Last September, I posted about Phil Taylor’s book Pink Floyd: The Black Strat: A History of David Gilmour’s Black Fender Stratocaster about David Gilmour’s famous black Fender Stratocaster. Since that post, I have picked up a copy of the book, and it’s a very interesting look at Gilmour’s Strat through the years.

The guitar has gone through several neck and pickup changes throughout the years, and the changes are chronicled along with a nice collection of photographs of Gilmour and Pink Floyd during their heyday as well as today. The photographs alone make this book well worth the money, but the descriptions are also fantastic. If you’re a fan of David Gilmour or of Fender Stratocasters, you’ll enjoy this book.

The Black Strat, the book about David Gilmour’s legendary black Stratocaster by Gilmour’s long-time guitar tech Phil Taylor, is being released by Hal Leonard on Monday, September 22. The book has been expanded and revised for this second edition.

The release of the book is to coincide with the release of Gilmour’s new 2CD/2DVD set, Live at Gdansk. Also, Fender will be releasing the David Gilmour Signature Stratocasters on Monday, so it’s a big day for Gilmour!

Unfortunately, I’m sure it’ll also be a bittersweet day for Gilmour, as Pink Floyd founder Richard Wright passed away this week. In an odd coincidence, my father-in-law has been in town for the past few weeks, and we’ve watched several Pink Floyd/Gilmour DVDs, where Wright is featured prominently.

For more information about The Black Strat, visit the official Web site for the book.

DavidGilmour.com is reporting that a Fender Custom Shop David Gilmour Stratocaster, which is modeled after Gilmour’s famous Black Strat, will be released on September 22, 2008. The release is scheduled to coincide with the release of Gilmour’s “Live in Gdansk” album, which will also be released on September 22.

Here’s what DavidGilmour.com has to say about the guitar:

In the two years that the guitar has been in discussion, a number of prototypes have been produced, and the final version was only approved when David was happy that all elements combined to make a sound that was as close as possible to his own guitar’s. The ‘Black Strat’ comes in a hard case (by G&G) stuffed with extras: Phil Taylor’s ‘Black Strat’ book, a set of GHS David Gilmour Boomer strings, a copy of the 3-disc version of Live In Gdańsk, a cable by Evidence Audio, a deluxe Fender leather strap, and a David Gilmour plectrum. The interior of the case is a plush green, including embroidered David Gilmour and Fender Custom Shop logos.

There will be two models: a relic model and a ‘New Old Stock’ model:

• The ‘Relic’, which replicates the ‘Black Strat’ as it is today with aged parts and worn paint, plus all the wear and tear of David’s heavily-used 30-year-old guitar – with no backplate.
• The ‘New Old Stock’ model, which replicates the ‘Black Strat’ as it is now – but with all-new parts, ‘new’ paint finish and an additional white plastic backplate. The NOS model should be found at a lower retail price than the ‘Relic’.

Looks nice!

* Photo credit: DavidGilmour.com

(via Strat-o-Blogster)