David Gilmour’s Black Stratocaster stands as a monumental icon in the realm of rock music. This legendary guitar is intrinsically linked to some of the best-selling albums of all time, notably Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Its distinctive look and unparalleled tone have inspired countless guitarists worldwide to seek out their own “Black Strat Guitar,” aiming to capture a piece of rock history.
My own fascination with the Black Strat began in the late 1990s, a time when the internet was still burgeoning. Information about David Gilmour’s guitars, specifically the black strat guitar, and equipment was scarce and often contradictory. Discussions among fans frequently revolved around the question of whether David owned one or multiple black Stratocasters during the 1970s, given the numerous modifications that have since been meticulously documented.
David Gilmour Black Strat Venice 2006
David Gilmour performing with his iconic Black Strat guitar in Venice, Italy, in August 2006.
It wasn’t until 2006, coinciding with the release of David’s On an Island album, that definitive confirmation emerged. Phil Taylor, David’s long-serving guitar technician, revealed in an online Q&A session that the very guitar David played at Live at Pompeii was indeed the same black strat guitar used on Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall, and his then-current album, On an Island. This revelation solidified the Black Strat’s legendary status.
Witnessing Pink Floyd’s performance at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, in July 2005 was a defining moment. Amidst the massive crowd, I was captivated by the sight of David Gilmour playing the Black Strat. Its return after years of relative absence felt incredibly significant. It was hard to decide what was more thrilling: seeing Pink Floyd reunite or witnessing the return of the iconic black strat guitar.
The Black Strat’s intricate history has been thoroughly chronicled in Phil Taylor’s book, The Black Strat – A History of David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster, and Christie’s auction catalog, The David Gilmour Guitar Collection. This article delves into the technical specifications and chronological journey of this remarkable black strat guitar.
Original and Current Specifications of the Black Strat Guitar
To fully appreciate the evolution of the black strat guitar, it’s essential to understand its original specifications from 1970 and compare them to its configuration in 2006 and onwards.
Black Strat Original Specifications (1970):
- Body: Fender 1968-69 alder body, originally sunburst finish, painted black.
- Neck: Fender late 60s maple neck, large headstock, 21 frets.
- Pickups: Fender late 60s single-coil pickups.
- Tuning Machines: Fender F-style tuning machines.
- Pickguard: 3-ply white pickguard.
- Pickup Selector: 3-way switch.
- Bridge: Fender synchronized tremolo bridge with standard arm.
Black Strat Specifications (2006 – Present):
- Body: Fender 1969 alder body, sunburst finish, repainted black.
- Neck: Fender 1983 ’57 reissue maple neck, 7.25” radius fingerboard, 21 vintage-style frets, Gotoh vintage-style tuning machines.
- Pickguard: 1-ply .120” beveled black acrylic 11-hole pickguard.
- Pickups: Fender neck and middle pickups dated 1971 (from a 1971 bullet truss rod Strat, installed June 1973), Seymour Duncan custom-wound SSL-1C bridge pickup (installed late 1979).
- Bridge: Original Fender synchronized tremolo bridge (re-fitted in 1997).
- Pickup Selector: 5-way switch (replaced original 3-way in 1985).
- Switch: Custom mini-toggle switch for neck/bridge pickup combination.
- Tremolo Arm: Shortened to 4.25″.
Strings:
David Gilmour has consistently used GHS strings since the early 1980s, specifically a custom set with gauges: 10, 12, 16, 28, 38, 48.
The Black Strat Guitar Timeline: A Journey Through Rock History
The history of the black strat guitar is a fascinating chronicle of modifications, performances, and its integral role in shaping iconic music.
May 1970: Manny’s Music, New York – The First Black Strat
In May 1970, while Pink Floyd was touring North America, David Gilmour visited the legendary Manny’s Music in New York City. He purchased a 1969 Stratocaster, notable for its black body and rosewood neck, featuring the large headstock characteristic of that era. This guitar was briefly seen during Pink Floyd’s TV appearance for PBS/KQED recorded on April 28th, 1970.
Manny's Music New York
Manny’s Music on 48th Street in New York City, a landmark music store where David Gilmour purchased his original Black Strat.
