Rory Gallagher

“Early on, I got the Stratocaster - in fact it was the first one I ever saw. It’s supposed to have been the first Strat brought into Ireland. The guy who had it before me was in a show band and he ordered a red one. They actually sent a sunburst so he decided to wait for a red one to arrive, and I had the sunburst - it was luxury! It was easy to play from the start and I’ve kept it ever since - in fact it’s getting better! I’ve had to take the neck off occasionally and dry it out – it was getting damp with doing so many gigs and I started to have tuning problems. The pots have gone and the pick-ups have been rewound and things like that. The tremolo arm is broken - but other than that it’s still in one piece! It’s a ‘61 model and it has a very flat kind of neck. Although they were making the bodies out of Alder and Ash, somebody said mine is actually Maple - which is really a one off! It was in good condition when I bought it, but it’s got so battered now it’s got a kind of tattoo quality about it. There’s now a theory that the less paint or varnish on a guitar, acoustic or electric, the better. The wood breathes more. But it’s all psychological. I just like the sound of it. ‘It’s also a good luck thing. It was stolen one time and it came back It’s kind of a lucky charm; the guitar is a part of me. BB King might have several Lucilles, but I’ve only got the one Strat. I don’t even call it a woman’s name. It’s what it is. I still play it every day, I just love playing it.”

Used by Rory in Rockplast, 1982. Seen in the video from 0:50 forward.

This guitar was alwyas tuned up one step.

In this source, Donal Gallagher recalls the history of the guitar: "While on a guitar shopping therapy session in downtown LA, we went into a store called Guitar Village, after a few minutes of the other customers blasting the same guitar riff over and over through mega amps, my head caved in and I told Rory I was going outside to feed the parking meter. Inadvertently, I had parked in front of a pawn-shop so, as an excuse to stay out of the ‘cacophony canyon’, I entered the shop to inquire about the Gretsch guitar wedged into their window. “That’ll set you back $75” the keeper told me from behind his cell like grill, “You wanna look?” “Not sure I can afford it anyway” I haggled, with no intention of buying it but to waste time. “What you wanna spend?” “Around $50” I replied. Unknowingly I left the shop with a rare Gretsch ‘Corvette’ and put it in the car. “No luck” Rory said when he finally returned to the car. “I picked something up, but if its no good the case will come in handy” I said and showed Rory what I had bought. “You’re kidding, how much?” he asked “$50” I said meekly “Quick let’s get out of here before they find out what they gave you and want it back” Rory said with glee. The guitar would become a Rory favourite and would travel in Guitar Trunk 1 thereafter."

According to this Music Radar article says "Rory’s ’68 Martin D-35 was used on tracks such as Just The Smile from his first solo album, and shows signs of age." It mentions that Rory used this guitar on Deuce, Live in Europe, and Rory Gallagher.

According to this Music Radar article, "Rory’s go-to slide guitar during the first few years of his solo career due to its sharp tonal qualities. There’s a ’66 marking on the neck, but some sources have it as a ’67 model. He always paired it with a half-fingered brass slide." It also mentions that this telecaster was used on the albums Rory Gallagher, Deuce, and Live in Europe.

According to this Music Radar article, "A studio-only instrument, this Danelectro was used to record A Million Miles Away and Cradle Rock on 1973’s Tattoo album. Both would become live favourites, but Rory didn’t opt to use the Dano onstage." It also mentions that this Danelectro was used on the album Tattoo.

According to this Music Radar article "Rory used the National resonator (left) for some thrilling slide work on his cover of Tony Joe White’s As The Crow Flies on the much-loved Irish Tour ’74 album. Likewise, the Esquire (right) also began to find favour around that time, again for slide work." It also mentions that this guitar was used on his 1974 Tour.

According to this Music Radar article "Rory used the National resonator (left) for some thrilling slide work on his cover of Tony Joe White’s As The Crow Flies on the much-loved Irish Tour ’74 album. Likewise, the Esquire (right) also began to find favour around that time, again for slide work." It mentions that this guitar was used on Rory's 1974 Irish tour.

"Featuring an unusual three-tone sunburst finish, Rory used his 1958 Strat on some US tours around 1972. According to Rory’s brother, there’s a slim possibility it once belonged to Buddy Holly" - via Music Radar

Rory Gallagher was seen a couple of times with Gibson Melody Maker, and is visible playing it in this photo.

Donal Gallagher: Rory had written the track ‘Philby’ about the Cold War and was keen to have some mysterious Eastern flavour on the track. The answer lay in having the sitar guitar to get a kind of balalaika effect, but Coral had only made 50 of these guitars and we only knew where 5 of them were. Fortunately Pete Townsend had one so we rented it from him for the sessions, which Rory loved. After the recordings we were due to go on tour and Rory was faced with the problem of duplicating the sound in a live setting. Of course Pete was happy to hire us the same one but it would have been very expensive considering how long Rorys tours were. As it turned out I was in the US for a few days and I picked up a flyer for a guitar trading company in New Jersey. The had a Coral on sale for $1500, which worked out much cheaper than hiring one for a whole tour.

source: http://www.rorygallagher.com/#/archives/guitars/coral_sitar

In the video Rory Gallagher is performing at Rockpalast in 1982, playing the song Philby.

Rare photo of Rory playing a 1959 Chet Atkins G6121.

Buttered Fender Stratocaster 1961

Rory had many guitars in his collection. One of these is the 1978 Fender Music Master. You can see him playing this guitar on an amazing cover of Nadine below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3aY3xboyEk

According to this Music Radar article "Rory’s best known amplifier was a remnant from his days in Irish power trio Taste. The guitarist created his searing signature tone by driving the amp hard and using his guitar volume to control his sound. The reverse of the amp bears marks of decades on tour."

According to this Music Radar article, "With the addition of Lou Martin on keyboards to Rory’s band in 1973, the guitarist looked for an amp that would work better within the group’s fuller sound and began to favour Fender combos, such as this Fender Twin, which became a studio favourite. The amp has a very early serial number (0070), so Rory was cautious about taking it on the road." It also mentions that this amp was used on the albums Tattoo and Blueprint.

Fender Bassman 1955 4x10

He used it Between 1976-8

After Fender and Ampeg's he used Marshall compo's

With Marshall 50w combo...

With Marshall 50w combo

According to this Music Radar article "The Dallas Rangemaster was the other key component of Rory’s simple setup and added bite to the tone from his AC30."

link to the pic of the original Rory Hawk Pedal

Ibanez TS-808 as booster, after 1980...

Usually with slide work...

He used it after 1980