Eddie Van Halen’s #1 Kramer Up for Auction
Sotheby's are auctioning Eddie Van Halen’s Number 1 Kramer later this year
2,5 / 5,0 | 
Later this year, an iconic piece of rock history is going up for auction. Eddie Van Halen’s #1 ‘Edward Van Halen Model’ Kramer electric guitar from the early 1980s is expected to sell for as much as $3,000,000.
Eddie Van Halen’s Number 1 Kramer
Back in 2023, I covered the last Eddie Van Halen Kramer to go to auction, and now his #1 Kramer is going up for sale at Sotheby’s as well. Listed as Eddie Van Halen’s Iconic Kramer Electric, 1982 Serial #B1297, this guitar has an estimated guide price of $2,000,000 – 3,000,000!
#1 – Serial #B1297
However, I suspect it may go for a lot more, as it was the original model and guitar he played. This famous black/red/white striped Kramer was based on his original Frankenstein Strat, which he built from parts, and it will be recognised by any Van Halen fans
Van Halen Tours
Built in the early 1980s, the guitar was famously featured in a Kramer advertisement where Van Halen declared it “very simply the best guitar you can buy today.” This has been verified by the band’s former guitar technician, who confirmed its use during these specific performances.
Built around 1982, this guitar’s stage use has been thoroughly documented. It was played on numerous occasions during Van Halen’s 1982-1983 tours, including shows at the Philadelphia Spectrum on October 19 and 20, 1982, and throughout the band’s entire South American tour in early 1983, with stops in locations like Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina.
The Mick Mars Connection
Van Halen eventually gifted the guitar to his tech, Rudy Leiren, with an inscription that read: “Rude—it’s been a great ten years—let’s do another ten. Eddie Van Halen.” Leiren later sold it to Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, who used it during the recording of their album, Dr. Feelgood.
How Much Will it Sell For?
How much will Serial #B1297 sell for?
Let us know what you think this iconic Kramer model will sell for in the comments. As I mentioned above, I would guess, as it has such great provenance, and it was his number 1 Kramer, that it could well exceed Sotheby’s estimated selling price once it reaches auction.
The sale opens on 24 September 2025, and we’ll update you with how much it sold for once the auction has ended.
More Information
This might also interest you
