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Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar, used by Sting

American History Museum

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Object Details

user

Sting

maker

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

Description

1978 Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar used by Sting. Serial number S908109. The guitar has a black body and a light wood neck. The guitar has 2 knobs for tone and one for volume. There is a patch where the paint has worn on the back from "buckle rash" aka Sting's belt buckle rubbing on the back of the guitar.

Sting (Gordon Sumner) purchased the guitar new at Manny's Music Shop in New York City in early 1979. It was his first professional-quality electric guitar, and it is the instrument with which he wrote the songs for the final four studio albums by his rock band, The Police. The guitar featured in his recordings and rock n roll performances in the United States, as well as when collaborating with some of the most significant jazz musicians of their day, including Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Darryl Jones. The guitar featured prominently on Sting's solo U.S. tours during the mid-late 1980s with this ensemble, and it features in "Bring on the Night," the 1985 documentary that probes his work with American jazz musicians.

Rock star Sting organizes and performs at benefit concerts for such causes as human rights and rainforest conservation. He joins many American celebrities in contributing their talent and star power for causes.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of G. M. Sumner

date made

1978

ID Number

2017.0255.01

accession number

2017.0255

catalog number

2017.0255.01

serial number

S908109

Object Name

guitar

Physical Description

wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
plastic (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 39 in x 12 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in; 99.06 cm x 31.75 cm x 11.43 cm

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
Music & Musical Instruments
Popular Entertainment
Guitars

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-bdcb-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_1858691

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