Johnny Marr’s guitars sold for almost £4m at auction

The most expensive one is revealed

Going under the hammer as Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, The Smiths guitarist's instruments have sold for £3,649,280 at Christie's, the BBC reported.

The sale drew buyers from 34 countries, and ten guitars were included, along with amplifiers and gold discs.

The instruments had been used both during his time with The Smiths and on his forthcoming solo album, as per the BBC.

The collection of around 80 guitars, amps and equipment from the career of Johnny Marr. Credit: Getty Images

Marr said: “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”, he added.

The guitar that fetched £358,400

Following a battle of bidding which lasted more than five minutes, the 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo sold for £358,400.

That guitar was used throughout the recording of The Smiths' debut album and on the band's early tours, and can be heard on This Charming Man, Still Ill and What Difference Does It Make?

After Marr lent it to Noel Gallagher during early recording sessions for Definitely Maybe, it also featured on the cover of Oasis's debut single Supersonic.

Meanwhile, a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 sold for £204,800.

This guitar was the one that inspired Marr to write the music for The Smiths' 1984 single Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and its B-side Girl Afraid, and it was bought for him in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein.

Marr played it in early television appearances with the band, including on The Tube.

Along Morrissey, Marr was guitarist and co-songwriter for The Smiths.

The band from Manchester released four studio albums before splitting in 1987, and the sale comes ahead of The Age Of Everything.

This is Marr's first studio album in four years, which is out on 2 October.