David Gilmour Signature Strat

To go on sale in September:

http://www.davidgilmour.com/

Purty.

So... it's a Strat?

Nice. Any predictions on the price?

Yeah, less than 24k. It would be nice to be aorund the same as the Mayer and Clapton and Malmsteen and so on.

I heard they were doing two:
1. the uber-expensive collector's model &
2. a "players" version around the $1500 mark.

*Reads thread title*

What is this strange sensation in my chest? Could it be my G.A.S returning?

*Clicks link, return to forum*

Yep, that'll be my G.A.S!

• Maple neck – as close as possible to the original ('83 57V with Gotoh tuners), in shape, colour and feel, with a nitro-cellulose finish.
• Alder body with the same late 60's contours as the original.
• All the pickups were selected by David to match the sound of the 'Black Strat' closely, and are custom-wound: neck and middle pickups by Fender's legendary Abigail Ybarra, and the bridge pickup by Seymour Duncan.
• The same extra mini-switch has been added, which adds the neck pickup to the middle or bridge pickup if desired.
• The tremolo arm has been shortened, as per David's modification.

A 'Relic' prototype There are two models:
• The 'Relic', which replicates the 'Black Strat' as it is today with aged parts and worn paint, plus all the wear and tear of David's heavily-used 30-year-old guitar – with no backplate.
• The 'New Old Stock' model, which replicates the 'Black Strat' as it is now – but with all-new parts, 'new' paint finish and an additional white plastic backplate. The NOS model should be found at a lower retail price than the 'Relic'.





Interesting. They claim it will NOT be a $24,000 touch, like the Blackie replica, but affordable. I hope they're smart and keep it realistic like the Eric Johnson, and the Geddy Lee bass, which is under $1000.00.

Great! Just when I finally get rid of all of my Strats, and finally decide I just don't get along with Strats...

Almost all of my influences play Strats and David Gilmour is probably my favorite. I'm going to have to come to terms with this one...

The price will determine how good or bad it sells.

They should make a version like the EJ Strat made by regular Fender USA not the CS so it can be affordable if not it wont do that good.

Most people dont wanna spend $4000 on a bolt-on neck guitar.

I do like the specs!

Your just going to have to try one out e.

It DO sound nice...though...


p_uCO9wOVGE

But, that strap has to go.

I'm going to have to gloat here...I used to work for Storm Thorgerson, and we had a number of photoshoots to do that involved getting Dave's black strat in, one shoot involved goin to Utah, so Phil Taylor his guitar tech got one of the fender prototypes of the replica in for that particular shoot. I had to look after both for a while, and can I say, taking Dave's black strat and this replica across London in a cab had me in a nervous fit for the entire day!

I had a chance to have both guitars led next each other to compare, and the replica is stunning. The plastic hardware is shinier that the original, and dave's has a small bit of wood let in behind the bridge to cover an old trem route which they have not included on the copy, but thats about it. Having never had the opportunity to compare an original and its signature copy, it was funny how the wear and tear was roughly in the same place but yet still different in terms of shape and severity. I just hear stories of the wear being "identical" on these relics down to the last paint scrape, but not so, maybe as it was the prototype. I dunno.

One funny thing that happened on one of the shoots was that we had there an assistant from the set design company, who was in England someone we would call a "towny" or a "scally", maybe its "jock" in the US? Someone of sporting rather than musical interest we shall say. Anyway, he had to move Dave's black strat out of the way and he couldnt resist giving it a strum, obviously not knowing the history or prestige of the instrument, he bashed out a few choice licks with a grin on his face: Dave's strat was treated to Smoke on the Water and Smells like teen spirit. :shock: I gave him a seething look but secretly found it hilarious.

But, that strap has to go.

That strap belonged to Jimi Hendrix!!!

Finally! Dave should have gotten a sig strat way before that Crapton guy. Took fender 20 years to "get it".

Mr Driver, that is a great story indeed, thanks for sharing.

That strap belonged to Jimi Hendrix!!!

OOhhh....That's why it looked a bit familiar. Still ugly though..

can't believe i forgot that - it had that strap on when i had it in me hands - gulp, "faints", why oh why hasnt any ju-ju rubbed off yet......?

I'm going to have to gloat here...I used to work for Storm Thorgerson

You could have ended that post there and I'd be just as jealous! Please, do tell us more! :grin:

Great story, Marchdriver!

Most people dont wanna spend $4000 on a bolt-on neck guitar.


I dunno... there sure seem to be alot of people at places like TGP who wont think twice about dropping that kind of cash on a CS strat or boutique s/t type builder.

