Yamaha Acoustic

Yamaha Acoustic

This guitar was photographed for Cobain Unseen by Geoff Moore.

The photograph was not published in the book but it is on his website.

I recommend checking out his website.

He has a dedicated Cobain collection (which includes Kurt's drum set, journals, demo tapes, etc...) as well as other works of his which are worth checking out.

Geoff did most (if not all) the still photography for Cobain Unseen.

According to an eBay auction for one of his limited prints; there will be a future (traveling?) exhibit of his work.

Here is a photo of the guitar in Courtney Love's room in LA that she had once shared with Kurt Cobain.

This guitar was mentioned in kurtsequipment.com and the author of that site said it was "hear-say". Now we've confirmed it does indeed exist.

1961 Epiphone Texan Acoustic "Nixon Now"

This guitar was featured in Charles Cross's book "Cobain Unseen".

Photographed by Geoff Moore.

It has been in storage in a private secured lot in Los Angeles (along with the other goodies that were photographed for the book).

For a large color print I recommend you check out the book.

From Rolling Stone;

"The Epiphone acoustic with the "Nixon Now" sticker is a model called the Texan. Kurt purchased this from a Los Angeles guitar shop after he became famous. Kurt's guitar tech, Earnie Bailey, installed the Bartolini 3 AV pickup."

From kurtsequiptment.com;

"Prior to the In Utero tour Kurt's main acoustic was an Epiphone Texan purchased after completing "In Utero" as a replacement for the Stella acoustic. The guitar's adjustable bridge was changed to a lefty flat-top bridge and a standard saddle. Earnie says this was one of the best-sounding acoustics he's heard, and Kurt's best. Despite this he wouldn't use it on Unplugged. Used during the "In Utero" tour on occasion as a backup to his Martin.

Related Links

1. Close up photos 1, 2, 3

2. Cobain Unseen by Charles Cross

3. Polaroid taken by Kurt

4. Geoff Moore Studio

1953 Martin D18

From the Press Release;

"We're pleased to offer what many would consider an even more significant instrument, the 1953 Martin D-18 acoustic guitar that Cobain purchased while on tour shortly before the 1991 release of the seminal Nevermind. This 1953 Martin D-18 acoustic guitar was played regularly by him before being gifted to indie-folk rock musician and then-girlfriend Mary Lou Lord during their brief relationship. Cobain's first Martin D-18, he loved it so much that this became his favorite brand of acoustic. Mary Lou Lord played the guitar regularly (with the guitar strung right-handed - Cobain was a lefty) during her career, on tour and in the studio, and often shared the guitar with her pals Elliott Smith and Shawn Colvin."

Article here

The guitar apparently did not meet the auction reserve.

Correction. It sold for $29,875

Interesting observation; on the photo of Kurt playing the guitar the strings are strung up for a right handed player. Was this really Kurt's? Or was it Mary Lou's and Kurt happened to strum it? The only Martin mentioned on kurtsequiptment.com is the Unplugged D18E.

Here is a short video clip of the guitar on display at the Dallas Guitar Convention 2007