The Best Stratocaster In the World

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Massive thanks to Jamie Dickson for contributing to this video.

Photo at 8 minutes 49 seconds of Donal Gallagher by Ken Sinyard/BBC

00:00 Introduction
00:33 The Greatest Guitarist In the World
00:53 Rory Gallagher: A Biography
01:40 Jamie Dickson: Editor of Guitarist Magazine
02:09 The 1961 Stratocaster
02:57 Fingerstyle Guitar: Mary's Method
03:18 The first strat in Ireland
04:22 'Primrose' by Mary Spender
04:51 The journey
05:26 Modifications
07:24 'A Little Bit of Madness' by Mary Spender
08:17 The guitar was stolen?!
08:47 The Fender Custom Shop
09:29 'Darling You Need Therapy' by Mary Spender
10:22 Why Do I Have This Guitar?
11:06 'I Am Not Yours' by Mary Spender
11:50 The legacy of Rory Gallagher

*Correction*: Ballyshannon is in the Republic of Ireland, not Northern Ireland.

[MarySpender]

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Photo at 8 minutes 49 seconds of Donal Gallagher by Ken Sinyard/BBC

[derekhenderson]

Saw Rory several times at the height of his powers from the early 70s to the late 70s. After a show in Dundee I got on stage after the show and Rory's strat was leaning against his AC30, I went over to it and was amazed at the wear, considering by then it was only 10 years old. I later met him in Edinburgh at a show and a nicer fella you could not meet, he was a real gent and very humble. I would later grace some of the stages he performed on, including the Montreux Jazz Fest (in 1978)and while their I thought of him, wishing he was there to thank him for what he did for me as a blossoming young guitarist. When I learned of his death it broke my heart as he was such an influence on me. . I've never forgotten him and still play all his recordings often, it reminds me of the glory I felt the first time I ever saw him perform. RIP Rory, you are truly missed.

[jantonisito]

Rory Gallagher - definitely one of my fav guitarist. Met him in 1974 (or 75) in Warsaw - after the show. He was a very friendly regular person - none of the trappings of stardom. Decades later I watched "Irish Tour" where he says that he never wanted to be famous to the point of not being able to walk into a pub and sit with people. We chatted a bit about nice historical places to visit around Warsaw. Then we shook hands and I was pretty shocked all that powerful music was made by a man with hands smaller than mine (I was 14 yo at a time). To this day - best rock/blues show I ever witnessed. He was our hero that night - walked on stage wearing clothes he bought in Warsaw - Polish jeans (even from the distance you could recognize greiysh indigo hue) and Polish flannel shirt. And he drank Polish beer.

[Darth_Wafer]

I've found myself crying every time I hear Gallagher. Not only because he literally put his blood, sweat, and tears into his music, but also because he's passed. Knowing this, it makes his music that much more emotional. I'll always love Rory.

[sheenacrowley]

Although I have heard this story a thousand times, as my father had to recount it continuously for all the Gallagher fans coming into Crowley's Music Centre I really enjoyed your clip.! My father, Michael Crowley sold Rory that strat! They became good friends and Rory always visited the shop, after hours whenever he was in Cork.

[williamhurrelbrink]

Irish tour 74 is a FANTASTIC EXAMPLE of how Rory expresses himself musically

[brunoliamat]

What I also like about Rory is his lyric writing. It's gritty, bluesy, almost angry (I love "Off the Handle", and "Road to Hell", among many others, of course). Yet, the man was a quiet, shy, soft spoken.... and always a gentleman, as one can easily see in his interviews and also when other musicians talk about him. It's almost as if there were two Rory's. The stage brought on the sheer force of nature he was. About his guitar playing, quirk and amazing phrasing, tone, etc.... well, nothing to add, really. Stellar. Thanks, Mrs Spender, for this great video. Cheers from Brazil.

[MarkBlasquez]

I was once a sales rep for Fender. I got shipped one of these guitars, opened it up, sat on the couch and played it unplugged for hours. I'd never heard anything like it. When I finally plugged it into an amp (which I wasn't in a hurry to do as it sounded amazing acoustically) it only got better. Best Strat I'd every heard. I thought perhaps it was a fluke, or my ears, or... something. Mary's description is spot on to my experience. I've played a LOT of Strats. This is THE Strat to have, IMHO.

[BaxterThewall]

Saw him at Brisbane City Hall in 1975 as a four-piece, then again, in his prime and 3-piece, at Cloudland Brisbane 1978...
UNFORGETTABLE !!!
The most humble, self-effacing guitarist who lived to play live and consciously avoided pop stardom !!!
LEGEND !!!

[rogerwilliams]

Rory was a true force of nature on stage. I saw him at the Texas Opry house in 78 or 77, and it blew my young mind.

[jamesward]

He is and was a legend i had the pleasure to meet Rory in the green room at olympic studios years ago and l thanked him for being one of the main inspirations for starting my journey as a guitarist
He was so humble and friendly
A genuine amazing and beautiful soul
I was so glad to meet him and thank him for his music and inspiration ❤️

[garethmillard]

One of the first gigs that I saw was Rory tearing up the Rainbow in '73
Watched him on every tour thereafter and also met the Great man ..a very humble, gentle soul who could play guitar like fire !! RIP Rory 🎸

[willk-lander]

I played Fenders Custom Shop Rory Strat in Guitar center Times Square NYC in 2018...regardless of how many guitars ive played and owned, that guitar has stayed in my thoughts and dreams since that night. The best feeling, sounding and playing guitar I've ever had in my hands, indescribable

[RByrne]

Rory is easily my favorite guitarist(along with Jimi, of course). He was just relentless on stage. So talented.
Thanks for this!

[StephenMarkTurner]

I saw him in 73 in Waterloo Canada. Seemed down to Earth, didn't want to leave the stage, his band took a break, he switched to acoustic and kept playing.

[christopherweise]

Rory never gets the recognition he deserves.

That '61 Strat, an AC30, and a Rangemaster treble booster were a lethal combo.

[comingtoterms]

thank you Mary, for bringing Rory's story to a new generation of enthusiasts.
He was truly the idol of true guitarists.
I'm a 61 year old lefty "basement" blues guitarist,
that only learned of Rory, after hearing the Jimi story a couple of years back.

love your content.

[joneses]

As a 15 year old guitarist I was obsessed with the guitar gods of my day. Hendrix, Page, Townsend, and a few others comprised my musical diet. One day my oldest brother, a non-guitarist, "turned me on to" Rory Gallagher. I was in love with Rory's music from the first listening. These many years later I'm a 60 year old guitarist. I'm as thrilled by Rory's music today as I was when I first heard him. Rory was such a unique and gifted talent. I think you did a really good job with this video. Thank you.

[jeffcalvert]

I had the great pleasure of seeing Rory play live on four occasions and met him along with bass player Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell once after a gig in Lancaster UK. A great guitarist and such a lovely human being, sadly still missed !

[stevegroves]

Rory just totally shined on stage, absolutely one of the best live performers ever for solid rock blues with no gimmics. Top marks for his bassist and drummer also, they were relentless with energy too.