Image: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889, CC0 — via Wikimedia Commons
The 0001 Strat
| Category | Strings (electric guitar — historical instrument) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | Fender Stratocaster |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q1484076 |
Overview
The 0001 Strat is the Fender Stratocaster bearing serial number 0001 stamped on its tremolo plate. The instrument is a 1954-style Stratocaster widely understood to have been built shortly after the model’s introduction, with a low serial number assigned out of sequence. It is one of the most discussed individual electric guitars in popular-music history, owned for many years by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
Origin & History
Fender introduced the Stratocaster in 1954. Serial numbers in this period were not strictly sequential — they were assigned as plates were stamped — and the 0001 plate appears to have been used as a presentation or showcase number rather than to mark the very first instrument off the line. The guitar’s earliest documented owner was Seymour Duncan; David Gilmour acquired it later and used it through much of his Pink Floyd and solo career, including extensive use as a stage and studio backup. It was sold at the high-profile David Gilmour guitar auction in 2019.
How It’s Played
As an early Stratocaster, the instrument carries a single-piece maple neck, three single-coil pickups, and the synchronised tremolo system that defined the model. It is played in the standard Stratocaster manner — single-note lead lines, chord work, and tremolo-arm articulation — and Gilmour used it across the full range of Pink Floyd lead and rhythm playing.
Cultural Significance
Like Greeny among Les Pauls, the 0001 Strat is one of the most-photographed and most-traceable electric guitars of the twentieth century. Its association with David Gilmour, its near-celebrity standing in the Stratocaster collecting world, and its public sale at auction have all kept it in the popular imagination.
Related Instruments
- Greeny – another celebrated player-associated electric guitar
- Eric Clapton Stratocaster – Fender signature relative
- Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster – Fender signature relative
- Fender HM Strat – sibling Stratocaster variant
- Gibson F-5 – contrasting named-instrument tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
Was 0001 the first Stratocaster ever built?
Probably not — Fender serial numbers in this period were not strictly sequential, and the 0001 plate was likely assigned out of order.
Who has owned the guitar?
Seymour Duncan owned it early on, and David Gilmour owned it for many decades before its 2019 auction sale.
Is it played today?
Its current use depends on its owner; during Gilmour’s tenure it appeared frequently on stage and in the studio.