Two Johnny Marr guitars have sold for more than half a million pounds

Johnny Marr performing on stage during his homecoming concert at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester. (Peter Byrne/PA) - (PA Wire)

Two guitars used by Johnny Marr in The Smiths and on his upcoming solo album The Age Of Everything have sold for more than half a million pounds.

Several guitars used by the musician have gone up for sale as part of Christie’s London auction, Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection.

Among the items that went under the hammer was Marr’s recognisable 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, which was used throughout the recording of The Smiths’ debut album and early tours.

A selection of guitars on display during the preview at Christie’s (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

The guitar – which can be heard on the tracks What Difference Does It Make?, This Charming Man, Still Ill, and Accept Yourself – sold for £358,400, four times over the pre-sale estimate in a bidding battle that lasted more than five minutes.

The Rickenbacker appeared on the cover of Oasis’ debut single Supersonic after Marr lent the guitar to Noel Gallagher during early recording sessions for Definitely Maybe.

The auction also saw his 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, which inspired Marr to write the music for The Smiths’ 1984 single Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and its B-side Girl Afraid, go up for sale.

It sold for £204,800, well over its estimated price which ranged from £100,000 to £150,000.

A selection of guitars on display (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

The guitar was purchased for him in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein after Marr joked The Smiths would sign to the label if Stein bought him a new guitar.

It comes ahead of the release of his first studio album in four years, The Age Of Everything, which will hit shelves on October 2.

With The Smiths – who were completed by singer Morrissey, bass player Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce – Marr was one of the pioneers of British indie rock in the 1980s.

The band released four critically acclaimed studio albums in The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986), and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) – before breaking up in 1987.

They achieved three UK top 10 singles, and were best known for songs such as How Soon Is Now?, This Charming Man and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.

Marr launched his solo career with 2013 album The Messenger, with all of his solo albums charting in the UK top 10.

The 111-lot sale continues with further items expected to sell for thousands of pounds.