A 1955 Fender Stratocaster solid body electric guitar, 7179, in white finish, owned and played by Randy Bachman, who has sold 40 million records worldwide as a member of The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and as a solo artist.

This white 1955 Stratocaster was Randy’s back-up during the B.T.O. days, used in numerous performances, immortalized in album artwork, and is the very same guitar he used in the 1975 music video for “Roll on Down the Highway.” Also used to record some of the rhythm parts of “Hey You” and doubled with Randy’s hard tail ’68 Stratocaster for the beginning of “Let it Ride.” Of its many uses, Randy had this to say:

“That’s on “Hey You” and the beginning of “Let it Ride.” I’d play [one track] with the hardtail, double the rhythm at the tenth fret, and the other one would be down low at the second fret. I’d put them together and it’d sound like a gigantic 12-string, but it’s not!”

For a road-used stage guitar, it’s in remarkably good condition and plays beautifully, yet it does show signs of play wear, standard maintenance, replaced components, and modifications. There’s one notable area of missing finish on the upper bass-side horn, as well as dings, scratches, and other pick-related wear.

For the neck, the maple fretboard has been planed, with the finish removed and left bare as a result, presumably during a re-fret with bigger wire than stock. Headstock has significant overspray. There is a hand-written date of 11-55 at the heel, denoting a November 1955 manufacture date. Changed string tree.

The body has a white non-original finish which allows the wood grain to show through. 8-hole singly ply pickguard appears to be original, as do the pots, tone cap, switch, and pickups, though the wiring of the middle pickup has been changed to Gibson-style braided wire with a splice added to the switch. Potentiometers date to 1955.

Neck plate bears the serial number 7179 (1954-56) and the bridge saddles have been changed to post-1971 cast saddles rather than the bent steel parts one would expect to see for the era of production.

As for the sound of the guitar, Randy thinks there’s something special to the construction of those pickups, specifically the bridge. “I was told a story by a guy who worked with Leo,” he offers with relish. “They still wound the pickups by hand, sometimes they would take a break for lunch and they’d forget how many winds they’d put on a pickup. They’d wind ’til they were out of wire. And so that [’55] sounds like a pedal steel –– it’s thin, but it’s top and it’s fat. I think it’s overwound!”

While that bridge pickup does sound both loud and proud, the neck pickup is currently malfunctioning, and is likely in need of a re-wind.

Includes a tweed (58-59) hardshell case.

PROVENANCE From The Collection of Randy Bachman

Guitars & Instruments, Randy Bachman