THE guitar used by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain during the band’s famous MTV Unplugged concert in New York has sold for US$6 million at auction.

The 1959 Martin D-18E featured in the grunge group’s acclaimed acoustic performance in November 1993, five months before Cobain’s death at the age of 27.

There had been fevered interest in the guitar in the weeks leading up to the sale.

It was sold to Australian Peter Freedman, owner of Rode Microphones, at the Music Icons event run by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

Cobain used the guitar on the band’s Unplugged live album, and songs including “About A Girl” and “All Apologies.”

Last year, the cardigan Cobain wore during the Unplugged performance was sold by Julien’s Auctions for a record US$334,000.

Items that belonged to other iconic musicians were also sold at the auction, including a blue guitar played by Prince at the height of his fame in the 1980s and 1990s. (SD-Agencies)