Johnny Marr's guitar collection smashes estimate at auction
The instruments fetch almost £4 million
Last updated 18th Sep 2026
Johnny Marr’s vast guitar collection fetched £3,649,280 under the hammer at Christie’s in London on Thursday (17th September), more than triple the pre-auction estimate.
A total of 111 items from The Smiths legend’s personal haul went on sale as part of Christie’s auction Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, and it attracted bidders from 34 countries.
Johnny Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo - the guitar most strongly associated with Johnny Marr’s melodic Smiths-era sound – far exceeded its estimate of £60,000-80,000, selling for £358,400.
The guitar featured on the cover of Oasis’ first single ‘Supersonic’ in 1994 - laid on the floor between Liam and Noel Gallagher - after Marr loaned it to Noel Gallagher for the recording sessions of Oasis' debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’.
Used throughout the recording of The Smiths’ debut album and on their early tours, it can be heard on classics including ‘This Charming Man’, ‘Still Ill’ and ‘What Difference Does It Make?’
The 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 famously purchased for Marr on New York’s 48th Street in early 1984 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, after Marr joked that The Smiths would sign to the label if Stein bought him a new guitar, fetched £204,800 (estimate: £100,000-150,000).
Elsewhere, the Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar in Comet Sparkle used to record the ‘James Bond Theme’ on Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for No Time To Die (2021) and on his performance with Billie Eilish for the song’s debut at the Brits sold for £46,080 (estimate £8,000-12,000).
100% of the hammer price of 31 lots, including 10 guitars, 1980s concert posters and sales awards, will be split equally between The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
Johnny Marr says: “The auction has been a great experience and has exceeded all my expectations. I’d like to thank everyone who made bids and special thanks to Christie’s for making it so memorable.”
Amelia Walker, Christie’s Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections, London, adds: “We are thrilled to have been able to partner with Johnny Marr for this landmark auction, the results of which reflect his groundbreaking and unparalleled musical influence.
“It has been an absolute honour to work with him and to share these amazing instruments and their stories with so many fans, collectors and fellow musicians around the world. We are also delighted to have been able to support Johnny in raising valuable funds for his chosen charities.”
Watch Absolute Radio's Johnny Marr interview about the Oasis reunion, The Smiths, and his iconic guitar collection: