Call me an idiot, call me crazy, but...

[badfinger]

I just ordered a Rory Gallagher Strat. If you haven't seen this particular guitar, its like a relic'd SRV Strat, meaning that it is really worn. I'm a huge Gallagher fan (at least a very tall one) and I've heard good reports from NAMM about this guitar. And the price was just a bit more than a good Custom Shop Reissue Relic. I know that many people don't believe in relic guitars, I was one of them until recently. Besides, this may help me to get accepted with my wife's Irish relatives!

[George Johnson]

Another huge Rory Gallagher fan here.

Haven't seen this model yet, but any tribute to the man is OK by me.

For reference, here's Rory's guitar and I can assure you
that every mark on it was attained in the heat of battle:

http://www.fendereurope.com/images/rorystrat.jpg

[Big Mike]

Dude! Good call. I don't really know much about Rory, but there so seem to be something glorius about a beat down strat. I like it!

How much do they run BTW?

[Dan O]

hey cool!!!

i was looking at it in the new frontline, and it's definately a wild guitar! I'm definately a relic fan (i've got one on order in fact!).

please post picture upon its arrival!

[Dan Desy]

You're an idiot, Ric.
Oh, I um, understand, and, well, um, nice move on that guitar... ;)

You're going to have your name pretty soon to StratMan or something like it :D

[badfinger]

Dan, you are right. I am an idiot. Not for ordering the Gallagher Strat, but for selling my PS McCarty, BRW Santana, and Santana 1. A series of events and twists led to the sell of these guitars, then only to have the reason for selling them dissapate before my eyes. Now I'm left with all this cash, what's a guy to do?

So my collection is down to:
PRS Artist II
PRS Private Stock Archtop II
Fender Custom Shop 'Closet Classic' '55 Strat
Fender '52 Reissue Telecaster (due next week)
The Gallagher Strat when it comes
BRW Singlecut (purchased from a forum member last week)
And my Private Stock Santana 1 (not sure when the delivery date is).

Big Mike, the Gallagher Strat lists for approx. $4000. Figure in your local Fender dealer discount and it is the price of a Custom 22! It looks pretty much like the pic posted above, a beat to heck Strat. Rory bought the guitar at an early age, it is reported to be one of, if not the first, Stratocaster shipped to Ireland. It is a '61 model. I think its curious that this guitar has the same amount (if not more) relic'ing than the SRV #1 Strat, which list for $10,000. If Fender limits the amount produced, it could be a nice investment Rory doesn't have the acclaim here in the US that SRV does, and Fender has not disclosed how many will be made (they created 40 for the European market a couple of years ago at a much higher price). If you haven't seen or heard Rory play, he was truly a great blues guitarist. He layed down such a heavy groove. I'm really looking foward to getting it, but it will be 3 months or so before it arrives.

[Big Mike]

That's not bad knowing how deep a discount you can get on Fender now.Cool axe.

Can you recommend a good first Rory CD to grab?

[George Johnson]

"Against the grain" or "Calling card" would be great for starters.

[badfinger]

I agree with George, Calling Card is considered by many his best work. Check out the dvd 'Irish Tour', really good and will get you hooked on his groove.

[Jim Collins]

The album, Irish Tour, is my favorite Rory album. The DVD, Irish Tour, is also worth having, because, although most of the tunes are the same, many are different performances. It is the music that is in the DVD that makes it worth having. The filming is typical of that period -- a lot of long, closeups of faces, but no real feel for what it is like sitting in the front row. Also, it is very easy to tell that different shots in the same tune are from different tunes. (Rory alternating between a Strat and Tele in the same tune is a clue.)

[Rog]

Respect! But I really need to know, how much $,$$$ ?