Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher's 1958 Strat

The guitars of the late, great Irish blues-rock master Rory Gallagher are coming up for auction on October 17, so we took a last chance to put Rory's 1958 maple fretboard Stratocaster through its paces with contemporary blues master Joe Bonamassa. A highly experienced vintage guitar expert, Joe plays and discusses Rory's late-50s Strat - a companion and backup guitar to his legendary '61 Strat - and shows off its unique vintage features.

[@ShredCo]

This guitar was bought by Rory whilst on tour in the US in September 1972. "I have a '57 (sic) with me on the road, which is a three-color sunburst I got in Memphis off a guy called Robert Johnson, of all names. He's an incredible guitar player. I use that in the studio sometimes." Known as Rory's No.2 Fender Stratocaster, this became Rory's main backup to his 1961 Strat but was used mainly in the studio, although it did feature in some live shows in the 80s and 90s.

[@CapAnson12345]

It feels like every famous guitar ends up in Joe Bonamassa's hands sooner or later.

[@Richard_Lush]

I love Joe’s videos. I get to see and hear such amazing and historical gear. Thanks for taking the time showing us these amazing finds.

[@regentsoundusa]

This guitar was bought by Rory whilst on tour in the US in September 1972. "I have a '57 (sic) with me on the road, which is a three-color sunburst I got in Memphis off a guy called Robert Johnson, of all names. He's an incredible guitar player. I use that in the studio sometimes." Known as Rory's No.2 Fender Stratocaster, this became Rory's main backup to his 1961 Strat but was used mainly in the studio, although it did feature in some live shows in the 80s and 90s. Rory Gallagher was rumoured to be a candidate for Mick Taylor's replacement and jammed with the Rolling Stones, Robert Johnson who was playing with John Entwistle's OX at the time actually auditioned for the Rolling Stones January 31st-February 4th 1975 in Rotterdam Holland on the Black & Blue sessions. Jeff Beck showed up for a couple of days so for 2 days The Stones had 4 guitar players as Jagger jumped into the pile with a guitar. Some great outtakes and bootlegs of these sessions. Johnson and Gallagher remained friends until his death. Johnson jammed with Gallagher at Poets Music Hall in 1979 in Memphis, it was a great show.

[@ZalMoxis]

Always great to hear Joe wax lyrical about musical subjects and life anecdotes...

[@ianbrown7089]

Saw Rory many times. Amazing guitarist and person. Respect to Rory and Joe. I appreciate Joe keeping Rory's legacy alive. Thank you. Vancouver.

[@neiljones7715]

That sounds amazing... Rory was fookin' awesome 🤘

[@alanleemaxwell831]

Although Joe is a great guitarist in his own right, I love the fact that nobody makes Rory's guitars sound the way Rory did... The legend lives on....

[@spooky3120]

Joe, Find a toilet. Insert your head. Flush.

[@Timtime67]

Killer stuff. Rory was a great player.

[@HatRock]

That thing had a refret with the biggest frets on earth.

[@precbsfender]

Good eye..

[@jamesincharlotte]

Yes !! I said same thing then I saw your comment hahah

[@AJgeartalk]

JB would make a good vintage guitar appraiser!

[@steveb9325]

Yes especially owning them all😂or mostly anyways 😂

[@caseynelson9861]

That belongs in a museum 🧐

[@dkm66]

It does not belong in a museum at all. It deserves to be out making music. I guarantee Rory would agree.

[@kristabehymer3089]

It belongs in the hands of someone who will play it.

[@Banzo_]

Fun fact: Pee Wee Crayton was the very first known musician to record with a fender strat. He was friends with Leo, if i remember correctly, and Leo gave or sold Pee Wee Crayton one of the very first Strats ever made. Pee Wee Crayton picked up the guitar when he was in his 30s because of Tbone walker. Crayton is one of my favorite guitarists.

[@lukecassidy6300]

This is great, thanks Joe! Rory was one of the very best to ever do it.

[@danwebb4418]

The National Stadium, Dublin.. Rory Gallagher gigs..He was always in top form at this venue...

[@twinsmm1]

Actually, they did grow on trees.

[@Joyce71315]

It won't be Rory's other Strat for much longer... It's on the list at Bonham's Auction House too !!!!!!

