Eric Clapton to auction guitars for charity

British musician Eric Clapton will sell more than 70 guitars from his personal collection in an auction in New York in March, with the proceeds going to his drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Antigua.

Bonhams auctioneers will conduct the March 9, 2011 sale, which also includes instruments donated by Jeff Beck, JJ Cale and Joe Bonamassa.

Featured in the auction are instruments and amps by Fender, Gibson, Marshall, Martin and Music Man, among others.
Estimates for the amps and guitars range from $300-30,000, Bonhams said.

Highlights include one of Clapton's main stage guitars from 2005, one of a pair he used during the Cream Reunion Shows in London and New York -- a custom built black Fender "Eric Clapton Signature" Stratocaster estimated at $20-30,000.

Also on offer is a pair of Marshall vintage basket weave speaker cabinets, from around 1970, used during the 1970s when Clapton appeared with Derek And The Dominos. The pair is expected to fetch $8-10,000.

The auction is being held in association with Wallace & Hodgson, who worked on the two previous Clapton/ Crossroads guitar auctions in 1999 and 2004.

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