Rory Gallagher and Taste 8/22/1969: Irish blues rock power trio-- Having completed a musical apprenticeship in the showbands, and influenced by the increasing popularity of beat groups during the early 1960s, Gallagher formed Taste, a blues rock and R&B power trio, in 1966... featuring Gallagher on guitar and vocals, drummer John Wilson, and bassist Richard McCracken. Performing extensively in the United Kingdom, the group played regularly at the Marquee Club, supporting both Cream at their Royal Albert Hall farewell concert, and the blues supergroup Blind Faith on a tour of North America. Gallagher was always associated with his well-worn sunburst 1961 Stratocaster (Serial Number 64351), which his brother Donal has officially retired. It was reputedly the first in Ireland, and was ordered from Fender by Jim Connolly, a showband member performing with The Irish Showband. Connolly ordered a cherry red Stratocaster through Crowleys music shop in Cork in 1961. When Fender shipped a sunburst Stratocaster instead, it was put up on sale in 1963 as a second-hand instrument, which Gallagher bought in August 1963 for just shy of £100 at Crowleys Music Store on Corks McCurtain Street. Speaking about Gallaghers purchase of the famous Stratocaster his brother Donal recalled: His dream ambition was to have a guitar like Buddy Holly... This Stratocaster was in the store as a used instrument, it was 100 pounds... in todays money you couldnt even compare you might as well say it was a million pounds... my mother was saying well be in debt for the rest of our lives and Rory said well actually with a guitar like this I can play both parts, rhythm and lead, we wont need a rhythm player so I can earn more money and pay it off so the Stratocaster became his partner for life if you like. The guitar was extensively modified by Gallagher. The tuning pegs are odd (5 Sperzel pegs and one Gotoh), and all of these have been found to be replacements. Second, it is thought[citation needed] that the nut has been replaced and interchanged a number of times. Third, the scratchplate was changed during Gallaghers time with Taste. The pick-ups —none of which are original— were also changed. The final modification was that of the wiring: Gallagher disconnected the bottom tone pot and rewired it so he had just a master tone control along with the master volume control. He also installed a 5-way selector switch in place of the vintage 3-way one. (source--wikipedia edited)
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:33:06 +0000
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