Arteconciencias: How Bob Dylan’s infamous Newport Folk Festival Fender Stratocaster ended up in the back of a woman’s attic – and why its discovery was so controversial

Created for sauuuuul.peliculas@blogger.com | Web Version

October 31, 2022

CONNECT WITH THE PICK

Handpicked stories from the world of guitar

Editor's Note

A controversial gig, and a controversial guitar

Bob Dylan's July 25, 1965 set at the Newport Folk Festival is one of the most infamous of his 60-year career as a performer.

Instead of the solo set the many thousands of assembled fans were expecting, Dylan took the stage that day with a 1964 Three-Tone Sunburst Strat, and, for the first time ever, an electric band behind him.

Whether it was the reportedly poor sound quality or the mere fact that Dylan was ignoring the anthemic protest songs and world-weary love letters – all acoustic – that he had built his career on in favor of a new set of loose, sprawling, and loud electric compositions, the response was fairly immediate, and largely negative.

Though the truth of the performance was complicated, the show went into rock lore as an unmitigated disaster that turned Dylan's original folkie fanbase against him.

What's less well-known is that the Strat Dylan used that day has a history that's equally as cloudy and controversial as that of the set it was used for. It involves an inheritance, lawyers, scholars, judges, negotiations, and a whole lot of money. In other words, the Strat's story sounds like something Bob Dylan would sing about...

Jackson Maxwell – Associate Editor, guitarworld.com

Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers cover Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit with John Frusciante on lead vocals

(Tim Mosenfelder/FilmMagic)

The funk-rockers tackled the grunge classic during a recent show at Flea's Silverlake Conservatory of Music

Nikki Sixx on why Mötley Crüe picked John 5 as Mick Mars' replacement: "He checks all the boxes. He's an insane player"

(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation, Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

The Rob Zombie guitarist will take Mars' place on the road when the band embark on their co-headlining tour with Def Leppard next year

Guitar missing? You're not alone. A new survey reveals that 1 in 4 UK musicians have had gear stolen

(Getty Images)

Nearly a quarter of respondents to Allianz Music's recent poll reported being victims of theft

Features

How Bob Dylan's infamous Newport Folk Festival Fender Stratocaster ended up in the back of a woman's attic – and why its discovery was so controversial

(Alice Ochs/Michael Ochs Archives, Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The Strat was played by the folk legend at one of his most divisive shows and sold at auction for nearly $1,000,000 – but its rediscovery was met with contention, not least from Dylan himself

Pale Waves on embracing "heavy distortion and chaos and power" and how The 1975's Matty Healy got them hooked on Vox's coffin-shaped Phantom

(Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)

Heather Baron-Gracie and Hugo Silvani detail their evolution from a synth-pop sound to high-volume pop-punk with irresistible hooks

From Guitar Player

The SG Special is one of Gibson's most overlooked guitars – here's what you need to know about it

(John Shults/True Vintage Guitar)

As the replacement for the Les Paul Special, this classic solidbody was a well-appointed entry point to Gibson's golden age

"None of the groups I liked best had conventional guitar heroes": Psychedelic folkster Robyn Hitchcock talks his new Shufflemania! LP

(Emma Swift)

With a little help from his friends Sean Lennon and Johnny Marr, the British maestro's album offers "something to believe in"

Buyer's Guides

The 9 best guitar straps available today

(Future)

9 of the best guitar straps for electric, acoustic, and bass guitar – covering all budgets

Full Story: Guitar World (10/31)

Lessons

Guitarless practice: how to learn without the instrument, and improve your musicality anytime, anywhere

(Wavebreakmedia)

You don't always need a guitar to improve your six-string skills

Reviews

Eastman Juliet P-90-VR and PB review

(Olly Curtis/Future)

The Romeo model signaled a change of direction for Eastman, moving away from recreations of well-known shapes and styles to crafting new and exciting originals. Juliet continues that theme