Two of Johnny Marr's iconic guitars sold for over 650,000 euros at a recent auction, far exceeding their initial estimates. The Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo from 1982, used during The Smiths' early recordings, fetched 358,400 pounds (416,000 euros), more than four times its expected price. The intense bidding for the guitar lasted over five minutes, according to the auction house. Another guitar, a Gibson ES-355 Cherry, also sold for 204,800 pounds (238,000 euros), significantly above its initial estimate of between 100,000 and 150,000 pounds. This guitar was a gift from Seymour Stein, a music producer and founder of Sire Records, who gave it to Marr to encourage The Smiths to sign with his label. Marr used it to compose the first notes of the hit song "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now." The auction, titled "The Johnny Marr Collection," includes around 80 guitars, along with concert posters, gold and platinum records, and a collection of harmonicas that span more than four decades of Marr's career. At the time of the report, the auction was still ongoing, with about fifty items left to be sold out of the 111 lots presented. Marr told the BBC in late June that he decided to sell his collection while writing his book "Marr's Guitars," published in 2023. "Writing this book gave me an excuse to take all the guitars out, photograph them, and take them to some events," he explained. After completing the book, he felt it was strange to simply put everything back into storage and did not want his studio to become a museum. Johnny Marr co-founded The Smiths in 1982 with singer Morrissey, and the band became a defining force in independent rock music. Marr's playing style was known for its clarity and complexity, drawing heavily from British pop influences. After The Smiths disbanded in 1987, Marr continued to be a highly sought-after collaborator in the music industry. He worked with a variety of artists, including The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, and Oasis, leaving a lasting impact on the rock scene. His decision to part with his guitar collection reflects a desire to share his legacy with fans and celebrate his extensive career.