[@TonyEdwardsGuitars]

That's the 'Defender' Strat. He used it for most of that album. I think he actually picked it up in the mid 80's. Don't think he used it much outside that album. By the time the tour happened I think he returned to the 61. If you listen to the album, there's a brightness and edge to the guitar tone on some of the songs, especially Road To Hell and Loanshark Blues that possibly that guitar.

[@lindanadaud9698]

Thanks for the video.

[@Chasing72]

In 1970, Fender ran a “summer sale” and the Strat was selling for $150, while the Tele went for $125.

[@brettgarsed]

Apparently Rory's original Strat is up for auction in October. Man, I'd give anything to own that guitar but I'd probably have to sell my house to even have a chance at owning it. I hope Joe has a chance of getting it. It'd be in good hands then.

[@johndaugherty4127]

Heyell yes!

[@brucedelaney9606]

Dude you look tired….Please put Down the guitars and take a 6 month vacation to the islands. We really love you and want you around for a long time.

[@danielktdoranie]

I agree with the first part, but not with the second part

[@billy1858]

@@danielktdoranie a lot of people suffer with jealousy!

[@brucedelaney9606]

@@billy1858 We love Joe. He just works so hard, vacations are nice too.

[@BluesRockAcademy]

He looks tired because he can’t write a decent song

[@BourneAccident]

Couple of things... No original pickguard, no original frets, I question the finish, and okay it's a great guitar, but maybe not quite the holy grail. And the thing about Rosewood fingerboard Fenders and Maple neck Fenders is not the wood so much as the pickups were not wound with the same number of turns. More on the maple necks and less on the Rosewood necks. Everybody knew that way back when and that's why maple strats got more money than rosewood... I repaired these things way back and have owned dozens of these and other great instruments over the years. The only ones I still have are the 59 maple strat, 60 rosewood neck tele, 57 Les Paul Special, and the one I will die with is my Broadcaster. That one is super sweet and is the best player of them all.

[@russshaber8071]

Wow! That Strat sounds a lot like all the other Strats, only more expensive.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

Tonally no vintage guitar is worth the asking price. Historically, they're still overpriced. You know you can get a great guitar for under 1k right? No one is forcing you to buy a vintage instrument

[@SlyRyFry]

yeah its a $1500 guitar with $43500 worth of history

[@davidt9841]

NO 2 Guitars, even if the same brand and model, sound like all the others.. though, I will give you.. most prices are, unjustifiably, in the Stratosphere (pun?)!

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@@davidt9841 To be completely honest even if it's the same person and guitar every time, the amp/speakers/room/microphone can affect so much.

[@iagobroxado]

This one deserves to be expensive, though.

[@Alanoffer]

Like that dark burst ,

[@1999zrx1100]

Roy is looking down going yes 👍

[@Obashka]

More playing would be nice 🙂

[@DrKevGuitar]

Please note, in Ireland we do not pronounce the second G in Gallagher. Galla-her, not Galla-ger. Thanks!

[@1040ecapja]

☝️🤓 "ermmmmm, akshually..."

[@DrKevGuitar]

@@1040ecapja I don’t think anyone who respects Rory and his legacy would ever complain about pronouncing his name the way he did. It’s easy once you know. Right?

[@michaeldonaghey]

Rory was asked by John Peel if his name is said Gallaher, Rory then said Gallagher. Peel then said "OK please yourself". This can be heard on Taste box set I'll Remember on the track Railway And Gun.

[@JohnReynolds-un6mz]

Doesn't that depend on whether you're plastered or not?

[@75YBA]

@DrKevGuitar Ba as Contae Dhoire mo sheanathair. So you better believe he taught me how to drop the G. I dare someone to pronounce it wrong in Ballyshannon or Cork. 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@CBGypsy03]

Sweet tone wood

[@TruthSurge]

from the size of those frets, I would claim it's been refretted. I highly doubt it came with jumbo frets. That concept wouldn't happen till much later when playability was a huge concern for more skilled players. I think Gibsons used a bigger fret starting around 1959 so those Teles and Strats were prob the smaller frets for a looooong time.

[@Dreyno]

Definitely refretted. With railway track by the look of it. Rory wasn’t precious about gear. He wanted it to work the way he liked. And these things weren’t even that old at the time. This guitar was the equivalent of a 2010 Strat when he bought it.

