Julien’s Auctions announced today that two of Eddie Van Halen‘s iconic guitars, his custom designed 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series stage played electric guitar and a customized and played electric guitar built by Eddie with his guitar tech, will to stand atop the auction stage for the “Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘N’ Roll”, on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2020. The auction will take place live at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills and online. Eddie’s custom rock weapons are among an all-star lineup featuring hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia owned and used by some of the world’s greatest music artists of all time, including Kurt Cobain, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, AEROSMITH and more.
Eddie Van Halen thrilled audiences with his virtuosity and electrifying playing on his stripe designed electric guitars in high energy performances while flying through the air. At center stage of this auction will be two of these important guitars custom designed and played by the lead guitarist and co-founder of the American rock band VAN HALEN.
Van Halen hand striped a 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series electric guitar with maple neck and fingerboard, Fender Stratocaster-style headstock numbered on the back #54, in the unique white and black abstract design in the style of his 1978 Van Halen I guitar. The front of the body is signed Eddie Van Halen, initialed VH 04 and inscribed in Van Halen‘s hand San Antonio Texas / 9-28-04. This guitar also features an EVH humbucking pickup with evidence of a cigarette burn to the front.
Accompanying the guitar are multiple photos of Van Halen hand-applying taped stripes to the guitar and photos of him playing the guitar on stage in San Antonio. Also included are an EVH hardshell case with a partly smoked cigarette in a plastic vial. The EVH Charvel Art guitars are a limited-edition series of guitars inspired by Eddie‘s most famous guitars. Each one has a unique body, designed by Van Halen himself.
There is also a customized electric guitar serial number F 0024 built by Eddie with his guitar tech Matt Bruck at the guitarist’s 5150 home studio. It was another unique and personal favorite from the rock legend. Featuring a red body with white and black stripes designed and applied by Van Halen, the guitar features a maple neck and fingerboard with dot inlays, pointed Kramer headstock with Kramer machine heads, single humbucker pickup and Floyd Rose tremolo. In 1991, the guitar was gifted to Van Halen‘s close friend Bryan Cash, the owner of Cash’s Centenary Oyster House in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is inscribed Yo – / Bryan / Let’s get / shucked / up / Eddie Van Halen / 5150 and was displayed at the bar where it was played by Van Halen when he visited. The guitar also includes a white Van Halen guitar pick and 2 backstage passes, one labelled Bertinelli Guest.
Both guitars are estimated to sell each between $40,000 – $80,000.
“As we were preparing for our annual ‘Icons & Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll’ auction lineup, we were stunned to hear the sad news of Eddie Van Halen‘s passing last week,” said Darren Julien, president/chief executive officer of Julien’s Auctions. “We are honored to include at this event two iconic guitars from his brilliant and blazing career as one of rock’s greatest and most gifted guitar heroes. His instruments join their rightful place among other rock royalty items from Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson, AEROSMITH and many others we look forward to announcing in the coming weeks.”
Julien’s Auctions public exhibition and auction location:
Julien’s Auctions Beverly Hills
257 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Monday, November 30 – Friday, December 4, 2020
Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PST
Free to the Public
Julien’s Auctions live and online auction
“Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘N’ Roll”
Friday, December 4, 2020
Session I: 10:00 a.m. PST
Session II: 1:00 p.m. PST
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Session III: 10:00 a.m. PST
Session IV: 1:00 p.m. PST
