5150 Holy Grails: Eddie Van Halen’s Studio Kramer Guitars—Complete with Smoked Cigarette Butts—Up for Auction
Eddie Van Halen's studio-used 5150 Kramer guitars built by tech Zeke Clark hit auction at Backstage Auctions, starting at $50k each.
Two battle-worn 5150 Kramer guitars built by legendary tech Zeke Clark, complete with Eddie's smoked cigarette butts and tour memorabilia, hit Backstage Auctions alongside Van Halen's famous "Poundcake" Frankendrill.
Rock memorabilia collectors and Van Halen diehards have a rare opportunity to own authentic pieces of guitar history. Backstage Auctions has opened bidding for its major Rock & Roll Heavy Metal Auction, featuring two extensively studio-used 5150 Kramer guitars owned and played by the late Edward Van Halen.
Both instruments carry a minimum bid of $50,000 and come directly from the private collection of Randall "Zeke" Clark—Eddie’s trusted lead guitar and amplifier technician from 1985 to 1993.
Adding to the allure, both guitars remain in raw, production-used condition—complete with cigarette burns on the headstocks and actual cigarette butts smoked by Eddie wedged beneath the low strings at the nut.
The auction features dozens of Van Halen holy grails from Clark and longtime band insider Nick D’Andrea, who attended over 400 shows and received a personal blessing from Alex Van Halen to share these treasures with fans.
The 5150 Kramer Guitars: Studio Backups with Historic Wear
During Van Halen’s late-1980s peak—marked by blockbuster albums 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)—Eddie Van Halen recorded at his famous 5150 Studios in Studio City, California. These two Kramer guitars were born directly out of that era.
Speaking in an interview on Final Resonance TV, Backstage Auctions president Jacques van Gool explained the significance of these instruments:
"Those two guitars were definitely and extensively used by Eddie in the studio," Jacques stated "They were never taken out on the road. But Zeke doesn't remember if those guitars were used on recordings. Most likely they were. But again, you cannot just fill in blanks... But they have so much wear and tear on them and the usual cigarette burns on the headstock and all that good stuff. It's fantastic that those pieces survived and that he hung on to them."
Interview host Jeff Goebel noted that Clark built these instruments to demonstrate his craftsmanship to Eddie when joining the crew. Eddie approved and kept them at 5150 Studios as dedicated studio workhorses and backups.
Lot #28: 1986 Zeke Clark Customized 5150 Kramer Guitar
- Minimum Bid: $50,000.00
- Current Status: 2 Bids ($50,000.00)
- Highlights: This is the very first guitar Zeke Clark custom-built for Edward Van Halen in 1986. It features a custom rear backplate stamped
"EV5150". - Details: The body is decorated with nine authentic guitar picks taped down from the historic 1986 5150 tour. Tucked securely between the nut and the low E tuning peg is a stage-and-studio-smoked cigarette butt, complete with distinct burn marks scorched into the headstock wood.
- Included Case & Memorabilia: Housed in its heavily weathered original tour hard-shell case decorated with 15 authentic backstage passes, 3 vintage luggage tags, an Access All Areas 5150 tour laminate, and a 1988 Monsters of Rock keychain. Also includes an EVH-branded leather strap, vintage 5150 string packs, divot tool, decals, and a Certificate of Authenticity stamped with Zeke Clark’s official signature stamp.
Lot #27: 1987 Zeke Clark Customized 5150 Kramer Guitar
- Minimum Bid: $50,000.00
- Highlights: The second custom guitar built by Zeke Clark for Eddie in 1987 as Van Halen transitioned into the OU812 era.
- Details: Like its predecessor, the neck plate bears the "EV5150" custom stamp. It is adorned with ten vintage white guitar picks featuring the "OU812" logo on one side and Eddie’s printed signature with "5150" on the reverse (nine attached via gaffer tape, one wedged in the strings near the nut). The original cigarette butt remains lodged behind the nut alongside headstock burn marks.
- Included Case & Memorabilia: Comes in a tour-worn plush-lined case with 12 backstage passes affixed to the shell, 3 vintage luggage tags, a custom 1984 tour laminate, a rare 1988 Monsters of Rock Staff laminate, string sets, photos of Zeke with the guitar, and a notarized COA.
