LAST WALTZ STRATOCASTER®

On the evening of November 25, 1976 at San Francisco’s famed Winterland concert venue, the lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the crowd as The Band took the stage for one last time before they dissolved into the annals of history. This historic farewell concert was documented for posterity by filmmaker Martin Scorsese, but guitarist Robbie Robertson—the man who used his trusty Fender to back up Dylan when he went electric—thought the moment deserved more commemoration. He had his favorite guitar, a red 1954 Stratocaster, dipped in bronze to commemorate the life-changing moment. He proceeded to play this now one-of-a-kind instrument during the course of the concert, cementing its place in legend.

The Last Waltz Stratocaster is a rare, unique glimpse into the history of guitar modifications, specifically ones commonly performed in the ‘70s. During this time period there was no such thing as a valuable vintage guitar—there were only “old” guitars that were the perfect platform for experimentation. Pickup swapping, wiring modifications, hardware replacements—nothing was sacred, and everything was tried.

Master Builder Todd Krause replicated this classic instrument as closely as possible to the state it was in when the concert was filmed. From the NOS tone capacitors and knobs with the same tension as the original, to the airbrushed headplug and “wear beneath the wear” on the back of the neck, every element was reproduced as meticulously as possible.