What year is the “La Bamba” Strat?
Cesar: I think the one I used on the solo on “La Bamba” is a 1960, all original, slab-board. I got it from Norman’s Rare Guitars in the Valley years ago. During that period they weren’t as expensive, but Norman has been a good friend and would give me exceptional deals. I’ve got a nice little collection, but, being left-handed, it’s so rare to find a nice guitar like that. But it took me years and years. I’ve been collecting since I was a teenager. I should have bought Paul McCartney’s Les Paul. It was offered to me, and I passed on it [laughs]. So Paul ended up with it – the sunburst he’s been playing for the past seven years or so. Back then, they were asking about $8,000 for it. Was the solidbody electric bajo quinto custom-made for you? Cesar: I kind of got the idea myself; it came out of the frustration of having the traditional instruments on the road and having my Macias [bajo sexto] broken a few times. They’re kind of delicate instruments, but they’d get tossed around and broke
