Kurt Cobain’s most beloved six-string companion could soon be in your hands.
A 1969 Fender Competition Mustang that the late Nirvana frontman deemed his favorite guitar will be auctioned off at Christie’s New York in March 2026. The left-handed axe, which is expected to fetch between $2.5 million and $5 million at the upcoming sale, was featured on two of the band’s generation-defining albums and used for several seminal live performances. It was, therefore, a key contributor to the soundtrack of the ‘90s.
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“I’m left-handed, and it’s not very easy to find reasonably priced, high-quality left-handed guitars. But out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite,” Cobain said of the instrument in his final interview with Guitar World.
Cobain purchased the teal Fender from Lloyd Chaite of Voltage Guitars in Los Angeles sometime between 1990 and ‘91. He played it during both the Nevermind and In Utero recording sessions, as well as on stage during the height of Nirvana’s fame. It is also the guitar that the grunge icon famously strummed in the music video for the band’s perennial hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The clip, which debuted on MTV’s 120 Minutes on September 29, 1991, catapulted Nirvana into stardom. The band won countless awards for the single and the video, earning both a rightful place in music history. Cobain died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 27, but he, the band, and their songs remain firmly in the zeitgeist.
Kurt Cobain 1969 Fender Competition Mustang and Portrait
“Kurt Cobain and his music defined a generation,” said Christie’s global president Alex Rotter. “His impact continues to inspire and permeate our culture.”
Indeed, any item with ties to Cobain attracts both interest and dollars. This particular guitar was last offered at Julien’s Auctions in 2022, eclipsing the original high estimate of $800,000 and selling for $4.7 million. In addition, the 1959 Martin D-18E, which Cobain played during the famous MTV Unplugged concert, hammered down for a record $6 million at Julien’s in 2020, making it the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction.
The Fender is part of a collection amassed by late billionaire businessman Jim Irsay, which will be sold at Christie’s New York in a series of auctions next year. The lineup includes instruments owned and played by some of the world’s greatest musicians, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Eddie Van Halen, and Eric Clapton. More information on sales will be available in the coming months.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
