Scottsdale, Arizona (July 29, 2008) -- David Gilmour and the Fender Custom Shop are extremely proud to announce the highly anticipated release of one of the most iconic musical instruments of the past 50 years -- the David Gilmour Signature Series Stratocaster guitar. Based on Gilmour’s famous “Black Strat” guitar, the instrument will be available at select Fender retailers worldwide beginning Sept. 22, 2008.
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A cornerstone of Pink Floyd’s incomparably revolutionary sound, Gilmour’s Black Strat is featured extensively on The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and his critically acclaimed 2006 solo effort, On An Island. The Fender Custom Shop worked hand-in-hand with Gilmour and his longtime guitar technician, Phil Taylor, to create this signature model, a detailed reproduction of the Black Strat -- complete in its unmistakable look, sound and feel.
Gilmour bought the original instrument in May 1970 from Manny’s Music in New York. The guitar’s first Pink Floyd recorded appearance came on the group’s fifth album, Atom Heart Mother. It subsequently became Gilmour’s main guitar for live performances and studio work.
The new reproduction -- the David Gilmour Signature Series Stratocaster guitar -- features an alder body, black over three-color sunburst finish, a black pickguard, a one-piece straight-grain maple neck, custom pickups and Gilmour’s now-infamous electronics and shortened vintage tremolo arm. Beautiful, powerful, unique and as idiosyncratic as Gilmour’s playing, the guitar will be produced by the Fender Custom Shop in N.O.S. (new old stock) and Relic versions.
The David Gilmour Signature Series Stratocaster guitar comes with a custom case, an Evidence high-end guitar cable, Gilmour’s three-disc Live in Gdansk CD/DVD set and Taylor’s 2007 book about the guitar’s history, The Black Strat. The first 500 guitars sold in either finish option will include a limited edition, signed copy of The Black Strat book, autographed by Phil Taylor.
Specs:
 |  | |
| NOS | Relic | |
| Model Number | 015-0068-806 | 015-0069-806 |
| Colors | (806) Black, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish) | (806) Black over 3-Color Sunburst, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish) |
| Body | Comfort Contoured Select Alder | |
| Neck | 1-Piece Maple, 1983 Thin-Shouldered “C” Shape, (.790” to .870” Taper), (”Thin-Skin” Dark Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish) | |
| Fingerboard | Maple, 7.25” Radius (184mm) | |
| Frets | 21 Vintage Style Frets | |
| Pickups | 1 Custom Shop Fat ‘50s Single-Coil Strat Pickup, (Neck), 1 Custom Shop ‘69 Single-Coil Strat Pickup (Middle) 1 Seymour Duncan SSL-5 Single-Coil Strat® Pickup (Bridge) | |
| Controls | Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup) | |
| Pickup Switching | 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup Position 3. Middle Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. Neck Pickup 1 Mini-Toggle (Adds Neck Pickup in Positions 1, 2 and 3.) | |
| Bridge | American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Custom Beveled Tremolo Block and Shortened Tremolo Arm | |
| Machine Heads | Fender/Gotoh Vintage Style Tuning Machines | |
| Hardware | Nickel/Chrome | |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply .120” Beveled Black Acrylic, (11 Hole) | |
| Scale | 25.5” (648 mm) | |
| Width at Nut | 1.675” (42.5 mm) | |
| Shared Unique Features | Thin-Shouldered “C” Neck Shape Duplicated from David’s 1983 U.S. Vintage ‘57 Strat® Neck Custom Shortened Tremolo Arm Custom Beveled Tremolo Block Black Dot Position Inlays (Narrow Spacing) | |
| Differing Unique Features | White Tremolo Back Cover Aged White Plastic Parts Built as if bought new in its respective year and brought forward in time. | No Back Tremolo Cover Plate Aged White Pickup Covers Aged Parchment Control Knobs Covers A Cosmetically Aged Faithful Re-creation of David’s Infamous “Black Strat” |
| Strings | GHS, DG Boomers, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.010, .012, .016, .028, .038, .048) | |
| Accessories | Evidence Audio™ High-End Guitar Cable, Custom Leather Strap, GHS® DG Boomers Strings, DG Pick, David Gilmour’s Three Disc “Live In Gdansk” CD and DVD Package, a Copy of Phil Taylor’s “The Black Strat” Book, Polishing Cloth and the Certificate of Authenticity | |
| Case | Deluxe Black Hardshell Case with Green Crushed Velvet Lining and with “David Gilmour” and Custom Shop Logo Embroidered on the Lid Interior | |
| MSRP | $3999.99 | $4799.99 |
For more information:
Fender Custom Shop
