Legendary Guitars at Auction: Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton & Keith Richards!

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we explore an incredible collection of rock and roll history now up for auction through Backstage Auctions. This remarkable lineup of instruments—once owned, played, or modified by legends like Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards—is expected to fetch a combined total of more than $1.5 million. One of the standout pieces is a Don Musser acoustic guitar reportedly used by Eddie Van Halen during the recording of Balance and Van Halen III, and heard on tracks such as “Take Me Back,” “Without You,” and “Neworld.” The auction also features Eric Clapton’s 1974 Fender Stratocaster, later gifted to Ronnie Lane of the Small Faces, as well as Keith Richards’ 2005 Duesenberg Starplayer Outlaw, a unique birthday gift to Ian McLagan, complete with a striking custom pearl mosaic finish and chrome skull knobs. Adding a touch of Hollywood nostalgia, the auction includes a Gibson acoustic guitar used during the filming of Viva Las Vegas, starring Elvis Presley. Also featured is McLagan’s customized 1965 Fender Telecaster, fitted with a Stratocaster neck and later used by Steve Marriott to record Small Faces classics like “Tin Soldier” and “All or Nothing.” With many items coming from the estate of Ian McLagan, this auction represents a rare opportunity for collectors and fans to own a true piece of rock and roll history. 👉 Join the conversation: Which of these legendary guitars would you add to your collection? Let us know in the comments! 👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more guitar news, gear discussions, and rock history right here on Johnny Beane TV. #TalkingGuitars #EddieVanHalen #EricClapton #KeithRichards #JohnnyBeaneTV