The Gotta Have Rock and Roll Pop Culture Auction April 2021

Lot #5:

Eddie Van Halen Personally Owned, Signed and Heavily Stage Played Custom 1986 Kramer Striped Guitar

Gotta Have Rock and Roll is excited to present the most important Eddie Van Halen guitar to ever come up for public auction. This is an original Kramer guitar from the 1980s, used heavily on stage by Eddie throughout the "5150" tour. This custom guitar was handmade and hand striped in the 1980s at the Kramer factory in Neptune, New Jersey. This guitar comes from legendary guitar tech, Kevin "King" Dugan. Kevin Dugan was Eddie Van Halen's crew chief for over 25 years and worked with the band from 1980 until 2007. Throughout Van Halen's 1980s tours, Eddie promised one of his guitars to Kevin and at the end of the "5150" tour, Eddie gifted this guitar to Kevin Dugan. This signature on the guitar is dated as 1995 because the guitar was stolen for a brief period. Part of the guitar had to be refinished, which led Dugan to go back to Eddie to resign the guitar. The Kramer factory was also responsible for refinishing the guitar. Each Kramer has its own unique "fingerprint" as they were each striped differently. This guitar is photo identified on guitar magazine advertisements, being played on stage by Eddie and can be seen in backstage photographs throughout the "5150" tours. Eddie Van Halen is known for his iconic Kramer Frankenstrat guitars making this one of the most prestigious pieces of Eddie Van Halen memorabilia that one can ever own. The guitar comes with a letter of provenance from Kevin Dugan and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.