There's the rare opportunity to buy a classic Fender Stratocaster that was bought, owned, customised and played by David Gilmour, in an auction this month. The Icons Of Music II Auction takes place at the Hard Rock Cafe on Broadway in New York, on May 31st at 9:30am EDT. More details here.

The guitar [left] is a Vintage '57 reissue, with serial number V010612, a cream finish, 3-ply pick guard, David Gilmour guitar pick and guitar strings. After David bought it, it was fitted with a short tremolo arm and later with a set of EMG SA pickups and SPC/EXG tone boost circuits. It is one of six vintage Strats purchased in the mid eighties by David and was customised and set up to his personal specifications. This guitar is known as Cream no.2 - played on occasion and mainly used as a backup for Cream no.1. It was taken on the Pink Floyd 'AMLOR' tours of 1987-89, Knebworth 1990, and 'The Division Bell' tour of 1994.

The estimate for the instrument is a very modest $4000 to $6000. With such a significant "previous owner" we're sure that a guitar of such pedigree and quality will sell for a lot more than this...