When a rock star cleans out his closets, the guitars make the headlines. But at Rick Nielsen’s big auction, it was a hand-knit style statement that had the crowd leaning forward.

Julien’s Auctions announced the results of “The Rick Nielsen Collection,” which took place live on Saturday, October 24 at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium, as Blabbermouth.net reports.

The Five Neck Guitar Hit $313,600, Though The Second Guitar Was Not Far Behind

The star of the show was exactly what you would expect. Nielsen’s custom, stage-played 2004 Hamer Five Neck Korina guitar, offered publicly for the first time ever, sold for $313,600.

Another stage-played instrument, a 1975 Hamer Standard, brought $256,000. Nielsen’s 1984 Gibson Les Paul sold for $25,600.

The gear did not stop at guitars. His vintage Marshall amplifier brought $19,840, and his 1955 Ford Thunderbird sold for $76,800.

A “Don’t Steal My Girlfriend” Sweater Sold For Six Times What Anyone Expected

Here is the twist that makes this sale fun. Nielsen collected handmade, one-of-a-kind sweaters, and buyers loved them just as much as the instruments.

A sweater featuring the graphic “Don’t Steal My Girlfriend” sold for $6,400, which was six times its estimate. His vintage Detroit Tigers baseball cap brought $2,240, more than three times its estimate.

The clothing results were remarkable across the board. All 90 lots of clothing found buyers, and every single piece beat its presale estimate. From handmade sweaters to signature stagewear, the numbers showed how much fans wanted a piece of Nielsen’s one-of-a-kind wardrobe.

A Rubberized Overcoat With A Rowdy Rock Tale Sold For Nearly 10 Times Its Estimate

The auction also had a decidedly rock-and-roll twist. Nielsen’s black rubberized overcoat sold for $5,760, nearly 10 times its presale estimate.

The coat has a story behind it. Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx recounted a messy night out in Europe involving the coat in the band’s 2001 autobiography, “The Dirt: Confessions Of The World’s Most Notorious Rock Band,” and recalled that it happened to the coat of his own musical hero.

That is a good reminder that, in the memorabilia world, a good story can be worth as much as the object itself.

“A Passion Of Mine For As Long As I Can Remember”

Nielsen is the creative force behind Cheap Trick, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wrote anthems such as “Surrender,” “I Want You To Want Me,” “Dream Police” and “If You Want My Love.” His guitar work, power pop songwriting and wild stage presence carried the band from Rockford, Illinois to international stardom. The landmark “At Budokan” album cemented its legacy.

The auction, said Nielsen, was about sharing the fun. “Collecting guitars and memorabilia has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I’m thrilled to see friends, fans and collectors give these pieces of my history a new life, and even happier that the auction supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”

So while the big money went to the instruments, the benefit side of the sale turned a lifetime of stuff into support for a good cause.

What Collectors Can Learn From A Sweater That Beat The Odds

If you grew up with Cheap Trick on the radio, this auction has a message for you. The things people want are often not the obvious things.

Start with personality. The sweaters were handmade and one of a kind, and they carried a clear sense of who wore them. Items that tell you something about a person tend to attract passionate bidders, especially when they come straight from the owner’s own collection.

Next, notice how estimates work. An estimate is an educated guess from the auction house about where bidding might land. When two or more fans both want the same piece, the price can sail well past it, which is what happened to the sweater and the Tigers cap.

Think about your own closet, too. Concert shirts, stagewear-style jackets, hats and old tour souvenirs from the bands you loved can have real value to fans, particularly when you can show where and when you got them. Keep tickets, photos and any paperwork that proves the story.

And remember that you do not need a famous name to enjoy a collection. Nielsen says collecting has been a passion for as long as he can remember, and that simple love is where every great collection begins. Whether you hold on to your treasures or let them find new homes, the point is that someone gets to enjoy them.

The lesson is plain. In a sale full of guitars and cars, a sweater with a cheeky slogan still stole a share of the spotlight, and that is the kind of surprise that keeps collectors coming back.

Prices like these also show that fans value the personal side of a career as much as the famous instruments. A stage-worn jacket, a baseball cap or a hand-knit sweater feels close and human, and for many buyers that closeness is the whole point of owning a piece of their musical hero.

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