Kurt Cobain's Guitars Now

7.31.2009

1970's Ibanez Black Eagle Bass

This was one of Krist's workhorse basses from the late 80's and early 90's. The bass was seen on display at Seattle's EMP in 2005. I'm working on confirming if the display is permanent or temporary.

The bass is on display alongside Kurt's sunburst Stratocaster.

Sources

empsfm.org

livenirvana.com

7.09.2009

Kurt's Guitars Now Slideshow

Matt from the band Violent Addiction has created a youtube video themed "Kurt's Guitars Now". Check it out here. Matt also found this awesome photo of a D18E that is very similar to Kurt's.

6.17.2009

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.

5.13.2009

70's Fender Telecaster Thinline

This guitar actually belongs to Lee Renaldo from Sonic Youth.

Kurt had borrowed it in 1992 to join Mudhoney on stage for The Money Will Roll Right In.

This guitar was stolen from Sonic Youth in 1999 and returned (refinished) in 2005.

Links

1. Photobucket page with more screen shots of Kurt and Tele

2. Video of Kurt playing Lee's Tele with Mudhoney

3. Sonic Youth's page on this guitar

4. Only good photo I could find (only shows headstock)

5. Sonic Youth's page on the theft and recovery of this guitar

Source

Chris Lawrence

Sonic Youth

Vandalism Stratocaster

Vandalism Fender Stratocaster

The most famous use of this guitar was at the 1991 Reading Festival.

The second famous use of this guitar was at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle 10/31/91.

This guitar is being lent to the Experience Music Project for a dedicated Nirvana exhibit. After Kurt's death the guitar was still in pieces. It was put back together by Earnie Bailey, Nirvana's guitar tech. It is currently on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project.

The sticker came from an Arizona band called The Feederz.

The guitar had at least one neck replacement, possibly more.

The necks ranged from Fender Japan, Kramer, and at one point a Fernandez Strat neck.

The gentleman in the photo holding the guitar is famed guitar builder Kevin Burkett of Electrical Guitar Company.

The complete photos can be seen by clicking on the links below.

This guitar was also used on one of Kurt Cobain's favorite moments on stage, playing Molly's Lips with Eugene Kelly. See video here. Kurt was quoted saying; "that was one of the greatest moments in my life".

5.12.2009

1965 Fender Jaguar

The most common belief is that Courtney Love gave Kurt's Jaguar to Eric Erlandson (former Geffen employee and guitar player for Hole). It was last seen in Hole's Doll Parts video and Courtney was known to have given away a few of Kurt's guitars after his death (Jagstang, Musicmaster, Mustang). Eric was also one of Kurt's good friends and both were known to occasionally jam together.

When one of the contributors to this guide asked Earnie Bailey the whereabouts of the Jaguar he was unsure though he speculated that there may be a chance Eric has it.

Sidenote; in a photograph from the late 90's of Eric and his guitar collection the Jaguar is nowhere to be found. See photo here.

Eric Erlandson also brought the Jaguar with him on the 1995 Lollapalooza tour although it was rarely (if at all) seen on stage. The photograph above was taken by Jennifer Finch (photographer and member of L7).

According to Courtney Love, Frances Bean is set to inherit the lyrics to Teen Spirit, a sweater and one of Kurt's guitars. Since this is perhaps the most important and notable instrument in Nirvana's history it is a possibility that this is the guitar that Frances Bean is set to inherit.

If you are reading this and you have this guitar please send photos! You can remain anonymous. I get emails about this everyday from loyal Nirvana fans who love this guitar. The goal of this guide is to provide close up photographs of Kurt's guitars. Thanks for your consideration. Thousands of Nirvana fans will be grateful :)

For a detailed description of the Jaguar please visit kurtsequipment.com

Cool videos featuring the Jag

1. Molly's Lips (MTV 1992) - My personal favorite

2. Drain You (1991) - Jag closeups around 1:30

Please post links to your speculations, cool photos and videos of Kurt and his Jag in the comments section.

2011 Update:

Fender is getting ready to release a replica of this guitar and there is a good chance they have photographed and inspected the original. See both posts here and here.

Sources

Mark

Chris Lawrence

Jennifer Finch

Prospect

3.02.2009

SLTS Fender Competition Mustang

1969 Fender Competition Mustang

Famously used on the Smells Like Teen Spirit video. This guitar was also (alongside a Strat and a Jaguar) used for the recording of Nevermind. Kurt's Competition Mustang is currently on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project. After Kurt's death Courtney gave the guitar to a close friend. That friend has lent the guitar indefinitely to Seattle's EMP.

From kurtsequipment

"I recently worked on the real one and its present owner allowed me to photograph it in detail. Courtney gave it to him a month after Kurt's death, and it is exactly as I remember it, every nick, ding, and solder joint." - Earnie Bailey

If anyone is in Seattle please take a ton of photos of this guitar @ EMP and send it to us so we can post 'em!