Bob Marley’s broken guitar could sell for millions

A guitar owned by the late reggae icon Bob Marley is expected to rake in big bucks at an auction next month. The guitar is an Ovation 1612-4 Custom Balladeer acoustic, loaded with a pickup.

It is expected to be sold at this year's The Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock 'N' Roll auction hosted by Julien's Auctions and is expected to go for anywhere between US$80,000 (approximately J$11.8 million) and US$100,000 (approximately J$14.8 million).

The guitar also comes with a letter of authorisation from Benji Levy's son, Jonathon Olsen, who said his late father gave the instrument to him before his passing. According to the auctioneers, Marley gave the guitar to his friend Benji Levy in 1979.

Moment of inspiration

"Levy and Marley became friends after they met at a car dealership in Jamaica where Levy was working. Levy was trying to persuade Marley that he should purchase a BMW. When Marley asked why that particular car, in a moment of inspiration, Levy explained that the initials BMW actually stood for Bob Marley and the Wailers! Apparently, the guitar's neck was damaged when Marley and his girlfriend Cindy Breakspeare were staying in a Mayfair, London, hotel circa 1979 and got into an argument and Breakspeare hit Marley with the guitar. Marley gave the guitar to Levy who had the guitar repaired," the auction's official website said.

The auction will take place on December 1 and 2. Already there are two bids for Marley's pre-owned guitar. The price tag already attracted is US$65,000 (approximately J$9.6 million).

In January this year, Marley's Washburn 22-Series Hawk guitar was ranked as the fifth most expensive guitar on earth. The instrument, which was valued at US$1.2 million, was also classified as a national asset by the Government of Jamaica and was said to be one of only seven known guitars owned by the reggae legend.