Johnny Marr to auction about 80 guitars including Rickenbacker

Johnny Marr is preparing to put about 80 of his guitars up for auction with Christie’s on 17 September in London. The collection, which includes amps and other equipment, will be available for public viewing in London and New York before the sale. Leading lots include a 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo with a top estimate of £80,000; it can be heard on This Charming Man, What Difference Does It Make?, Still Ill and Accept Yourself, and it was lent to Noel Gallagher, appearing on the cover of Oasis’s debut single Supersonic.

The distinctive opening riff of This Charming Man, however, was played on a 1950s Telecaster. Also on offer is the acoustic heard on There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, a 1971 Martin D-28 estimated at £30,000-50,000. The highest top estimate, £150,000, is for a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 bought for Marr by Seymour Stein; it became a signature instrument and was played on Top of the Pops.

United Kingdom; United States, London; New York

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