A beat-up brown sunburst Fender Stratocaster, purchased for just $285 from a small Nashville music store, helped shape some of rock music's most groundbreaking albums of the 1970s and '80s. This humble instrument belonged to guitar virtuoso Adrian Belew, whose distinctive playing style enhanced recordings by Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads, and King Crimson.
"That Strat has an amazing amount of history," Belew recalls. "It's on a lot of records, and it only cost me 285 bucks!"
The guitar's journey began when Belew needed a replacement for his first Stratocaster, which was lost during his tour with Frank Zappa. Despite its less-than-pristine appearance, the sunburst Strat went on to feature prominently on Bowie's "Lodger," Talking Heads' "Remain in Light," and King Crimson's "Discipline," among other influential recordings.
Belew's preference for rosewood necks and his use of an Alembic Strat-o-blaster preamp modification helped define his signature sound. He also emphasized the importance of running the guitar through a compressor to enhance sustain and achieve sparkly notes.
The guitarist maintains that finding the right Stratocaster is more about feel than specifications. "It's not about the sound coming off the guitar alone; it's about how it feels under your fingers," he explains. "Sometimes you pick up a guitar and it just feels right. I think that's the Stratocaster you should have."
Today, Belew's battle-scarred Stratocaster stands as a testament to Leo Fender's enduring design and its ability to create innovative sounds in the hands of a creative musician. Despite its modest beginnings, this instrument helped craft some of the most adventurous music in rock history.