SCOTT HOLIDAY

The Rival Sons guitarist on bad trades, stolen Strats and why character beats pedigree every time

What was the first serious guitar you bought with your own money?

“One of my earliest ones was an Aria Pro II with a Floyd Rose, which played beautifully but didn’t fit my aesthetic as a player – not that I didn’t love guys like Vai and Satriani. But I did something terrible. I was in a jazz band in high school and they had an American Strat. It was from a weird year: an ’86 or something, when Strats had two knobs instead of three. And I actually stole it from the school. I could not part with it. I just kinda slipped out the back door, like, ‘I’m just gonna hang onto this guitar forever…’”

What was the last guitar you bought and why?

“I just bought two together. I bought a ’65 Firebird III. It’s a transition, so it’s got a regular headstock instead of reverse, but it’s a reverse body. And then, at the same time, I bought a ’66 330 with the dog-ear P-90s, which is just dead mint. I mean, it is Beatles in a box.”

What’s your best guitar-buying tip?

“It depends if you’re buying for investment or playing. They’re two different worlds. If you’re looking for a player, don’t worry about finding the perfect guitar. Personally, if I don’t have a ton of money and want something serious, I’m looking for a refin. I’m looking for something weird because you can get a wonderful guitar with character – and you’re gonna save so much money.” 

What’s the most incredible bargain you’ve had when buying guitars?