MusicRadar

Hard to imagine now, but The Shadows’ Hank Marvin caused hysteria among aspiring British guitar players of the 1950s. He played and owned the first Fender Stratocaster in the UK, serial number 34346, finished in ‘flamingo pink’ (a seeming mis-paint of catalogue colour fiesta red) with gold hardware, imported from the US by frontman Cliff Richard.

"It was like seeing something from another planet,” admitted fellow Shadow Bruce Welch (pictured left above), who still owns the guitar. The Shadows put the image of Fender Stratocasters into millions of 1950s British homes.

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour puts it simply: “Hank playing that guitar was what made me want to get a guitar.”

Next page: Stevie Ray Vaughan