10.12.2009

1970's Fender Mustang



70's Fender Mustang

Kurt used this guitar on Nirvana's 1989 US tour. At some point in the northeast part of the tour Kurt had smashed the guitar to the point where it was rendered unplayable. He took it into Mouradian Guitar in MA to fix the broken neck but either did not have the time or the money to go through with the repair.

While in New Jersey Kurt traded his broken Mustang with Sluggo (of the band Grannies and Huballaloo) for a Gibson SG that Kurt ended up painting light blue.

At one point the guitar was on display at the Seattle EMP on loan from Sluggo himself. It was taken off display to be auctioned off. In December of 2008 the smashed guitar made news headlines when it sold for $100,000. It is rumored to be returning there on loan from it's current (private undisclosed) owner for the Nirvana 2010 exhibit at the EMP.

If anyone has more photos of this guitar please send!

Pictures of the trade @ Sluggo's house in NJ

Sources
Esteban B

The photograph above is from the last show that this guitar was used on (Wilkinsburg, PA 7/9/89). There are no videos of the show but it's assumed that's where the guitar was smashed last. The video below is from a performance on 7/12/89 in Philadelphia, PA. No Mustang, but still a neat insight on this era of the band.


And another great montage of photos from this era.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:01 AM

    Hi, Do anybody know if Kurt Used Humbuckers or singlecoils on his 70's mustang?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:59 AM

      He used one of his univox humbuckers in the bridge, from one of his previous hi-fliers.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous3:10 PM

    would love to communicate with the photographer or owner of the photo of Kurt playing my guitar after painting it blue above.
    cheers,
    sluggo (grannihilator@comcast.net)
    PS FYI i traded Kurt the guitar in Watertown, MA (Boston), not NJ.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:13 PM

    kurt used humbuckers in the late 80's, then a competition mustang (seen in the smts video) with single coils, then on the in utero tour he used four hs mustangs

    ReplyDelete