GEORGE HARRISON’S “ROCKY” STRATOCASTER

THE AXE

Starting life as a standard, no-frills Fender Stratocaster in a lovely Sonic Blue finish, George Harrison (guitarist for The Beatles, just in case you’re new to this whole ‘music’ thing) quickly fell head over heels for the warm, rumbly jangle of this inimitable classic. Spec-wise, we’re looking at an alder body with a flame maple neck (featuring an unconventionally asymmetrical ‘C’ shape), rosewood fretboard and classic tremolo bridge. Harrison kept the core elements the same throughout the decade-plus he favoured it, making only major changes to its aesthetic form.

THE STORY

Given the scarcity of Stratocasters in 1950s England, the illustrious George Harrison was over-the-moon when he finally got his hands on one in 1965 – it was early on in the Help! days, and Harrison (alongside fellow Beatle

John Lennon) sent roadie Mal Evans on a mission to score them a pair of matching Sonic Blue Strats. Two years later – once The Beatles had well enamoured themselves with the visceral voodoo only LSD can offer – Harrison took to his Strat with a paintbrush and gave it a psychedelic dayglo do-over. The Rocky strat (which earned its name from the headstock Harrison had crudely scrawled the title over) was a go-to for the axeman all throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s – keep an eye out for it in the classic “I Am The Walrus” chunk of 1967’s Magical Mystery Tour film.

THE REPLICA

It was just a few months ago that Fender stuffed a plug on the endless stream of homemade Rocky copies, announcing their official Custom Shop replica. As the Fender team themselves boast, “Master Builder Paul Waller examined and measured the original in exacting detail – body, neck (with that asymmetrical ‘C’ profile intact), pickups, wiring, and everything else right down to Harrison’s famous DIY paint job. Even the ‘Grimwoods’ decal remains in place on the back of the headstock.”