Richard Thompson

At the site mentioned are many pictures of Fairport Convention in the years 1968 and 1969. Richard is pictured playing a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with a single-piece wraparound tailpiece (which was introduced in late '53 and continued until the introduction of the Tune-O-Matic bridge on the model in '55). So this guitar is most likely a '54.

Well folks, I mainly play on stage a Lowden L32C (L27FC is the old model #, now changed to L32C.) I own a spare of the same model, but with Walnut back/sides and cedar top - used on Old Kit Bag. I also have a baby Lowden, currently in London, so I can't check the model number, and three Ferrington acoustics, and my old Martin 00018, which is a bit bashed about. The main stage guitar has a Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup, and a Countryman Isomax Condenser Mic in the soundhole. These both run through a 2 channel Gas Cooker Pre-Amp, made by Ridge Farm Studios. The Sunrise also goes through optional effects - a Line 6 Delay Modeller and a UniVibe rotary effect (Dan Armstrong?). From there into the P.A. - RT

Well folks, I mainly play on stage a Lowden L32C (L27FC is the old model #, now changed to L32C.) I own a spare of the same model, but with Walnut back/sides and cedar top - used on Old Kit Bag. I also have a baby Lowden, currently in London, so I can't check the model number, and three Ferrington acoustics, and my old Martin 00018, which is a bit bashed about. The main stage guitar has a Sunrise magnetic soundhole pickup, and a Countryman Isomax Condenser Mic in the soundhole. These both run through a 2 channel Gas Cooker Pre-Amp, made by Ridge Farm Studios. The Sunrise also goes through optional effects - a Line 6 Delay Modeller and a UniVibe rotary effect (Dan Armstrong?). From there into the P.A. - RT

On Richard Thompson's official website, he lists a '59 Sunburst Stratocaster among his guitars and writes, "When I started playing Fenders in 1968, it was unfashionable because everyone in England was playing Gibsons and trying to get a big, fat sound like Eric Clapton had in Cream. I just wanted a little more bite. After ten years the first neck was literally worn out, and replaced with a 1955. The original bridge was another casualty."