Tragedy struck on May 22nd after concerts in New Orleans when the band discovered their gear van had been stolen. Although the van was recovered, some items were missing, including David’s newly acquired black Stratocaster. The tour was subsequently canceled, and the band returned to New York before heading back to Europe. It was during this second visit to Manny’s that David Gilmour acquired the black strat guitar that would become legendary.
June 1970: Bath Festival – Debut Performance
The black strat guitar made its public debut at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music on June 27th, 1970. Performing before an audience of 200,000, David Gilmour played the black strat guitar in its original configuration.
David Gilmour Black Strat Bath Festival 1970
David Gilmour playing the Black Strat guitar at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music in June 1970. This marked the guitar’s first major public performance.
Limited footage exists from this festival, but the available material clearly shows David using the black strat guitar in its initial form.
November 1970 – February 1971: The Road Runner Sticker
From November 1970 to February 1971, the black strat guitar sported a sticker of the cartoon character Road Runner. This detail was visible during performances in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Munster.
David Gilmour Black Strat Road Runner Sticker
A montage showing David Gilmour with the Black Strat guitar featuring the Road Runner sticker during performances in Amsterdam in November 1970 (left), Munster in February 1971 (middle), and without the sticker at Crystal Palace Bowl in May 1971 (right).
By May 15th, 1971, at a performance at the Crystal Palace Bowl, the sticker was no longer present, indicating its removal sometime between February and May 1971.
October – December 1971: Live at Pompeii
The black strat guitar took center stage in Pink Floyd’s iconic concert film, Live at Pompeii, filmed in the ancient Roman amphitheater in early October 1971. During this period, the original volume knob was replaced with a Telecaster-style silver knob, enhanced with a rubber band for better grip. This knob was removed immediately after filming in Pompeii, leading to a minor continuity discrepancy in the night/studio footage filmed in Paris in December 1971.
David Gilmour Black Strat Pompeii
David Gilmour performing with his Black Strat guitar in the historic Roman amphitheater in Pompeii for the filming of Live at Pompeii.
1968 – 1971: Early Days and Modifications
Prior to the Black Strat becoming his main instrument, David Gilmour utilized a variety of guitars after joining Pink Floyd in 1968. Frequently used guitars included a mid-60s white Stratocaster with a rosewood neck, a Bill Lewis Custom, and a 1959 sunburst Stratocaster with a 1963 rosewood neck.
Initially, the black strat guitar seemed to be just one of many in David’s rotation, gradually undergoing modifications. However, by the summer or autumn of 1971, it began to emerge as David’s preferred guitar. By January 1972, with the debut of Pink Floyd’s new suite, Eclipse (which would become Dark Side of the Moon), the black strat guitar had unequivocally become David’s primary instrument, a position it held until 1984.
February 1972: XLR Input and Tuner Upgrades
Around the time of the Eclipse premiere in early 1972, David Gilmour made some notable modifications to the black strat guitar. He drilled a hole to install an XLR input, aiming to reduce noise from his Fuzz Face effect. Additionally, a mini toggle switch was added near the pickup selector to allow the volume control to function as a master control.
David Gilmour Black Strat XLR Socket
David Gilmour pictured in Tokyo, Japan, in March 1972, removing the XLR socket that he had installed in his Black Strat guitar earlier that year.
The XLR socket was visible during Pink Floyd’s performances at the Rainbow Theatre in London in February 1972. However, this modification proved ineffective and was removed by David while touring Japan in March 1972. Around this time, the stock Fender tuners were replaced with Schaller tuners for improved tuning stability. The silver volume knob, briefly seen during the Live at Pompeii performance, was also reinstalled and then removed again shortly after.
June 1972: Rosewood Neck Swap
During the Dark Side of the Moon recording sessions at Abbey Road in June 1972, David made a significant change to the black strat guitar. He replaced the original 1969 maple neck with the 1963 rosewood neck from his sunburst Stratocaster, a guitar frequently used during the 1970 Atom Heart Mother tour. The black strat guitar, now with its rosewood neck, debuted at The Dome in Brighton, England, on June 28th.
