Eastwood's Pete Shelley Starway Guitar

Georgetown, Ontario (December 16, 2007) – Eastwood Guitars has an announced an 88 unit run of a Pete Shelley replica Starway guitar. Shelley, who is known for playing two thirds of a Starway with punk band the buzzcocks, collaborated with Eastwood on the signature replica.

Pete Shelley’s original Starway was smashed into two pieces during the buzzcocks’ early years. It happened in a fit of rage at a rehearsal in a church. The top part of the body -- the part with the guitar’s upper cutaway horn and the left strap button -- came off but the guitar but the instrument was still playable. Shelley went on to use the guitar live and on the famous Spiral Scratch record in 1977. Diehard buzzcocks fans will note that Shelley’s album credit did not list his instrument as "guitar," but rather "starway guitar."

It turns out, vocalist Howard Devoto held on to the broken top of the guitar for decades. The two parts were brought back together at the opening of the UK’s flagship Doc Martens shop in Manchester.

The new Pete Shelley signature replica is a recreation of the original guitar in its broken state. All 88 guitars are hand-signed by Pete Shelley and come with a hardshell case featuring the original ’76 buzzcocks logo. The guitar also comes with Pete Shelley Signature strings from Rotosound, a white curly cord, a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, a leather buzzcocks logo strap and reproductions of buzzcocks memorabilia. The guitars are scheduled to start shipping in January.

Eastwood Guitars Pete Shelley Starway

• Solid Mahogany body – replica of a broken 1976 model
• Set neck – bound Maple
• Rosewood fingerboard w/ block edge markers
• 24 ¾" scale length
• 1 5.8" width at nut
• Single custom wound EW humbucker
• Volume, tone controls
• Vintage thumbwheel bridge and tail – chrome
• In-Line nickel/chrome hardware
• Custom sized hardshell case
• Suggested retail: $1399

For more information:
eastwoodguitars.com