1976 Fender Stratocaster (Ex Chris Rea) Sunburst

Chris Rea - studio and stage used 1976 Fender Hardtail Stratocaster electric guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 714655; Body: three-tone sunburst finish, many dings to edges and contour arm wear as to be expected for a used guitar of this age; Neck: maple, minor ding to back; Fretboard: maple; Frets: mild wear with visible indent wear to first position; Electrics: working, replacement switch (original retained); Case: early 1960s Selmer hard case (missing covering and other damages); Weight: 4.41kg; Overall condition: good for age

*Ex lot 385: The Guitar Auction, Gardiner Houlgate June 2023. Sold on behalf of Chris Rea's former backing guitarist Dave Burton.

Purchased new by Chris Rea from Hamilton's Music Store in Middlesbrough, circa 1977 and used extensively to record his first two albums 'Whatever Happened to Benny Santini' (1978) and 'Deltics' (1979).

Rea played this guitar in an E tuning, mostly with a slide, which worked particularly well with this guitar due to the maple neck and out of phase toggle position which gives a tighter sound.

During the recording of Rea's third album 'Tennis' (1979), he acquired his pink 1962 Fender Stratocaster from John Deacon of Queen. The 1976 Fender Stratocaster was then used by Rea's guitarist at the time, Dave Burton, who recorded with the guitar on the 'Tennis' album at Chipping Norton Studios.

Rea can be seen using the guitar at the Theatre de l'Empire, Paris, April 1979, alongside Dave Burton, his live guitarist at the time. Burton is later seen using the guitar in the video for 'Tennis', that the band recorded for the German TV show 'Rockpop' in 1979, where by now Rea is using his 'new' pink Fender Stratocaster.

Rea gave the Stratocaster to Burton in August 1980, at the end of the last tour with the original Chris Rea band.

It is thought that the Selmer hard case included is possibly the original case for Rea's famous 1960s Fender Stratocaster.

Sold with a signed statement of provenance from Dave Burton, former guitarist in Chris Rea's band.