in 2004. In 2020, this famous piano was displayed at the Strawberry Field Exhibition in Liverpool to commemorate what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday.

5. Hammer Stradivarius Violin

Named after Christian Hammer, a 19th-century Swedish collector and the violin’s first owner, the Hammer Stradivarius was crafted during Stradivarius’ aforementioned ‘golden era’ in 1707. The Hammer has been passed around many avid American and European collectors until it shattered the Lady Tennant Strad’s bidding record when it sold to an anonymous bidder in 2006 for a jaw-dropping $3.54 million after 5 minutes of bidding. For a time, the Hammer was on loan to the celebrated violinist, Kyoko Takezawa, who used this Strad as her primary performance violin.

4. Lady Blunt Stradivarius Violin

The Lady Blunt was made during Stradivarius’s golden era in 1721. Unlike other Strads, this violin has not been regularly used, explaining its almost impeccable, original condition. This violin got its namesake from Lady Anne Blunt, who gained ownership of this Strad in 1865.

One of the two best-preserved Stradivari-build violins in existence, the Lady Blunt was auctioned for charitable relief after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The online sale raised $15.9 million, nearly 5 times the amount of the previous Stradivarius record holder. It’s said to be the best-preserved Stradivari offered for sale in the past century.

3. Vieuxtemps Violin

At more than 275 years old, the Vieuxtemps Guarneri violin is in pristine condition, without cracks and having never been repaired or patched. The instrument, crafted by renowned Italian artisan Guiseppe Guarneri in 1741, has been used by Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, and Pinchas Zukerman.

Its namesake comes from 19th-century Belgian composer, Henri Vieuxtemps, who allegedly wanted to be buried with his beloved Guarneri violin. The Vieuxtemps’ current anonymous owner, who purchased the violin in 2012 for $16 million, has provided lifetime use to top-selling classical violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Meyers has stated that she has felt “the soul of Viextemps on this violin.”

2. Duport Stradivarius Cello

The 1711 Stradivari-crafted cello is named after its one-time owner, 19th-century cellist Jean-Louis Duport. In addition to being extremely rare, as only 63 Stradivari cellos exist, the Duport was crafted during the golden period. Between 1974 to 2007, the Duport was played by the phenomenal cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich.

The instrument was purchased by the Nippon Music Foundation (prolific Stradivarius collectors) in 2008 for a cool $20 million, despite its visible dent, rumored to be caused by Napoleon Bonaparte’s boots when Duport allowed Bonaparte to handle the infamous cello.

1. MacDonald Stradivarius Viola

One of only 10 Stradivarius violas intact today, the MacDonald (named after one of its 19th-century owners) was played by celebrated Amadeus Quartet co-founder Peter Schidlof until his death in 1987. MacDonald is the only Stradivarius viola available for purchase today. Only 650 existing instructions are known, with the violas being the rarest. In fact, Stradivari made only about 15 violas in total.

The prized viola was put up for auction with a stupefying minimum bid of $45 million in 2014 but failed to secure a buyer. Today, there still is no confirmed buyer, so for those in the market, this one-of-a-kind musical treasure is still available!

There you have it. Did you guess the most expensive instrument? We’re curious to see what the future holds for that MacDonald Stradivarius, that’s for sure! #staymusical

Frequently Asked Questions

Can preservation devalue a musical instrument?

Unlike paintings, preservation can cause the sound of an instrument to worsen over time. To maintain sound quality, volume, and playability, an instrument needs to be regularly played. Sometimes it can take years to optimize the sound of an instrument, particularly 300-year-old violas. There is constant debate on how much value should be added when an instrument has been vaulted versus being in use by an experienced musician.

What factors are considered when determining the most expensive musical instrument?

Some of the most important factors that are considered to determine the value of an instrument include:

• Quality
• Rarity
• Market appeal
• Condition

Instrument condition can be a tricky factor since the unique incongruities of an instrument can add value. For example, the Bonaparte dent in the Duport cello and the cigarette burns in Lennon’s Steinbeck have added value to these instruments.