SCOTT HOLIDAY

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

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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?