Adam Morganstern Recalls Playing David Gilmour’s Black Strat

Adam Morganstern says a teenage attempt to repair his damaged Stratocaster led him to unknowingly play David Gilmour’s Black Strat for about 20 minutes. His account was published on October 17, 2026.

The accidental Black Strat jam

Morganstern bought his first genuine Stratocaster for his 15th birthday in the mid 1980s. He found the guitar after visiting three stores on 48th Street in Manhattan. It had a maple neck and a two color sunburst finish.

The damage happened when Morganstern jumped while using a cheap strap. When he landed, the strap buckle cut a deep gash across the upper part of the guitar’s body. He took the Stratocaster to a repairer in Tribeca, who filled and smoothed the damaged area but could not remove the discoloration.

Morganstern returned one week later to collect the guitar. While he was there, another man arrived for a worn black Stratocaster. The two exchanged guitars, plugged into amplifiers, and played together.

Morganstern recalled that the black Stratocaster played beautifully. It was also his first experience with a guitar that had been properly set up. After about 20 minutes, they returned the instruments to each other and the visitor left.

Only then did the repairer explain that the visitor was Pink Floyd’s road manager. The black guitar Morganstern had been playing belonged to David Gilmour. Gilmour used the instrument during the recording of The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

The Black Strat sold at auction for $14.5 million in March 2026. It was described as the most expensive guitar ever.

(Compiled)