It's ugly and beat to hell, but Adrian Belew's Stratocaster is behind landmark albums

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That guitar may be one of the most well-known electric guitars in the world of rock music. Its impact on Davidinal Belew's career is an interesting story that started in the 1970s.

His Fender Stratocaster was far from elegant or costly - just one that he could easily manage. And yet it carried him all the way to his status as one of the top-notch Stratocaster players in history. In this piece, the guitarist takes us through his journey with the Stratocaster.

I purchased my first Fender Stratocaster from a local music store as a beginner guitarist, it was a significant investment for me at the time and I was eager to start learning and playing with it.

I drove up from Nashville and purchased it off the rack - the most basic, straightforward, and most affordable Fender Stratocaster that I could find.

Was that the same Stratocaster you took to California when you auditioned for Frank Zappa?

I was given it, and I took it to California where I auditioned with Frank in hopes of getting the job. Once I got hired, I used it during our three-month rehearsal period and then on our two-month tour of the United States. But that Stratocaster never made its way back to my house; it's still out there somewhere.

What steps did you take to replace it?

During that period, I was residing in Nashville. I visited a small music store where, in the back, they had a most unusual-looking Stratocaster guitar hanging on the wall. The guitar was a brown sunburst finish and lacked a protective case. However, that was fine with me because of the extensive traveling we had planned, and I knew I would obtain a rugged, custom-made road case that could adequately safeguard it. I purchased the Stratocaster for $285.

And that's the guitar you ended up using during your time with Frank and after that as well?

He mentions his solo album, primarily concentrating on his production work for Talking Heads, Cleveland, Valli Simmons, Cruciata, Bomb, New Order, Peter Gabriel, Seal, and Roy Orbison’s speaking voice on the 1989 album Mystery Girl.

Was that the same Strat you used with King Crimson back in the '80s?

And then I recorded my first solo album [Lone Rhino]. After that, I finally switched to a guitar synthesizer. So that Strat has an incredibly rich history. It's on many records, and I only paid $285 for it!

What modifications did you make to it?

That really helped, but before that I was just plugging the guitar straight into the amp. That's where you get the classic Stratocaster sound. It doesn't have all the depth and complexity I want in terms of richness, overtones, and that extra sparkle... Well, maybe it does, depending on the amp. Typically, I've always gone into a compressor first, and that's what brought out the sparkly notes and enhanced the sustain.

You discovered two back-to-back winning Strats in the 1970s. Does that suggest that older six-string guitars were of high quality?

If you want to get right into the piece of wood found in a Stratocaster, things can be a bit tricky. When you pick up one, it might sound flat, but then you might try the one next to it and think, "This is the one I should get." I'm not sure why that is. They're manufactured to be identical within exacting standards, but they're not identical.

What's the key to finding the perfect match?

I think it's true for any guitar: It's not just about the sound coming from the guitar itself; it's also about how it feels to hold it in your hands. Sometimes you grab a guitar and it just feels like it was meant for you. To me, that's the kind of guitar you should own. For myself, a Stratocaster is a fantastic tool. I believe Leo Fender nailed it perfectly, but now there are other approaches and improvements that have been developed.

Do you prefer the richness of rosewood necks or the brightness of maple?

So, I wanted to get back to the Strat and find the absolute best setup for me. For instance, I stumbled upon this fantastic new tremolo and I chose a maple neck thinking it would be brighter for my playing style. However, I realize now that I probably should have gone with a rosewood neck - that's my preference. I just really enjoy the Strats, but if I had the chance to start over, I would have stuck with the rosewood.

You mentioned amps a little while back. You have been a long-time supporter of the Roland Jazz Chorus. Would that be the choice for a Strat, particularly since it's a fantastic pedal platform?

— without first compressing it. But that's just my opinion. Some folks don't enjoy that sound. It seems to make the guitar hum slightly better, and the notes ring out for a longer time. I've always been a fan of that.

In most cases, a Stratocaster is truly something special. Once you have a well-performing one paired with a good amplifier, you've essentially got 90 percent of the battle taken care of. From there, it's a matter of personal preference.