David Gilmour Black Strat Rosewood Neck
The Black Strat guitar featuring the 1963 rosewood neck and an additional pickup selector switch at the Empire Pool, Wembley, in October 1972 (left). The Black Strat with a Gibson PAF humbucker during rehearsals in Paris in January 1973 (right).
The original maple neck was then fitted onto the sunburst Stratocaster. David was seen using both the black strat guitar with the rosewood neck and the sunburst Strat with the maple neck at the Empire Pool, Wembley, in October 1972.
Fall 1972: Extra Pickup Selector Switch
Originally equipped with a 3-way pickup selector, typical for Stratocasters of that era, the black strat guitar was modified in the fall of 1972. David installed an additional pickup selector switch, enabling him to combine the neck pickup with either the middle or bridge pickup. This extra switch was first visible during a performance at the Empire Pool, Wembley, in October 1972.
The Black Strat Guitar on Dark Side of the Moon
David Gilmour recorded his iconic guitar parts for Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios between June and November 1972. The black strat guitar used during these sessions featured the 1963 rosewood neck and the original late 60s single-coil pickups. The extra pickup selector switch, added in the fall of 1972, may have been utilized during these recording sessions.
January 1973: Gibson PAF Humbucker Installation
In January 1973, the black strat guitar underwent a major modification with the installation of a Gibson PAF humbucker. This pickup was placed between the middle and bridge pickups. To accommodate this, a significant portion of the body cavity was routed out, and the pickguard was modified to fit the four pickups. The mini pickup selector switch was repurposed to activate or deactivate the humbucker.
June 1973: Return to Single-Coil Pickups
By June 1973, David Gilmour removed the Gibson humbucker from the black strat guitar. He then installed the three single-coil pickups and the white pickguard from his 1971 Fender bullet truss rod Stratocaster. However, the neck and middle pickups from the 1971 set were retained in the black strat guitar.
Mid-Summer 1974: Black Pickguard Era Begins
The last documented performance of the black strat guitar with its white pickguard was at Pink Floyd’s concert at the Palais des Sports in Paris, France, on June 25th, 1974.
David Gilmour Black Strat Pickguard Change 1974
The Black Strat guitar’s final performance with the 1971 white pickguard in Paris, France, in June 1974 (left), and its debut with the black pickguard at Hyde Park, London, in August 1974 (right).
Sometime between July and August 1974, David replaced the white pickguard with a 1-ply .120” beveled black acrylic 11-hole pickguard. The now all-black guitar made its debut during David’s guest appearance with Roy Harper at Hyde Park, London, on August 31st, 1974. This black pickguard remains a defining feature of the black strat guitar to this day.
Spring 1976: DiMarzio FS-1 Bridge Pickup
While recording Animals, David Gilmour installed a DiMarzio FS-1 pickup, with a black cover, in the bridge position of the black strat guitar. This pickup offered a higher output compared to the 1971 pickups that were in the guitar at the time. The DiMarzio FS-1 was used extensively during the 1977 Animals tour, David’s 1978 self-titled solo album, and the 1979 Wall recording sessions.
1978: New Maple Neck and Pickup Toggle Switch
In the fall of 1978, following the release of his debut solo album in May, David replaced the 1963 rosewood neck on the black strat guitar with a custom-made Grover Jackson/Charvel maple neck, customized with a Fender logo. The rosewood neck was then re-fitted to the sunburst Stratocaster.
A mini toggle switch was also added to the pickguard, allowing David to combine the neck pickup with both the middle and bridge pickups. This modification was similar to one he had implemented and later removed in 1972. This new switch remains a feature of the black strat guitar.
The Black Strat Guitar on The Wall
David utilized several guitars during The Wall recording sessions, including a 1955 Fender Esquire, a 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, and the black strat guitar. By this point, the black strat guitar featured the Grover Jackson/Charvel maple neck, the 1971 neck and middle pickups, the DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup, the black pickguard, and the extra pickup toggle switch.
Late Autumn 1979: Seymour Duncan SSL-1C Pickup
After completing The Wall recordings in October 1979, David replaced the DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan SSL-1C pickup. While sonically similar to the FS-1, David reportedly preferred the Duncan.
