Eddie Van Halen’s custom built 1982 Kramar electric guitar is ready to rock the auction block. It will be offered in Sotheby’s Grails auction (a collection of big ticket items from film, music, TV, and comics), that runs from September 22 through October 28, 2025.

The guitar is red with black and white stripes, based on the design of his original “Frankenstein” guitar. Van Halen personally made modifications to the guitar at the Kramer factory, and the back of the headstock has text stating, “1# Edward Van Halen Model.”

He used it when Van Halen’s success was rapidly growing in the early 1980s. Van Halen played it on tour in 1982 and ’83, which included shows in Philadelphia; Caracas, Venezuela; Sao Paulo, Brazel; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The guitar was also used in Kramer guitar advertisements.

Van Halen gave it to his guitar technician Rudy Leiren and inscribed it on the body, “Rude – It’s been a great ten years – let’s do another ten. Eddie Van Halen.” Later, Leiren sold the guitar to Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars who used it for their Dr. Feelgood album and other recordings.

The guitar comes with the Kramer case and an LOC from Mars. It will be displayed in Monterey, California on August 13-16.

This isn’t the first time that Sotheby’s offered an important Eddie Van Halen guitar. In April 2023, they sold his guitar that was used for the “Hot for Teacher” music video for $3.9 million.

The auction opens for bidding on September 24, and is estimated to sell for $2-3 million.