I destroy my guitar on the amp because it is visually striking. It is very artistic. You get a tremendous sound and the effect is great.
SIXTIES
In his early days with the Who, Townshend played an Emile Grimshaw SS De Luxe and a pair of Rickenbackers, six and twelve strings. He then preferred to use less expensive guitars that he could easily destroy, such as the Fender Stratocaster or the Telecaster.
During the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour show in 1967, however, Townshend broke a Vox Cheetah. His was not the only instrument to be destroyed: on that occasion, Keith Moon blew up his drums.
SEVENTIES
In 1972, Gibson changed some features of Pete's beloved SG Special, so the player chose to switch to other types. For most of the 1970s, Townshend used Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. He can be seen handling these guitars in the famous 1979 documentary The Kids Are Alright.
THE EIGHTIES
During the 1980s, the charismatic artist played mostly Rickenbacker, a Telecaster-style model built exclusively for him by the production house Schecter, and also Eric Clapton's signature Fender Stratocaster.
There was no shortage of Gretsch, Gibson guitars (one of which later donated to the well-known Hard Rock Cafe chain) and Fender.
There are also, of course, several Pete signatures, including numerous Gibsons, such as the SG Pete Townshend, the Pete Townshend J-200 and three different Les Paul Pete Townshend Deluxe.
Townshend destroyed his original Les Paul Gold Top Deluxe in Boston in 1976. His remains are now on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, but enthusiasts can still purchase a replica. (source Stonemusic)
Known for his pummeling guitar work with The Who, Pete Townshend introduced a new sonic and visual vocabulary to rock ‘n’ roll with his masterful playing.
The Fender Custom Shop is proud to present the Limited Edition Pete Townshend Stratocaster to players and fans.
One of Townshend’s hallmarks as a songwriter is his use of intertwined electric and acoustic guitar sounds. At his request, Fender incorporated a method for him to easily access both voices without switching guitars.fender-custom-shop-pete-townshend-strat
A two-post Fishman™ Powerbridge tremolo bridge provides a palette of acoustic and hybrid acoustic/electric tones for Townshend to easily access as dictated by his needs.
The Townshend Limited Edition Stratocaster uses three Lace Sensor Gold™ single-coil pickups for noise-free performance inspired by classic, crisp, bell-like Fender tone, boosted by an onboard Fender preamp.
Designed to meet Townshend’s wide-ranging needs while performing his classic catalog, this instrument is the perfect palette for guitarists who need both acoustic and electric sounds without switching instruments.
Blending modern musical technology with Fender’s timeless guitar design, the Limited Edition Pete Townshend Stratocaster is perfect for players who need a flexible guitar that will easily stand up to a few windmilled chords while sounding great all night long.
Watch Pete Townshend Smashing guitar at Jimmy Fallon
The 1964 sonic blue Strat was demolished at the end of the Who's December 1st, 1967 sh
ow at Commack, New York's Long Island Arena. The guitar is estimated
to sell for around $20,000 but other smashed Townsend guitars have sold nearly four times as much at auction.
According to AntiquesTradeGazette.com, "The lot includes a hand-written statement detailing the smashing of the guitar and the instrument’s history since the pieces were caught by the owner, who has held on to it for a little over 50 years. . . The instrument is accompanied by items including the two-page hand-written letter from the original owner and a ticket stub from the show."
