Clapton's guitar fetches $497,500

New York - One of the most famous musical instruments in rock 'n' roll history, the electric guitar Eric Clapton used on the …

New York - One of the most famous musical instruments in rock 'n' roll history, the electric guitar Eric Clapton used on the Layla album, fetched $497,500 (£376,890) at Christie's in Manhattan yesterday, the most ever paid at auction for a guitar.

The slightly worn 1956 sunburst Fender Stratocaster that the 54-year-old blues guitarist dubbed "Brownie", went to an anonymous buyer after furious bidding. The guitar, one of Clapton's 100 guitars to be auctioned for charity, had been estimated to sell for $80,000 to $100,000. The collection made $5,072,350.