Buddy Holly and his Fender Stratocaster

BUDDY HOLLY

EARLY MASTER OF THE STRATOCASTER AND A PIONEER OF ROCK AND ROLL

There are few musical artists who have evoked the out-in-front sound of the Fender Stratocaster in the early development of Rock and Roll better than Buddy Holly. The Beatles (named to be like Buddy’s Crickets) will tell you how crucial he was, as they copied his perfected art of the radio friendly mid-20th century rock-pop songwriting format of 2 minutes and 45 seconds in length.

Buddy Holly personified the Fender Stratocaster in the early days of Rock and Roll. His straightforward songs and playing style were perfectly suited to the new (introduced in 1954) Fender electric guitar sound and he showed us what new sounds it was capable of producing. He was literally a guitarist for his times who showed us what was possible and we owe him much to the origins of the greatest music ever made: American Rock and Roll.

BUDDY HOLLY’S FENDER STRATOCASTERS

Buddy Holly acquired and played several Fender Stratocasters before the tragic plane crash that took his life in February of 1959.

WAS BUDDY HOLLY’S FENDER STRATOCASTER DESTROYED IN THE FATAL PLANE CRASH?

This is a common question and the answer is no, it was not destroyed. On the last show he ever performed, Buddy Holly played a fairly new 1958 Fender Stratocaster, which he entrusted to the legendary singer Dion to safeguard on the bus. Dion was reportedly invited to fly but claiming the extra amount he would pay was as much as his parents paid in rent, he declined to spend the extra money and instead held Buddy’s guitar.

BUDDY HOLLY 1955 FENDER STRATOCASTER

Buddy Holly’s mainstay Fender Stratocaster that he played the longest and no doubt penned many of his hit songs with, was his 1955 Fender Stratocaster. Of course with the Stratocaster having only been launched in 1954, it’s really a ‘54/’55 original Fender Strat; however, most experts agree it’s a ‘55 Strat, not a ‘54 as was commonly believed.

THE BUDDY HOLLY SIGNATURE WORN PICKUP COVERS

One of the most identifying aspects of Buddy Holly’s original 1955 Fender Stratocaster guitar are the broken off pieces of plastic of the Stratocaster single coil pickup coverings. This is visible at the top right edges of the neck and middle pickups and the lower right part of the bridge pickup covering.

Buddy’s fierce guitar playing style obviously took a toll on his pickup covers but I think this is one of the coolest things about this Buddy Holly guitar and is instantly recognizable as the effect of the hard strumming hallmark of Buddy Holly.

THIS BUDDY HOLLY FENDER CUSTOM SHOP MASTERBUILT STRATOCASTER IS FOR SALE

We have the pleasure of offering for sale this beautiful never played one owner Buddy Holly Tribute Stratocaster, Masterbuilt by Dennis Galuszka at the Fender Custom Shop in 2011.

BUDDY HOLLY TRIBUTE STRATOCASTER IS ONE OF ONLY 50 MADE

GUITAR SPECS

Body Wood: Hand-selected off-center Ash

Neck Wood: Quartersawn Maple

Neck Shape: Large "C"Fingerboard

Radius: Custom 9.5"Scale

Length: 25.5" (648 mm)Width at Nut:1.650" (42 mm)

Nut Material: Bone

Frets: 21 Vintage

Neck Pickup: 1954 Stratocaster Single-Coil

Middle Pickup: 1954 Stratocaster Single-Coil

Bridge Pickup: 1954 Stratocaster Single-Coil

Controls: Master Volume, 2 Tone, 3-Way Switch

Hardware: Nickel/Chrome

Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo

Tuners: Fender/Gotoh Vintage Style

Pickguard: 4-Ply Tortoise Shell

Case: Vintage Style Tweed Case

Accessories: Strap

COA: Maria Elena signed certificate, DVD- interview with Maria Elena, 2-disc set of Buddy Holly´s gold records.

FENDER STRATOCASTER: A GAMECHANGER

When I think of that original guitar sound in the 1950s, when guitars went electric and the sound of the first Fender Stratocasters, I think of that slapback echo that gave folk chords with a new energy force echoing out loudly with a clean twangy tone. Fender Guitars has sold more Fender Stratocasters than any other model of guitar they have every produced and Buddy showed us why in the very beginning of the Strat.

THE BUDDY HOLLY FENDER TRIBUTE STRAT - AN EXACT REPRODUCTION

Whether you are a disciple of Rock and Roll guitar playing, an ardent student or fan of Rock and Roll, or a consumate Buddy Holly fan and collector, this limited edition exact reproduction by the Fender Custom Shop in 2011 recreates the exact instrument that revolutionized Rock and Roll music and electric guitar playing.

A UNIQUE GUITAR PLAYING EXPERIENCE

If you are a guitarist with purist tendencies and you want to have THE original tone of the origins of Rock and Roll, this is the guitar you’ve been looking for. It’s amazing how it not only feels great in your hands but it rings out with that legendary Fender tone, as it has been painstakingly crafted to be identical to the real original 1955 Fender Buddy Holly Stratocaster.

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