Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 1962 Fender Stratocaster “Red”
Stevie bought this guitar at Charley’s Guitar Shop sometime in 1983 or 1984 (sources vary on this). It was originally a sunburst Stratocaster, but it was repainted with a custom red finish, most likely by the previous owner (information about this guitar is very scarce).
Embed from Getty ImagesMods, Neck Changes
The guitar remained in the stock condition up until around 1986 when Rene Martinez took the neck off to allegedly replace the neck on Stevie’s Number One. That neck couldn’t handle any more fret changes, so Rene suggested to Stevie that they should completely replace it.
Instead of the original neck, the red Stratocaster was fitted with a left-handed rosewood neck, which was apparently a knock-off (as suggested in the book Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan). Around that same period, Stevie added the “SRV” sticker on the pickguard.
On July 7, 1990, the left-handed neck was damaged when a sound baffle fell on it after a gig that Stevie played at Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel. It was promptly replaced with a brand new Fender-made rosewood neck.
Usage
Stevie often played this guitar occasionally live for Love Struck Baby and Pride And Joy.
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