Who is Zeke Clark? The Custodian of Eddie's Tone
For guitar tone purists, Zeke Clark's name is legendary. Clark began his career in the 1970s under promoter Bill Graham, working with the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia before spending three years as Jimmy Page’s lead tech during Led Zeppelin's late-70s US tours.
In 1985, Clark joined Van Halen, spending nine years joined at the hip with Eddie Van Halen. Together with Marshall engineer Jose Arredondo, Clark modified amps, wound pickups, and maintained Eddie's rigs at 5150 Studios. Following his tenure with Van Halen, Clark went on to record five albums as Prince’s head technician at Paisley Park, in addition to working with Heart, Poison, Journey, and Sammy Hagar.
Lot #7: Eddie Van Halen's Stage-Used "Frankendrill"
Beyond the Kramer guitars, the auction features another centerpiece from the collection of Nick D’Andrea—a superfan known within the band as the "#1 Van Halen Guy" after attending 438 concerts between the early 1980s and 2015.
- Item: 1995 Stage-Used Autographed "Frankendrill" (Makita Model 601HD)
- Minimum Bid: $15,000.00 (Current Bid: $17,000.00)
- Background: To produce the roaring power-tool intro for the hit track "Poundcake" (from 1991's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge), Eddie held a battery-powered drill up to his guitar pickups. This cordless Makita drill was custom-painted in Eddie’s classic red, black, and white high-gloss striped motif.
- Condition: Features authentic stage wear with paint chipped down to the original blue plastic casing. Eddie hand-signed the side near the trigger in blue ink: "'95 VH". Includes letter of provenance from Nick D'Andrea.
Hidden Gems & Rare Artifacts in the Auction
The auction catalog spans over decades of rock history, offering items for high-end investors and casual fans alike:
- The 1981 Tour Pass "Biggest Dickas #2": During the 1981 tour, Van Halen traveled under aliases inspired by the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian. Because Eddie was always listed as "#2" on internal band itineraries (Alex was #1, David Lee Roth #3, Michael Anthony #4), his official tour pass reads "Biggest Dickas #2".
- Custom Jewelry & Watches: Personal items given by Eddie to his crew, including a custom 14k gold Van Halen logo ring, a custom-engraved Rolex, and a Tag Heuer watch.
- Studio Gear & Modified Amplifiers: Original 1970s and 1980s Marshall amplifier heads and speaker cabinets modified at 5150 Studios by Eddie, Zeke, and Jose Arredondo.
How to Bid
Bidding for the Backstage Auctions Rock & Roll Heavy Metal Auction remains open through August 8, 2026.
- Auction Platform: Backstage Auctions Official Site
- Featured Lots:
For an in-depth look at the stories and provenance behind these items, watch the full interview with Jacques van Gool on Final Resonance TV.
- +Extensively documented studio-used instruments by legendary guitarist
- +Direct provenance from Eddie Van Halen's lead technician Zeke Clark
- +Comes with authentic tour memorabilia and backstage passes
- +Rare chance to own instruments from 5150 Studios era (1986–1987)
- +Complete with Certificates of Authenticity
- +Includes iconic imagery (cigarette burns, original picks, tour artifacts)
- −Extremely high minimum bid ($50,000 each) limits accessibility
- −Raw condition with visible wear and damage may not appeal to collectors seeking pristine guitars
- −No confirmation the guitars were used on actual recordings
- −Heavy condition wear limits playability for active musicians
Who built Eddie Van Halen's 5150 Kramer guitars in the auction?
Randall "Zeke" Clark, Eddie's lead guitar and amplifier technician from 1985–1993, custom-built both guitars in 1986 and 1987. Clark previously worked as Jimmy Page's tech during Led Zeppelin's late-70s tours and later became Prince's head technician at Paisley Park.
What condition are these guitars in?
Both guitars remain in raw, production-used studio condition with extensive wear, cigarette burns on the headstocks, and actual cigarette butts smoked by Eddie wedged beneath the low strings at the nut. They were studio backups at 5150 Studios, never taken on tour.
What else is included with the guitars?
Each guitar comes in a weathered original tour hard-shell case decorated with 15 backstage passes, vintage luggage tags, tour laminates, EVH-branded leather straps, vintage 5150 string packs, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Zeke Clark.
When does the auction end?
Bidding for the Backstage Auctions Rock & Roll Heavy Metal Auction remains open through August 8, 2026. Minimum bids for the Kramer guitars are $50,000 each; the Frankendrill starts at $15,000.
