This DL-sized greeting card features on the front a highly detailed colour illustration of Ritchie Blackmore’s 1971 Machine Head Stratocaster and on the rear a brief description.
The card is produced from 350 gsm card and supplied with a quality white envelope.
Ritchie Blackmore’s 1971 Machine Head Stratocaster
The Machine Head album from December 1971 was a milestone in Deep Purple’s history, including the classic Smoke on the Water.
At the beginning of 71 Ritchie began using this transitional sunburst Stratocaster. With the 4-bolt fitting from pre-71, maple neck and skunk stripe, stock pickups and electrics, he had the neck lacquer removed and the tremolo customized with an oversized ¼” diameter steel arm. Above the nut was a walnut spot and only one string tree was installed instead of two. Also the logo ‘WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO’ has been applied, making this neck a mix from a 70s Stratocaster neck with some details from the new 71 model. To be consistent this 71 neck should have a bullet and a 3-bolt tilt-neck attachment.
This special Strat was used for the Beat Club show in September 71 through the Machine Head recording session in December until autumn 1972 when a piece of the headstock was broken off during an enthusiastic performance. Nevertheless, Ritchie continued to use it until early 1973 when it was finally destroyed.
The illustration on this card was hand drawn by George Morgan and is not a photograph.
The card is left blank inside for your message
Size 210mm x 99mm (8.3" x 3.7")
Take a browse through more illustrated items in our ebay shop (George Morgan Illustration)