Play or Preserve: Inside the American Auction Market for Guitars Played by Iconic Guitarists

What happens when a guitar created to be played becomes valuable enough to preserve? The record-breaking sales of guitars once owned by David Gilmour, Jerry Garcia, and Kurt Cobain reveal a changing market where provenance, cultural significance, and financial value increasingly intersect. From the concert stage to the museums, the fate of these instruments ultimately depends on those who collect and care for them.