Fender Stratocaster Ex JUDAS PRIEST Artist Owned by K.K. Downing, band signed by KK, Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton. 1985 Vintage 80s guitar. Custom Shop strat flight case included

Fender Stratocaster owned by Judas Priest guitarist and founder K.K. Downing, signed by him and singer Rob Halford and guitarist Glenn Tipton, who both joined the band later in 1973 and 1974 respectively. The guitar itself is a 40 year old time capsule in extraordinary condition and comes with a full-page laminated photograph of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton holding this signed guitar inside of Downing's massive 375 acre estate in England: Astbury Hall. Underneath the laminate on the reverse of the photo is inked "Astbury Hall Bridgnorth 28/9/2006", which is more than a decade before Downing was forced to sell his stately home to British billionaire Lord Michael Spencer, who was Treasurer of the Conservative Party at the time this photo was taken. Astbury Hall was purchased by K.K. Downing in 1985 and is where he lived until 2017. He had built an 18-hole championship golf course on the 375 acre property, one of the finest in the entire United Kingdom. 20 servants were required to maintain the property, much like a rock & roll version of Downton Abbey.

The guitar itself is remarkable for its condition and features and being crafted at a unique time in Fender history when CBS sold Fender in 1985 - right when Downing bought Astbury Hall where this guitar lived. The sale did not include the American factory in California, so there were no USA made Fenders from 1985 to 1987. Production moved to Japan during this period, where Fender's very best guitars were crafted until the new custom shop opened in Corona, California in 1987. Although the oversized Stratocaster headstock from the late 60s was phased out in the beginning of the 80s, this model from 1985 has it. Jimi Hendrix was a major influence on K.K. Downing, and his Judas Priest band started out playing Hendrix covers. Downing mainly played a Stratocaster with this oversized headstock design throughout the golden years of Judas Priest. His other Stratocaster with this headstock shape is also signed by him and on display at Hard Rock Cafe in Gdansk, Poland.

This is a 40 year old band-signed piece of rock & roll history from a band that has sold over 50 million records, won a Grammy and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is an incredible display piece, all for the price of a Rolex watch.

The guitar comes with a new Fender Travel Sentry flight case for safekeeping and international transport. Worldwide shipping to any country with UPS or FedEx. Will be professionally packed.

I am selling off my guitar collection, so follow me here and keep an eye out for upcoming listings. Many rare and artist-owned pieces on the way, including a few Judas Priest stage-played guitars.