1961 Fender Stratocaster

The 1961 Fender Stratocaster (red) was used by Andy Summers.

Gear history
Andy distinctly remembers buying the Fender Stratocaster at a guitar store in Austin, Texas for about $400. Dates-wise, this was likely on 31 October 1979 when The Police did concerts there; one of the earliest known appearances of the Stratocaster was during the 10 November 1979 concert at Brookie's Club 870 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Stratocaster was among the guitars Andy was using in the studio on the latter three Police albums. Songs that Andy recorded with the Stratocaster include "Demolition Man" and, most notably, "Every Breath You Take".

Live, the Stratocaster didn't see as much use as the Fender Telecaster; he did, however, fathom out the Stratocaster for some of the concerts for at least a few numbers during the Reggatta De Blanc and Zenyatta Mondatta tours. The Stratocaster was played more frequently on the Ghost In The Machine and Synchronicity tours.