The Who’s Pete Townshend was a pioneer of the art of the guitar smash, and accordingly, electrics wielded and destroyed by the man himself fetch a high price - and the latest to go up for auction is this smashed 1964 Fender Stratocaster.
The Sonic Blue-finished model was split in half by Townshend at a 1967 concert at Long Island Arena in Commack, New York, and comes with a handwritten statement from the guitarist detailing the events of that evening.
Heritage Auctions (opens in new tab), which is listing the guitar, notes that previous Townshend smashers have gone for as much as $75k, while a 1964 Fender alone would go for more than $14,000 today.
Also up for auction is Townshend's surprisingly mint 1965 Gibson SG Special, with minor dings, a copper shielded control cavity and minor fret wear, including gigbag.
Bidding for the smashed Fender Strat is open now at Heritage Auctions (opens in new tab), and ends on 15 April, while bids for the still-in-one-piece SG (opens in new tab) begin on 23 April til 12 May.
