Eric Clapton’s "Wonderful Tonight" guitar is up for auction and could be yours, cigarette burns and all, for $500,000 give or take.
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According to Bonhams auctioneers the acoustic guitar that Clapton used to compose his hit ballad, "Wonderful Tonight," is set to go up for auction next month, with a guide price of up to $500,000.
Talking about the piece of musical history to Reuters, Claire Tole-Moir, head of Bonhams' Popular Culture department said, "Clapton is... one of the greatest living guitarists of all time and so to have a guitar that's from such a pivotal time in his career and attached to such a pivotal song is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The 1974 000-28 Martin acoustic is listed to contain the distinguishing marks of burns on the headstock, left by the cigarettes Clapton stuck under the strings. And also has sticker on the side reading "She's in Love with a Rodeo Man,” which according to Bonhams is a reference to the hit performed by Texas-born country star Don Williams.
For some backstory behind the musical instrument memorabilia — Clapton, who performed with the English R&B group The Yardbirds in the early 1960s, then with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, supergroups Cream and Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos and as a solo artist, acquired the instrument in the mid 1970s, according to Bonhams. Using it to compose songs, including his 1977 hit "Wonderful Tonight" about model Pattie Boyd, Which according to the rock legend, he wrote as he was waiting for her to get ready for a party.
Clapton sold the guitar at a charitable auction in 1999. The piece is listed as having at least one not-so careful owner since.
On view from June 9-11, the guitar will once again be available to purchase at Bonhams's "Rock, Pop & Film" auction on June 12. Price estimates start off at 300,000 pounds - 400,000 pounds, which, for us across the pond, equals $376,590 - $502,120.
So — would you pay $500k for Eric Clapton's cigarette-burned "Wonderful Tonight" guitar? If the answers is Yes, then now is your chance.