A guitar owned by the Who's Pete Townshend has sold through the Internet for what is believed to be a record price of about $US150,000.

The 1957 Fender Stratocaster was given to Townshend by fellow rock legend Eric Clapton after their 1973 Rainbow Theatre Concert in London.

Only two weeks ago, David Bowie and Mick Jagger bought the guitar from Townshend and gave it to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who decided to auction it for charity.