THE Guitar INTERVIEW ANDY SUMMERS
It seems like such a dumb idea to put all these fucking photographs all over the guitar, doesn’t it? But I’m really pleased with it!” Andy Summers is not one to mince his words about things, and that even applies to the brand new signature guitar that the legendary guitarist of The Police has just released with the Fender Custom Shop, the Monochrome Strat. The guitar itself is certainly one of the most unusual signature instruments you’re likely to see, covered as it is in a collage of Summers’ own black and white photographs, and created in partnership with high-end camera maker Leica to celebrate Summers’ two loves.
“Photography is one of those things that’s been part of my life for many years,” Summers enthuses. Alongside my life as a guitarist, I was doing photography all the time as well. I’ve done exhibitions and shows, and it was always something that was very present in my life. Now that we’ve done it, it seems like an obvious thing to bring these two things together, but the result is something pretty unusual, for sure!”
Unusual is one word for it, but it’s a concept that has clearly enthused and inspired the 77-year-old Englishman. Having originally been dissatisfied with Leica’s idea for a Fender-inspired Summers signature camera, he has spent five years refining the concept with Fender and Leica, even coming up with the ‘dumb idea’ of the photo collage finish that covers both the Monochrome Strat and a Signature Leica M camera that partners it.
“I’ve been recording with it, and the guitar
