Robbie Robertson got the kind of rock ‘n’ roll education they don’t teach at GIT. He played lead guitar for Ronnie Hawkins at the age of 16 and, as a member of the Hawks, backed up Bob Dylan on his famed 1966 European tour.

Although he also uses Les Pauls and Telecasters, Robertson’s best guitar bits with The Band - gritty, sinewy rock-country licks stealthily snuck between organ and piano breaks - were played on Stratocasters.

Ironically, many fans came to know Robertson as he and The Band were packing it in. Here he is with his 1958 sunburst Strat (which he later had 'bronzed') going toe-to-toe with Eric Clapton.

Much speculation exists that Robertson installed a humbucker in his Strat. In truth, he simply moved the middle pickup to the bridge. (It helped facilitate his picking.)

Not bronzed is the new model he’s playing in the above photo with another EC. Nice guitar strap.

Next page: David Gilmour