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History of the 1961 Fender Stratocaster
In 1961, Fender refined the Stratocaster, giving it features that made it one of the most iconic guitars in the world. Some of its key specifications include:
Alder Body: Provides excellent tonal balance between bass, mids and treble.
Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard: Provides warmth and smoothness in the high notes.
7.25” fingerboard radius: Promotes comfort in chords and natural bends.
Vintage frets: Smaller than current ones, ideal for precise playing.
Single-coil pickups: Produce Fender's signature bright, defined sound.
Synchronized Tremolo Bridge: Allows for stable and expressive vibrato effects.
Fiesta Red was a special color in the Fender catalog, popularized by Hank Marvin of The Shadows. This vibrant shade caught the attention of British guitarists and became a classic of the era.
Gary Moore and his Fiesta Red Stratocaster
Although Gary Moore is known for his thick, powerful Les Paul tone, his 1961 Fiesta Red Stratocaster was also a key piece in his arsenal.
This guitar had a special history: before reaching Moore, it belonged to Tommy Steele, a British guitarist of the 1950s and 1960s. When Moore acquired it, it was already showing signs of wear, but instead of restoring it, he adapted it to his style with some important modifications:
Refretting with jumbo frets: Allowed for more expressive and comfortable bends.
Natural wear on the fingerboard: Over the years, the original 7.25” radius was transformed into approximately 10” due to constant re-fretting.
Copper shielding in the pickup cavity: Reduced the noise typical of single-coil pickups.
This Stratocaster was not his main guitar, but Moore used it on recordings and live, proving that a vintage Strat could sound fierce and full of character.
The Fender Custom Shop replica
Over time, Gary Moore's Fiesta Red Stratocaster became a cult classic. Fender Custom Shop, in collaboration with master builder John Cruz, created an exact replica, taking care of every detail of the aging and modifications that the original guitar had undergone.
The result was a limited edition with hand-wound pickups, a perfectly worn nitro relic finish and the unique feel of a guitar with history.
Get your own replica at Bad Dog Custom Guitars
If you've always dreamed of owning a Fiesta Red Stratocaster like Gary Moore's, at Bad Dog Custom Guitars we offer you the chance to make it a reality.
We manufacture handcrafted replicas in Spain, using top-quality materials and reproducing every detail of Moore's iconic guitar.
Features of our replica
🎸 American alder body for balanced resonance.
🎸 Maple neck with carved Rosewood fingerboard with a profile like that of its original oval-C or medium C.
🎸 Hand-wound single-coil pickups.
🎸 Finished in Fiesta Red nitrocellulose, with relic-like aging to capture the vintage vibe.
🎸 Jumbo frets and custom fingerboard radius, enhancing the playing experience.
🎸 Completely handmade in Spain, guaranteeing quality and attention to every detail.
✔ Competitive prices without compromising quality
✔ Customization options to suit your style
✔ 100% handcrafted construction faithful to vintage tradition
If you want an authentic replica of Gary Moore's Stratocaster, contact us at Bad Dog Custom Guitars and we will help you build the guitar of your dreams.
The Legacy of Gary Moore's Stratocaster
The 1961 Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red is a guitar that has left its mark on rock and blues history. While Moore will always be remembered for his Les Paul, his vintage Stratocaster proved that this model could also be aggressive, expressive and full of emotion.
The Fender Custom Shop reissue and replicas such as those from Bad Dog Custom Guitars prove that this guitar continues to be a source of inspiration for musicians around the world.
If you want to see what this Strat sounds like in action, here's a video comparing Gary Moore's original to the Fender Custom Shop replica:
https://youtu.be/98OdrO23DYc?si=Wa9Bf8nCL6CTox2y