3 Iconic Guitars That Sold for Well Over $1 Million

Some people collect cars, coins, and cards. Though, if you are a devoted music fan and gear head, you collect guitars. Collecting guitars is a dangerous game for some. You get one, and then you get another, and then you end up having way more than you need. And for the high rollers, this can be a very expensive endeavor, as there are guitars out there worth well over $1 million.

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For those not acquainted with the market, you might be thinking, who in the world would buy a guitar for $1 million? Well, you’re not wrong in thinking that, and even the biggest music fans likely ask the same question. Regardless, it’s happened, and here are three guitars that were purchased for far more than $1 million.

Kurt Cobain’s Fender Mustang

Kurt Cobain had an incredibly impactful and illustrious career in a short time frame. That being so, his legacy is one of the most storied in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Thus, every physical item that pertains to his legacy is either invaluable or wildly expensive, including the Fender Mustang he played on “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Given the context surrounding Cobain’s instrument, the axe sold for $4,550,000 to Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay at an auction in 2022. Irsay bought the guitar so he could add it to his pop culture memorabilia collection, and as of now, that is where it still resides.

David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster

David Gilmour is one of the most experimental and unorthodox guitarists of all time. Hence, it comes as no surprise that his iconic black Fender Stratocaster sold for $3,975,000. Also, guess who purchased this guitar? If you guessed Jim Irsay, you are correct, as the renowned collector and NFL owner purchased this instrument in 2019.

Gilmour’s legendary black Stratocaster was just as much a part of Pink Floyd as Gilmour was himself. Gilmour famously played the guitar on “Money,” “Comfortably Numb,” “Shine on You Crazy Diamond,” and countless other Pink Floyd projects.

Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E

Martin guitars are some of the finest guitars on the market. Consequently, they are also some of the most expensive, even if they weren’t used by a celebrity musician. So, when these guitars are used by a celebrity, their pricing goes up exponentially, and that is exactly what happened with Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E.

In 2020, Cobain’s guitar sold for $6,010,000 to Rode Microphones founder, Peter Freedman. The primary reason for this pricing is that Kurt Cobain played this guitar on Nirvana’s iconic MTV Unplugged performance. To date, it is the most expensive guitar of all time.

Photo by Frank Micelotta