1961 Fender Stratocaster

The red 1961 Fender Stratocaster was used by Andy Summers.

Gear history
Andy distinctly remembered buying the Fender Stratocaster at a guitar store in Austin, Texas for about $400. Dates-wise, this was likely falls into around 31 October 1979 when The Police did concerts there. When it was first used live remains unclear, but the earliest documented appearance in photos dates to the 10 November 1979 concert at Brookie's Club 870 in Detroit, Michigan. At that time, it was one of his onstage guitars as an alternative to the Fender Telecaster custom, which he played on the majority of songs at the time.

By the time of Ghost In The Machine, he began using the Stratocaster more frequently for both live and studio work. Especially as in the studio he felt the Telecaster lacked in high end. He played the Stratocaster on songs like "Demolition Man" and (most significantly) "Every Breath You Take".

In 2007, he had a signature replica made of the 1961 Stratocaster to use on The Police's reunion tour.