Kurt Cobain's MTV Unplugged guitar to sell for $1m at auction

Seven-figure six-string: The guitar played by Nirvana frontman Cobain at the 1993 show in New York City
Julien's Auctions/PA Wire
Jochan Embley12 May 2020

The guitar played by Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s fabled MTV Unplugged sessions is to go up for auction with an estimated price of $1m (£804k).

The 1959 Martin D-18E electro-acoustic guitar featured in the performance recorded on November 18, 1993, at Sony Music Studios in New York.

The stripped-back gig has gone down in history as one of the grunge band’s greatest ever shows, and took place around five months before Cobain’s passing.

One of only 302 D-18Es ever made, the guitar was personalised by Cobain with a Bartolini pick-up in the soundhole.

In the auction, which is being hosted online by Julien’s Auctions in California, the guitar will come with its original hard-shell case, decorated by Cobain with a flyer from the band Poison Idea.

Three baggage claim ticket stubs, a half-used pack of guitar strings, three guitar picks and a suede stash bag are also included.

The guitar won’t be the first big-ticket item from the MTV Unplugged sessions to go under the hammer — Cobain’s famous green cardigan from that night sold for $334k (£277k) last October.

This latest auction will take place on June 19 and 20. Head here for more information.

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