It was a very strange and bittersweet feeling to be in front of this particular guitar. I of course remembered the day I took the photo because I was right in front of the stage and no security guards were in sight to stop me.

This guitar was purchased by Rory in London, for recording Taste's second album 'On The Boards', released in 1970.

The first time Rory is seen playing this guitar, with its first white finish, is in Copenhagen in early 1970. He then famously used it for Taste's appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival in August 1970. It became one of Rory's main guitars for live work, especially for slide playing.

In a lengthy interview with Vivian Campbell for the magazine Guitar For The Practicing Musician, August 1991, Rory said of this guitar: « A white '63 (sic) Telecaster. The lead pickup was rewound. It was repainted; I stripped it down to its natural wood, and then I tried to get the natural creme finish that I could get, but it turned out kind of white. I used that with Taste as well. It's a very good Tele. »

Rory explained: « I'm a Strat player because of the three pickups, the out of phase thing as well - even on my Stratocaster I've neutered the middle tone control. I think probably the ideal guitar would be like a Telecaster lead pickup on a Stratocaster body... I turned against the rhythm pickup on my Telecaster, years ago, and I put two Strat pickups in the middle and rhythm position, but then lately I've reverted back to the way they were. »

Sent for £82.950 (£70.000 hammer price) at Bonhams, London England on October 17th, 2024