David Gilmour Black Strat Pickups FS1 SSL1C
David Gilmour playing the Black Strat guitar with the black DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup during the North American leg of the 1977 Animals tour (left), and with the Seymour Duncan SSL-1C bridge pickup during the 1980 Wall tour (right).
According to Evan Skopp, a former Seymour Duncan employee, the SSL-1C was a custom, overwound version of the SSL-1, specifically designed for David Gilmour. The SSL-1C is essentially the same pickup as the current Seymour Duncan SSL-5. The Seymour Duncan SSL-1C made its debut on the 1980 The Wall tour and remains in the black strat guitar to this day.
1982: 22-Fret Charvel Neck
In early 1982, just before recording Pink Floyd’s The Final Cut, David replaced the Grover Jackson/Charvel maple neck with a new custom Charvel maple neck featuring 22 frets, a Fender logo, and Kluson tuners. This neck was used for the Final Cut sessions and later for David’s 1984 solo album, About Face, and its subsequent tour.
June 1983: Kahler Tremolo Bridge
A significant modification occurred in June 1983 when the original Fender tremolo system was replaced with a Kahler tremolo bridge and locking tuners. The larger size of the Kahler system necessitated routing a portion of the guitar’s body. This new tremolo system was first used during the About Face recording sessions in the fall of 1983 and on the 1984 tour.
David Gilmour Black Strat Kahler Tremolo
David Gilmour in 1984 with the Black Strat guitar featuring the Kahler tremolo system and the 22-fret Charvel maple neck (left), and playing a cream 1983 Fender ’57 reissue Stratocaster at Hammersmith Odeon, London, in April 1984 (right).
Early Spring 1984: Short Tremolo Arm
Around early spring 1984, David began using custom tremolo arms, shortened to approximately 4.25 inches.
1985: 5-Way Pickup Selector
In 1985, the original 3-way pickup selector was replaced with a more versatile 5-way switch.
August 1986 – May 1997: Hard Rock Cafe Retirement
By 1986, David Gilmour increasingly favored his 1983 Stratocasters, leading to the retirement of the black strat guitar. In August 1986, the guitar was put on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, Texas.
David Gilmour Black Strat Hard Rock Cafe
The Black Strat guitar on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, USA. Note the missing volume and tone knobs and the lack of protective glass.
In May 1997, at David Gilmour’s request, the black strat guitar was returned to him. It was in poor condition, exhibiting significant wear and missing hardware, likely due to inadequate protection during its display. Guitar technician Charlie Chandler restored the black strat guitar, refitting the original Fender tremolo bridge, filling the cavity from the Kahler system, and replacing the Charvel neck with a new Fender ’57 reissue maple neck (without the “Original Body Contour” decal).
2003: Dark Side of the Moon Documentary
In spring/summer 2003, for the Classic Albums: Dark Side of the Moon documentary filmed at Abbey Road and David’s Astoria studios, David used the black strat guitar, along with other period-correct equipment, to recreate some of his guitar parts from Dark Side of the Moon. The black strat guitar now featured a second new Fender ’57 maple neck, with a slightly different profile for comfort. This neck is identifiable by the “Original Body Contour” decal on the headstock.
October 2003 – January 2004: Pink Floyd Interstellar Exhibition
The black strat guitar was showcased at the Pink Floyd Interstellar Exhibition in Paris, France, from October 2003 to January 2004, alongside an extensive collection of Pink Floyd gear.
David Gilmour Black Strat Maple Necks
A comparison of the three Fender ’57 reissue maple necks used on the Black Strat guitar: early 2003 for the Dark Side of the Moon documentary (left), October 2003 – January 2004 for the Interstellar Exhibition (middle), and March 2006 in Amsterdam (right).
During this period, the black strat guitar featured a Fender ’57 maple neck without the “Original Body Contour” decal, indicating it might have been fitted with either the first of the new maple necks or a third.
July 2005: Live 8 Reunion
The black strat guitar made its definitive comeback at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, on July 2nd, 2005. Although David had been using his favored red 1983 Stratocaster during rehearsals, he switched to the black strat guitar for the performance. This marked the beginning of the black strat guitar’s second era of prominence.
