StratMasters The DVD

ORIGINAL: StratMasters

Rory Gallagher featured in Fender promotional DVD StratMasters

Strat® Masters is the most ambitious film to date documenting the story of the world’s most iconic guitar - the Fender® Stratocaster®. A Headstock production, this feature length documentary traces the history of the Strat® through the words of some of the world’s greatest musicians. Produced by director Michael Bayley Hughes and former Guitarist Magazine contributor Bob Hewitt, their passion for the Fender® guitar was the inspiration for this absorbing film. Sonny Curtis - Buddy Holly’s friend and sideman in those early years of rock ‘n roll - tells how he saw Buddy evolve as a musician to become one of the most influencial Strat® players of all time. The cover of ‘The Chirping Crickets’ album inspired many of the great musicians interviewed for this film. Buddy Merrill, one of Fender’s earliest endorsees, was just a teenager when he found fame with the Lawrence Welk orchestra. Today retired, Buddy tells how Leo Fender made personal modifications to his guitars – some just to make him look great under the television lights! Leo Fender’s business partner, Don Randall explains how he christened the Stratocaster® and gives a glimpse of those early days in Fullerton when he and Leo produced the perfect instrument, just in time for the emerging rock n’ roll era. Filmed in California, Japan and the UK - there is exclusive factory footage of the Fender® facilities in the USA and Japan. Legendary pickup guru Seymour Duncan and Vice President Evan Skopp give an unique tour of their Santa Barbara facility where the world’s greatest guitar pickups are made. The entire manufacturing process can be seen and, as he custom winds a pickup, Seymour tells of his association with Leo Fender….and his love for Strats® and Telecasters®. Ry Cooder, the maestro himself, talks enthusiastically about his Stratocasters® and unique slide guitar technique, pickups and string gauges. Clive Brown of Guitar Art - one of the world’s most respected guitar builders and restoration experts, talks about the idiosyncrasies of the Stratocaster® - and all those ‘little secrets’ everyone wants to know about. Clive has worked on around 600 vintage Strats® and has an intimate knowledge of the instrument which he shares with us in this film. Renowned Fender® historian and author Richard Smith is filmed at the Fullerton Museum and talks about the early days - if anyone knows about Fender®, it's Richard!

The story of the first Strat® to arrive in the UK is told in detail by Bruce and Hank of the Shadows. That very first instrument sits on Bruce’s lap as he vividly recalls the day it arrived. Strat® Masters is a ‘who’s who’ of great Stratocaster®players and their thoughts on the instrument: Jeff Beck, Ry Cooder, Robert Cray, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea, Rory Gallagher, Albert Lee (yes, he plays a ‘58 Strat® too!) The Shadows. The film includes a rare interview with the late Zimbabwean singer / guitarist Jonah Sithole, the first musician to transpose African mbira music to electric guitar; a testament not only of his own ingenuity but also the Strat’s versatility. In contrast, Malina Moye an L.A. urban R&B singer/guitarist brings us bang up to date; she flips a Strat® over for her left handed unique style of playing - just like Hendrix ! Barry ‘Slim’ Martin of The Hamsters, the UK’s hardest working rock band, pays tribute to Hendrix and plays some great ‘homage’ riffs to the master.Headstock’s association with Strange Music, provided exclusive access to previously unseen interviews with the late great Rory Gallagher who plays and talks about his famous beat up Strat®.

Joe Bonamassa - Kansas EPK

12 yr old Joe Bonamassa with Danny Gatton

Joe Bonamassa - If Heartaches Were Nickels

Rory Gallagher FB page reaches 3000 members

Facebook Rory Gallagher fan base reports:

We warmly welcome Fenia St. (fan 3000), Daniela Hächler (fan 3001), Jason Silverback (fan 3002), Cyril Gleiman (fan 3003), Jimmy Athanasoulias (fan 3004) and Emanuele Gulmini (fan 3005). Their joining made our fan base grow over 3000 members.


