This guitar was owned by Kevin Armstrong who purchased the guitar in 1984 and used it on Iggy Pop’s Bla Blah Blah album and on David Bowie’s Absolute Beginners album along with the Dancing in the Street single with Mick Jagger. He also used the guitar for David Bowie’s performance at Live Aid in 1985. Kevin asked David to sign the guitar a few years later as he was trying to raise funds to replace a 65 strat that had been stolen in LAX. The picture you see is of them both backstage in Gothenburg on the Glass Spiders tour where Iggy Pop was supporting David Bowie.

The guitar has certainly seen some life. The body has been refinished and has both Kevin Armstrong and David Bowie’s signatures in silver pen across the top. Under the pickguard there has been a route for a mini humbucker in the neck position. There is evidence of some nail holes but none of the previous finish. As you'd expect for a guitar such as this, there are a substantial amount of dings and knocks. 

The neck too has been refinished with a new decal having been applied. Its been refretted with wider frets, these are in good condition with some wear. The neck is dated at October 1963.

The hardware and plastics have all been changed. The bridge seems to be a much later example stamped with Japan on the base. 

Electronically two of the pickups are correct and don’t look to have been rewound. The neck pickup is a later example and all the pots and switch have been changed.

The guitar comes with a period brown tolex hardshell case for a Fender offset.

This guitar does sound great. The pickups provide a warm tone across all three positions that run the gamut from full to cutting without getting thin.

A piece of music history, you might think you are cool but you're not Kevin Armstrong's 1963 Fender Stratocaster cool…