From Guitar World · · 1m 30s
Johnny Marr's guitar collection sells for $4.87m
Nearly 100 of the Smiths guitarist's iconic instruments, including the Rickenbacker that played Oasis, fetch almost $5 million at Christie's.
In brief
Nearly 100 of the Smiths guitarist's iconic instruments, including the Rickenbacker that played Oasis, fetch almost $5 million at Christie's. Johnny Marr's 97 guitars sold for £3.6 million at auction, with proceeds going to charity and buyers spanning 34 countries. Originally reported by Guitar World.
Nearly 100 guitars fetch $4.87m
Johnny Marr's collection sold for £3.6 million at Christie's, with buyers from 34 countries competing in a five-hour auction.
“The auction has been a great experience and has exceeded all my expectations”
The Rickenbacker that played Oasis
His 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, which also appeared in Oasis recordings, sold for £358,400 and was among the collection's most valuable pieces.
The ES-355 that signed the Smiths
A 1960 Cherry Red ES-355 used to convince Sire Records to sign the Smiths sold for £204,800, cementing its place in the band's history.
The nine-pickup Stratocaster oddity
A bizarre nine-pickup Fender Stratocaster smashed its £10,000 estimate, selling for £38,400 and proving collectors value experimental instruments.
The Epiphone Casino of How Soon Is Now
A 1963 Epiphone Casino tuned to F sharp and paired with a Fender Twin Reverb for the iconic main riff of How Soon Is Now sold for £102,400.
The Martin acoustic that wrote the Smiths
A 1971 Martin D-28, Marr's main writing and recording acoustic for the Smiths, sold for £128,000, smashing its £35,000 to £50,000 estimate.
Proceeds go to two charities
All auction proceeds benefit the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Autistic Society, charities Marr selected for the sale.
The takeaway
Johnny Marr's 97 guitars sold for £3.6 million at auction, with proceeds going to charity and buyers spanning 34 countries.
