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Pete’s Gear: Miscellaneous Guitars

Miscellaneous guitars, either used on stage or as collector’s items. This page is a work in progress.

Guitar Details
This guitar was used on Music Must Change and Rough Mix. Sold to buy a boat.

This guitar was used on Rough Mix, ca. 1977.

Last known whereabouts to be on display at Hard Rock Café, San Francisco. See Museum Pieces.

Ca. 1982, as seen on Chinese Eyes cover and related promotional materials, as well the Face Dances Part Two video.

This model of EDS-1275 dates between 1957 and 1961, one of 46 made, and features semi-hollow body with a a carved two-piece spruce top, maple sides, one-piece maple ply back, Florentine cutaways, one-piece mahogany necks with rosewood fingerboards; 20 frets, a 24¾″ scale, two PAF humbuckers for each neck, three three-position toggles.

See Gruhn’s Guitars for more information.

Pete: “I broke it in 1973 in a rage of frustration in my studio.” Likely purchased from Manny’s in 1971.
Purchased from Frank Lucido, California Guitar.

Purchased from Frank Lucido, California Guitar. Frank Lucido:

Pete tells me he wrote a “lot of hits” with it.

More Martin 00-42 info

Pete was guest of Eric Clapton at a 1974 concert in Greensboro, N.C., where he played Layla.
Pictured in 1971. Purchased from Manny’s in 1971.

Pictured in 1971. Purchased from Manny’s in 1971. Sold in 1996 to a private collector.

According to Wiggy Wolff, this guitar was used to write some songs during the 1971 tour.

(courtesy rockstarsguitars.com)

Used on Tommy Soundtrack LP (rec. 1973–74). Currently on display at Hard Rock Café, Boston.
Used in home recordings as seen in South Bank Show documentary, 1985 (for “That’s Alright, Mama” and “After The Fire.”

(Photo: SoundCityChris)

27 Aug. 1965, at the Rang-A-Tang Club, Carnival Hall, Basingstoke, UK, with Danelectro Bellzouki Model 7010 12-string electric guitar (presumably borrowed). (See Unique Guitar Blog – Bellzouki for more information on this guitar model.

(h/t SoundCityChris)

Collection of parts of instruments smashed during live performances in the mid 1960s. Includes two Fender bass guitar necks, one Saz neck, the broken body of a Gibson SG and various parts.

Authentication: Donated by Townshend to the “Stars Memorabilia In Aid Of The Samaritans” charity auction.

Sold: Christie’s 19 Dec. 1995. Pre-sale Estimate: £300-600. Sale Price: £1,100.

(via Craig Law)

31 July 1967, at the Bayfront Center, St. Petersburg, Florida, Pete played what appears to be a Mosrite Joe Maphis model 6/12 double-neck guitar, presumably borrowed from either Herman’s Hermits or Blue Magoos, the other acts on the tour. Pete smashed an unknown (Stratocaster or Telecaster) guitar this show, but not this doubleneck.

(h/t Craig Law)

6 Sept. 2019, Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, Pete Townshend used a 1962 Epiphone Coronet guitar.

This page last updated 9 December, 2019