[@TruthSurge]

@@Dreyno I don't know, the whole thing looks too new looking to really be from 1958. Neck is spotless. Finish is worn on the back, okay, but maybe it got a new finish and pickguard and he said logo USUALLY fell off on those years but this one is still on. So, all that new stuff added lowers the desirability factor for a collector, I hear. But yes, Joe is a collector AND playuh. I'm more of a playuh. hahah

[@Dreyno]

@@TruthSurge I can’t afford to be a collector. Rory had lots of gear and he had his favourite Strat so this one might not have seen much action apart the studio. I’ve seen where he said it looked newer than his main Strat but was actually older. And that he’d had heavier frets put on it and disabled the middle knob.

[@TruthSurge]

@@Dreyno Yeah, maybe it didn't get as much wear and tear. I read that Joe has over 500 guitars now give or take. I have 6. hah

[@Dreyno]

@@TruthSurge I have 7 electrics, 2 acoustics, a bass and a mandolin. Ranging in price from 2.5k down to 100 or so. Would really struggle to justify another one. But I NEED a 12 string.

[@rockdanger]

Did he mention it's been re-fretted?

[@Fatman-g8k]

I just saw Joe in concert and it was an awesome show. That said, his tone with Les Paul was great, tone with 335 even better, his Tele was incredible. His Strat sound was not so good. He hit 2 notes that sang out wonderfully but all in all his Strat sound was lacking compared to the rest of the guitars he played that night. Joe is great, just maybe not a Strat kinda guy. At least not for my ears.

[@mindcontrol67]

Those pickups are set high.

[@MBRMrblueroads]

👍👍🎶🎶

[@philipbrackpool-bk1bm]

Eric Clapton bought six Stratocasters in America for 100 dollars each when everyone wanted gibsons.

[@dennisgearside9887]

Joe 🛑 stop saying you know all the time. Most of us don’t know you know.🤨🤨

[@davidsparks6146]

What was Joes tuning? It sounds open...

[@tonytothe8544]

How many of Rory's guitars is Joe going to bid on?

[@ezerlab1]

None. He never pays extra money for celebrity owned stuff.

[@tonytothe8544]

I didn't know that, but I guess we will see. Joe is such a huge Rory fan.

[@alexhuevera939]

yahknowTohneWood yahknow

[@flybynight1929]

It's a desert island guitar if you're stranded with a guitar tech, or a toolbox. Sorry, there's just so many things Leo got wrong.

[@Nghilifa]

Think so? I've never had any issues with my Strat. Keeps in tune great, and I rarely need to adjust the neck (like maybe once a year).

[@precbsfender]

Why would Fender Fullerton put the decal on top of the clearcoat. It makes no sense..jeeesch

[@Johngonefishin]

I saw a mint 58' back in the 70's that had no decal, the guy had trouble selling it, because people thought it was fake, it wasn't.

[@D2C3R5]

those look like seriously jumbo frets.

[@jamesincharlotte]

What big frets ?

[@DS-yg4qs]

If this strat is the thing he would have been an owner

[@MrPaulanthonyryan]

Bum note @ 6:17?

[@vintagepipesnightmares]

Joe is guitarded like most of these people!!! When they went to rosewood they also changed the pots and some parts of the pickups. That’s why they sound different

[@Watergrovey]

Talking about tonewood in 2024 😂

[@funkster007]

You can't tell a difference in sound between a strat with a maple board and a rosewood board?

[@christoguichard4311]

I'm slowly going off Joe B...🤨

[@Cablecossuck]

He’s talented, but I’ve never liked him-definitely a better guitarist than me

[@nigelsmith721]

Hold on....guitars don't grow on trees?

[@TruthSurge]

401K hahaha what a joke that is.

[@simpsimpson5175]

Joe Bonamassa famous for dropping hideous eggy farts e everywhere

[@CaptainRon1913]

So Joe summed it up, nothing special about the guitar unless you're a Rory Gallagher fan. So you can buy a Fender re-issue 58 strat and an old Rory vinyl record to hang on your wall to look at, for 10 times cheaper, since Joe said "nothing has changed in 60yrs"

[@danielktdoranie]

You can play “anything” on any guitar 🙄

[@NERDOFUNK]

No shit Sherlock...

[@bruceman9581]

If Joe dosn't buy it for his hoarding collection, it means it's not a great guitar.

[@edwardswan8668]

A lot of talk not much play.

[@scottstanley8370]

Those frets look huge