Jimmy Thackery

While he continued to use his Gibson Flying V, the Stratocaster came into more frequent use in Thackery’s subsequent band, The Assassins. After Thackery formed The Drivers in 1992, the Strat was rarely out of his hands. This instrument, which Thackery calls “Mergatroid,” looks a good deal like it just may have been sunburst some time in the distant past, has been played to the point that all but a few isolated flecks of finish remain.

Yeah, but I hardly ever played it with the Nighthawks. I stayed on the V until I left the Nighthawks, and used the Strat as a spare. But I had terrible trouble keeping it in tune, and my V was so damn loud that if I changed to the Strat, I would have to adjust my amps. When I started playing with the Assassins, I played it a lot more.

After Thackery formed The Drivers in 1992, the Strat was rarely out of his hands. This instrument, which Thackery calls “Mergatroid,” looks a good deal like it just may have been sunburst some time in the distant past, has been played to the point that all but a few isolated flecks of finish remain.