David Gilmour Black Strat Live 8
David Gilmour performing with the Black Strat guitar at the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, in July 2005. The guitar featured a Fender ’57 maple neck without the “Original Body Contour” decal.
Summer 2005: On an Island and the 1983 Maple Neck
After the Live 8 concert and during the recording of On an Island, David needed to replace the neck on the black strat guitar due to fret wear. He fitted it with a 1983 Fender ’57 reissue maple neck taken from a blonde/cream Stratocaster purchased in early 1984, which had been used on the About Face tour and early dates of the 1987 A Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. This neck is identifiable by the “Original Body Contour” decal and remains on the black strat guitar today.
2006: On an Island Tour
While recording and touring On an Island, David used a variety of guitars, including his red 1983 Stratocaster, notably for “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” However, the black strat guitar was his primary choice for the tour, prominently featured in the Live in Gdansk live album and DVD, and the Remember That Night – Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD.
September 2008: Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Signature Models
Fender released the David Gilmour Black Strat Replica and NOS (New Old Stock) guitars in September 2008. This project was a collaboration between Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Todd Krause, David’s technician Phil Taylor, and David Gilmour himself.
Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Replica
The Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Signature NOS model, a recreation of David Gilmour’s iconic guitar, offering fans a chance to own a piece of rock history.
The NOS model is a new guitar built to the specifications of the black strat guitar, while the Replica is an exact recreation, including all the wear and tear of David’s original. David tested numerous pickups for these models. While his original black strat guitar features 1971 neck and middle pickups and a Seymour Duncan SSL-1C bridge pickup, for the Replica and NOS models, he favored a Fender Fat 50s neck pickup, a custom-wound middle pickup similar to late 60s specs, and a Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge pickup (Duncan’s updated version of the SSL-1C).
David used a NOS prototype for a guest appearance with Ron Geesin in June 2008 and has used the NOS model in subsequent guest appearances and as a backup for the black strat guitar during the 2015-16 Rattle That Lock tour. The Fender David Gilmour Black Strat Signature Stratocaster models have since been discontinued, making them highly sought after by collectors and fans.
2014: The Endless River Sessions
Although not used during the initial 1993 recording sessions for Pink Floyd’s The Endless River, David employed the black strat guitar during the 2013-14 sessions to complete the project.
David Gilmour Black Strat Endless River
David Gilmour playing the Black Strat guitar in his Medina recording studio in Hove, England, during the 2014 Endless River recording sessions.
2015 – 2016: Rattle That Lock and Pompeii Return
David’s fourth solo album, Rattle That Lock, recorded primarily in 2014 and early 2015, heavily featured the black strat guitar. Despite using a wide array of guitars, the black strat guitar remained David’s go-to instrument for this project. For the Rattle That Lock tour in 2015-16, the black strat guitar was David’s main guitar, culminating in its triumphant return to Pompeii for concerts on July 7-8th, 2016. These shows were filmed and released as a live album and DVD in September 2017.
David Gilmour Black Strat Pompeii 2016
David Gilmour and the Black Strat guitar return to Pompeii in July 2016 for a historic performance in the ancient Roman amphitheater.
September 2016: Final Performance
David Gilmour and his band performed five sold-out shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall between September 23-30, 2016. These performances marked the end of the Rattle That Lock tour and David’s final performances with the black strat guitar.
June 2019: Christie’s Auction
On June 20th, 2019, the black strat guitar was auctioned for charity at Christie’s as part of The David Gilmour Guitar Collection. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay purchased the black strat guitar for a staggering US$ 3,975,000.
References:
Taylor, Phil. The Black Strat – A History of David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster.
Christie’s. The David Gilmour Guitar Collection Auction Catalog 2019.
Povey, Glenn. The Complete Pink Floyd – The Ultimate Reference.
Guitar World, May 2006.
Sound Magazine Guitar Heroes, May 1983.
Guitar and Bass Magazine, March 2008.
Guitarist Magazine, issue 390, 2015.
David Gilmour Gear Forum.
seymourduncan.com/forum.
christies.com*.
