Clapton has sold more than 70 of his instruments and amplifiers The top-selling item at the auction was a 1948 Gibson hollow body guitar that went for $83,000, far above its estimated value of $30,000. A replica of "Blackie," the guitarist's famous Fender Statocaster, was sold for just over $30,000.
 
Clapton's signature Stratocaster sold for $51,000 in the auction, which was carried out simultaneously in New York, Los Angeles, London and online.

The auction included numerous Fender Stratocaster guitars, which the legendary British guitarist is so closely associated with, including a black model he used during the Cream Reunion concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London and New York's Madison Square Garden in 2005.

The auction also offered dozens of Clapton's amplifiers, including a vintage 1960s Supro amp said to have been used by guitarist Jimmy Page on the Led Zeppelin II album. It went under the hammer for $28,000.

This isn't the first time Clapton put his instruments up for auction. In 1999, he raised more than $5 million and in 2004, another $7.4 million that went toward the Crossroads Center.

More eclectic artifacts put on the auction block included a Gianni Versace three-piece suit made for Clapton's concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990, a black leather tote bag designed by Andrea Valentini and a signed cellular phone Clapton advertised.

The 65-year-old rocker is considered one of the world's greatest guitar players and was crowned by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004 as one of the greatest musicians of all times.

In addition to Clapton's gear, there were also guitars donated and autographed by other rock legends, such as Jeff Beck, J.J. Cale and Joe Bonamassa.

More information:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12695811