The Iconic 'Black Strat': A Rock Legend's Journey

Only a chosen few instruments have risen to the status of immortal icons since the dawn of rock n roll.  

Of those rare and celebrated instruments, David Gilmour's black Fender Stratocaster is one. From humble beginnings, it rose along with its owner, to legendary status.

This is the story of a guitar that left an indelible and decidedly black mark on the psychedelic canvas of rock history.

Gilmour's standard black Fender Stratocaster has graced every Pink Floyd album from 1970 to 1983, as well as Gilmour's solo works. Of his extensive collection of musical instruments, the battered old guitar stands out as a shining symbol of enduring companionship and trustworthy tone. 

The Black Strat was a tool used by the practiced hands of a visionary artist to chisel out the grooves of the very pillars of classic era Pink Floyd. Its unique flavor was baked into their iconic masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), as well as subsequent albums like Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), and The Wall (1979).

Gilmour purchased the guitar that later became known as The Black Strat in New York in 1970 from Manny's, a famous guitar store on West 48th Street. It served as a replacement after its predecessor, a different black Strat with a rosewood neck, was stolen in New Orleans, along with the rest of Pink Floyd's gear, during their third US tour. The original black Stratocaster was never recovered. This new guitar soon became Gilmour’s go-to axe, rising in status along with his career.

The Black Strat's evolution has been a nearly 50-year journey. It has served Gilmour as an experimental space for trying out various pickups, switches, and at least 6 different necks. Its versatility and adaptability cemented its place as Gilmour's preferred instrument by 1971.

But it wasn't until Gilmour replaced the standard white pickguard with a custom black pickguard that the guitar acquired its instantly recognizable all-black appearance.

As The Black Strat, along with Gilmour, ventured into the recording process of Wish You Were Here in 1975, the experimental instrument contributed its unique voice, shaping the arpeggiated riff for the tune “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” an ode to his former band mate Sid Barrett.

Gilmour continued to reach for his trusty strat On Pink Floyd's Animals album and the subsequent “In The Flesh” tour. In preparation for recording The Wall, the guitar underwent another neck swap, proceeding to birth the hypnotic solo for “Comfortably Numb,” celebrated by many as one of the greatest guitar solos in rock ’n roll history.

Throughout its long journey, The Black Strat found its voice along with Gilmour on various albums, from his solo debut to Pink Floyd's The Final Cut.

During Pink Floyd's reunion at the Live 8 concert London’s in Hyde Park, it made its return to the spotlight and marked the beginning of a new chapter for The Black Strat as it made appearances on Gilmour’s subsequent solo albums, Pink Floyd's The Endless River, and collaborations with fellow music legends such as Jeff Beck, David Bowie, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.

Despite its status among rock ’n roll fans, Gilmour has always regarded The Black Strat as a trusted tool rather than a revered relic. To him, it was always an instrument of exploration, a vehicle for new sonic inspirations. However, for fans, The Black Strat is much more than just an instrument. Its distinguished image has inspired magazine covers, spawned a signature model guitar series, and gave rise to its own comprehensive biography. Most importantly, it has been a fundamental element of the epic journey of one of rock ’n roll's greatest bands and most revered guitarists.