The pickups I wouldn't mind but the rest is easily done.

David G. himself has been quoted as saying that if Fender couldn't make it 'affordable for everyone' then he wouldn't allow it to be built at all... so we'll see what that means...

I heard they were doing two:
1. the uber-expensive collector's model &
2. a "players" version around the $1500 mark.

Well, possibly a later version will be more affordable?
I can't come up with $4K, which dissappoints me because I was waiting for this one.

David G. himself has been quoted as saying that if Fender couldn't make it 'affordable for everyone' then he wouldn't allow it to be built at all... so we'll see what that means...

Weeeellll.... "Affordable" for Dave Gilmour could mean anything :lol: :lol: :lol:
One of the richest men in rock music, have you seen his guitar collection?

Some months ago I bought a guitar magazine, I think it was a Brittish one, that had a big article on Dave's black guitar. His guitar tech was writing a book about it. Fender was wanting for years to make a Dave Gilmour signature, but Dave is a humble guy (despite his billions) and felt that it was not a good idea since he liked Strats for their simplicty and most of his were mutts of some sort. He recalls what its like when your a working class guy trying to play guitar. Strats are tools to him and nothing fancy.

His black one is a late '60s body (used during the filming of Pompeii), routed all to heck, nearly a swimming pool under the pickguard, dented and dinged, with a late '80s '50s reissue maple neck. ANd the pickups... well, nobody is really sure what's in there, but he likes 'em. And he chopped half the whammy off and has an extra switch to make it sound "Like A Jaguar", I assume they mean Fender Jaguar, and not the car or big kitty.

I've never ever wanted a signature guitar. Until now. I'm a total Pink Floyd geek. Of course, I'd rather have a replica just like the one he played in Pompeii, complete with dirt from the Amphetheater rubbed into the neck.

His black one is a late '60s body (used during the filming of Pompeii), routed all to heck, nearly a swimming pool under the pickguard, dented and dinged, with a late '80s '50s reissue maple neck. ANd the pickups... well, nobody is really sure what's in there, but he likes 'em.

Phil Taylor knows! (or at least claims to!)

The neck is 1983, with Gotoh tuners (soft V)

The pups - the bridge is a Seymour Duncan SSL-1 (possibly one of the first ones if not THE first one Seymour ever made) - the other two are the stock Fender Strat pups from the late 60's.

Weeeellll.... "Affordable" for Dave Gilmour could mean anything :lol: :lol: :lol:
One of the richest men in rock music, have you seen his guitar collection?

He owns Strat #0001

He owns Strat #0001

Just to be clear, that doesn't mean it's the first Strat ever built. It's mosty likely a Custom Shop model. But yes, it's definitely worth a good deal.

Just to be clear, that doesn't mean it's the first Strat ever built. It's mosty likely a Custom Shop model. But yes, it's definitely worth a good deal.

You're right that it's not the first Strat ever built, but it's not a Custom Shop model either. I believe it's a 1954 Strat, that he acquired for an amazing $600 around 1976.

True. In the Strat book, they say it isn't the first, but is very early.

Have you read the last paragraph of the article on David Gilmour's website?

"Attention guitar obsessives: in a world where you can get a Fender Baja Tele or a Gibson SG Special, you don't need the David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster. But if you want one, and are desperate to study the special features, click here."

Very cool! Props to Mr. Gilmour.

You're right that it's not the first Strat ever built, but it's not a Custom Shop model either. I believe it's a 1954 Strat, that he acquired for an amazing $600 around 1976.

Seymore Duncan wrote on his website that #1 is not even an original complete guitar. He had replaced the body way before Dave got it.

Have you read the last paragraph of the article on David Gilmour's website?

"Attention guitar obsessives: in a world where you can get a Fender Baja Tele or a Gibson SG Special, you don't need the David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster. But if you want one, and are desperate to study the special features, click here."

Very cool! Props to Mr. Gilmour.

Being a Baja owner myself, that's relieved my GAS a little. Still, I don't have a proper Strat in my arsenal at the moment...

But...looking at the parts list on Fender.com, all the parts seems pretty standard which kind of turns me off on it.

http://www.fender.com/customshop/instruments/view_specs.php?full_partno=0150068&name=David+Gilmour+Stratocaster%26reg%3B+NOS

Do you guys still think it's worth it? The thing that bothers me the most is that the neck isn't even the current one David Gilmour is using...

He owns Strat #0001

Plus Broadcaster #0005 if I remember correctly.

I think they should offer one in red with a normal white pickguard.

People like red guitars.