Johnny Marr's Historic Guitars Hit Christie's

Indie guitar icon Johnny Marr has partnered with auction house Christie’s to sell nearly 100 items from his personal gear collection. The highly anticipated auction, titled Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, features a staggering array of vintage guitars and amplifiers spanning his legendary five-decade career.

Having collaborated with everyone from The Smiths and Pearl Jam to Billie Eilish and Hans Zimmer, Marr’s collection has understandably grown to epic proportions. Now, the revered guitarist is offering players and collectors a chance to own a piece of British music history.

Why is Johnny Marr Selling His Guitars?

The decision to part with these iconic instruments stems from the 2023 publication of his book, Marr’s Guitars, which detailed the rich histories behind his vast collection.

“The book turned out to be a cathartic experience, and when it was time for these beautiful instruments to go back into storage, I couldn’t imagine them being put away and left unplayed,” Marr explained.

Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection

While he admits it is a "bittersweet" process to let them go, he recognizes that each guitar has helped him evolve as a musician, bringing out new techniques and songs. “I want them to go to new homes and new people who will love them as much as I have. I hope they bring as much joy, inspiration, and fun – and new songs – as they have given me.”

Auction Highlights: Iconic Six-Strings Up For Grabs

The Christie's auction is packed with highly desirable vintage gear, but a few key pieces from The Smiths era are stealing the spotlight:

• 1960 Gibson ES-355 (Cherry Red)

  Expected to be the auction's crown jewel, this vintage ES-355 carries an estimate of up to £150,000 (approx. $198,000). Sire Records founder Seymour Stein bought it as a sweetener to get the band to sign for US releases—a move Marr reportedly requested after hearing Stein had done the same for Brian Jones. Featured on Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and seen heavily on Top of the Pops and The Tube, this is also the exact guitar believed to have gotten Noel Gallagher hooked on ES-355s.

• 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Cherry Red)

  Estimated at up to £120,000 (approx. $159,000), this Les Paul was heavily featured on The Headmaster Ritual and was played at The Smiths’ final ever show in 1986. Its legacy continued long after the band's split, as Marr utilized it during his stints with The Cribs and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

• 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo

  Purchased shortly after The Smiths signed their first record deal, this 330 Jetglo (estimate: £60,000-£80,000 / $79,000-$105,000) defined the sound of their 1984 self-titled debut album and tracks like This Charming Man. It also has a famous Britpop connection: Marr loaned the guitar to Noel Gallagher during the Definitely Maybe sessions, and it famously appears on the cover of Oasis’ Supersonic single.

• Martin D-28 Acoustic

  Expected to fetch up to £50,000 (approx. $66,000), this acoustic drove some of The Smiths' most melodic and melancholy tracks, including There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, Well I Wonder, and Cemetery Gates.

• 1984 Roger Giffin Korina ‘Telecaster’

  Built by British luthier and former Gibson Custom Shop head Roger Giffin (whose client list includes Eric Clapton and David Gilmour), this custom build was an engagement gift from Marr’s now-wife. Estimated at up to £30,000 (approx. $39,000), it was prominently featured during television appearances in 1984 and 1985, including The Old Grey Whistle Test performances of The Headmaster Ritual and Nowhere Fast.

Charity Donations and Auction Details

In addition to sending his beloved gear to new homes, Marr is ensuring the auction does good. He will be donating 100% of the hammer price from 10 specific lots to two British charities: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.

Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection will be on view at Christie’s London headquarters from September 9 to 16, following an earlier summer exhibition in New York.

For more details on the lots, visit the official Christie's Auction Page

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