Kurt Cobain’s ‘MTV Unplugged’ guitar auctioned for $6 Million!

By tsell on June 23, 2020

The worlds most expensive guitar

By Trent Sell

The recent auction of Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E guitar sold for over $6 Million. Cobain used the guitar during Nirvana’s famous “MTV Unplugged” show.

Cobain’s Martin D-18E

This limited-edition Martin D-18E acoustic guitar was made in 1959. In the hands of Kurt Cobain during one of the most iconic music performances of all time, and you have one expensive guitar. When the guitar got auctioned off this past Saturday, it became the world’s most expensive guitar. The sale also broke records for the world’s most expensive acoustic guitar, Martin guitar, piece of memorabilia, and the most expensive Nirvana memorabilia ever sold.

Who’s the lucky new owner you might ask?

The historic guitar went to Rode Microphone’s founder, Peter Freedman, for a grand total of $6,010,000.

In the auction video, the hard bid goes for $5 Million, but after the buyer’s premium, the total sits in just over $6 Million. The sale also included strings, 3 picks, a hard case, and 3 lapel pens found in a velvet pocket.

“self-portrait of a generation’s most transformative artist”

The listing on Julien’s Auction’s website stated the musical and cultural importance of a piece of memorabilia like this.

“Twenty-six years later, Cobain’s MTV Unplugged performance remains the definitive self-portrait of a generation’s most transformative artist. Cobain’s Martin D-18E guitar survives as the most recognizable and important artifact, not only of Cobain’s MTV Unplugged performance, but of Cobain as an artist.”

Freedman plans on showcasing the guitar around the world to raise funds to help the music industry recover from the Coronavirus. “When I heard that this iconic guitar was up for auction, I immediately knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure it…” said Freedman. He explained his intentions of using it as a vehicle to highlight the struggles performing artists face.

“For most, access to financial and health services — particularly mental health services — is very limited. While many industries are gradually returning to normal, it’s going to take a long time before this industry can begin functioning as it was. The toll this has taken and will continue to take is enormous and requires more than just lip service. It requires action now, and I am a man of action.” – Peter Freedman