The prized 1982 Kramer guitar used by Eddie Van Halen and later owned by Mick Mars is headed to auction. The instrument will be a part of Sotheby’s Grails Week this October with a pretty hefty estimated value.
Nearly five years after Halen’s death in October 2020, this collectible will mark a growing trend in prices for iconic rock instruments and posthumous sales.
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History of the 1982 Kramer Guitar
The 1982 Kramer electric guitar has a black, white, and red striped finish.
According to Sotheby’s, the guitar was played on Van Halen’s tours in 1982-1983. It has an inscription to long-time guitar tech Robin “Rudy” Leiren and extensive wear consistent with performance use. There have been some modifications to the guitar over the years by Van Halen at Kramer’s Neptune, New Jersey, factory.
The lot comes with the guitar, the original Kramer case, and a letter of authenticity from Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars. Before it’s sold, the guitar will be exhibited to the public.
Technical Details
Diving into the nitty-gritty aspects of the instrument, it’s a Floyd Rose-equipped Kramer with mixed pickups. This is a result of Van Halen’s late-1970s and early-1980s creative period and Frankenstrat aesthetic that the player helped popularize.
The rare “grail” piece links two heavy metal superstars: Van Halen and Mick Mars. While Van Halen had the piece first, Mars later purchased the guitar and used it to record Mötley Crüe’s Dr. Feelgood.
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The Guitar’s Value
As of now, Sotheby’s is estimating the guitar lot to sell for $2 million – $3 million.
The value is directly linked to the history of the guitar, which has passed hands from Van Halen to Rudy Leiren, then Mick Mars, and now to the current, unnamed owner.
Auction houses and collectors alike see the 1982 Kramer guitar as more than a commodity, rather as a piece of rock history worthy of a museum display. It isn’t just United States collectors interested in the piece either; there is a global collector’s interest.
Though the value estimate may be slightly inflated due to the fact of Van Halen’s history and recent record sales within the auction community. The sale, once it is final, will set a precedent about the demand and the value of an instrument with such a rich history.
Sotheby’s presence and the mystery of the unnamed seller will also influence the final price.
Popularity of Van Halen Collectibles
The popularity has only grown for Eddie Van Halen after his death in October 2020. Auction prices have steadily grown for Van Halen artifacts, just in time for the newest piece to hit the block.
Shortly after Van Halen’s death, three guitars were sold at Julien’s Auctions in December 2020 for a combined worth of $422,050. This garnered some criticism from Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, about the posthumous dispersals of his father’s instruments.
This did not stop the collectors from snatching up more of his pieces. In April 2023, Sotheby’s sold the original Frankenstrat used for the “Hot for Teacher” music video, earning a staggering $3.932 million.
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If you want to take a stab at the 1982 Kramer guitar, or just see it on display, the instrument is scheduled to be auctioned during Sotheby’s Grails Week in late October 2025. There will be a pre-sale exhibition by the auction house in the run-up to the final sale.
It remains to be seen if the guitar will garner a seven-figure price tag, but any value will speak volumes about artifacts connected to the MTV and arena-rock eras.
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