The fan base is growing steadily after opening the page in March 7th:
0 - 1000 fans from Mar 7 to Jul 6
1000 - 2000 fans fron Jul 6 to Sep 4
2000 - 3000 fans from Sep 4 to Oct 25

The figures show 19%/81% female/male ratio and also fans below 34 years age are 81%


Danny Clifford is sharing in his blog ( http://www.dannyclifford.com/blog/2008/10/rory-gallagher-photo-finish-era.html ) some pics of Rory Band from the "Photo Finish".

Famous Guitars of Bluesmen

ORIGINAL: Play Blues Guitar
September 8th, 2008

When it comes to music, the instrument is often an extension of the player behind it. The blues definitely agrees. Some of the famous blues guitarists have unique and recognizable guitars. Some styles of guitars even bring to mind their respective players. Without further ado, here are a few of the famous guitars of famous bluesmen.

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Lucille played by B.B. King

The famous story behind the famous name is that one night in 1949, B.B. was playing in a bar when two men got into a fight over a girl and knocked over a kerosene heater (basically a barrel full of lit kerosene). The place went up in flames and everyone ran out. However, B.B. realized that he left his guitar inside and ran to save it. He nearly lost his life, but named his guitar and subsequent guitars Lucille after the girl the two men fought over.

The modern and most famous iteration of Lucille is a custom black Gibson ES-355 with Lucille printed on the headstock. B.B. has been playing this version for nearly 25 years. It’s pictured here.

Blackie played by Eric Clapton

Arguably the most famous stratocaster ever, Blackie was the nickname for a Frankenstein of a guitar assembled by Eric from three different strats. Purchased from Sho-Bud guitar shop in Nashville, Tennessee, he combined the best components to create Blackie. Eric played it live and in the studio from its creation in 1970 to 1985, when he retired Blackie. Contrary to the many rumors that state otherwise, Blackie was reportedly 100% playable during her retired years.

Blackie was sold at auction for a record $959,500 to Guitar Center, who proudly displays the guitar.

Number One played by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray’s Number One was a 1973 sunburst model traded for at Ray’s Music Exchange in Austin, Texas with Stevie’s old ‘63 strat. Beaten and bastardized, the guitar remained his main axe since that day. Although the original had a white pickguard and strangely hot ‘59 pickups, Stevie replaced the pickguard with a pickguard featuring the now famous SRV lettering. Remarkably, Stevie had the frets replaced with jumbo bass style frets while he played on a reportedly .013 (going as high as .018) guage strings.

Number One now resides with Stevie’s brother Jimmie. It’s been permanently retired in memory of Stevie.

Polka Dot Strat played by Buddy Guy

While not as famous as the other listed here, this guitar deserves recognition if only for its unique paint job. Comprised of white polka dots on a black finish, this strat has been serving as Buddy Guy’s main guitar for years now. Originally a custom artist series, made especially for Buddy, Fender has recently created a similar guitar with an inverted paint scheme and lace sensors.

The Polka Dot Strats remain road worthy and accompany Buddy to most of his live shows.

Ex-Sunburst played by Rory Gallagher

Called the Ex-Sunburst by fans for its lack of a finish (worn away by heavy use and sweating) as much as for Rory’s refusal to give it a name, this famous guitar happens to be one of the first strats in Ireland in 1961. Rory bought it for an estimated £100. Heavily modified, the guitar had one different tuner, all new pickups, and modified pickguard.

The Ex-Sunburst resides with Rory’s brother, Donal Gallagher. It isn’t played.

Rory Gallagher FB Page reaches 2000 members

Thanks to Carolina Rodriguez Hoyos (Fan 2000) and Tim Steyaert (Fan 2001), Rory Gallagher Facebook Fan Page crossed the 2000 fans mark today.

Rory message it's spreading well, it took roughly three months (From March 7 to July 6) to cross the first 1000 fans mark. From then until today it was just two months for the next 1000. A slight rise in the female/male ratio (21% / 79%) and also in fans below 34 yrs (82%)

All continents are represented at some extent, but Europe leads thanks to the strong Greek presence (30%-40% aprox) by far. I think they can manage an extra place in the Olympus, I mean Όλυμπος, for our admired and respected Guitar God, if he isn't already there.

Keep Rocking Rory Fans