John Squire & Denmark Street Guitars: A Musical Partnership Spanning Four Decades
Few guitarists have left such a distinctive mark on British music as John Squire. From the psychedelic sounds of The Stone Roses through the blues-infused years of The Seahorses and more recently his performances alongside Liam Gallagher, Squire's choice of instruments has become as iconic as the music itself.
For Denmark Street Guitars, the relationship with John is one that stretches back decades. Since the early days of The Stone Roses, John has regularly visited, purchased, modified, traded and entrusted instruments through our business. Over the years we have been privileged to handle many of the guitars that helped shape some of the most memorable moments in British guitar music.
Through this long-standing association, Denmark Street Guitars has also had the honour of bringing many of John's most important instruments to collectors around the world, preserving the history of one of Britain's most influential guitarists.
The Guitars
Over the years Denmark Street Guitars has sold a remarkable collection of instruments from John's personal arsenal. Each guitar tells part of the story of The Stone Roses and the evolution of one of Britain's finest guitar players.
Gibson Beano Les Paul
Among the most historically significant instruments to pass through our hands was John's Gibson Custom Shop Beano Les Paul.
Used extensively throughout the first Stone Roses reunion period, the guitar accompanied John for over a decade and a half before eventually being offered for sale through Denmark Street Guitars.
Adding to its historical importance, John personally stamped "WARRINGTON PARR HALL" into the rear of the instrument, referencing one of the key venues from the reunion era.
1958 Fender Stratocaster
This stunning vintage Stratocaster accompanied John throughout various stages of his career.
Perhaps most notably, the guitar can be seen during performances with The Seahorses and represents John's enduring love of classic Fender instruments. Few guitars illustrate the transition between The Stone Roses and The Seahorses quite as well as this remarkable 1958 example.
Gibson 1958 Reissue Les Paul
Used extensively during Stone Roses performances throughout Asia, this Les Paul became part of John's touring arsenal during one of the band's most celebrated reunion periods.
The guitar demonstrates John's continued reliance on Les Pauls for heavier material and larger live productions.
Gibson 1959 Reissue Les Paul Standard
This guitar was used throughout the Stone Roses reunion tour and can be seen during performances at the legendary Madison Square Garden.
As one of the most desirable guitar designs ever produced, the 1959-style Les Paul perfectly suited John's powerful live tone.
Gibson Gary Rossington Model![]()
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Used during the earliest stages of the 2012 reunion, this guitar became closely associated with the historic Heaton Park concerts.
Those performances saw over 200,000 fans witness the return of The Stone Roses and marked one of the most significant live events in British music history.
1976 Fender Telecaster Custom
Fans of Shane Meadows' celebrated Stone Roses documentary will instantly recognise this instrument.
The guitar appears in Made of Stone and was among the first instruments seen as the reunited band began rehearsing and performing together once again.
It can be seen during performances of the classic Stone Roses anthem "Waterfall", offering one of the earliest visual glimpses of the band's return.
1973 Fender Telecaster Custom
This 1973 Fender Telecaster Custom was owned and extensively used by John Squire during The Stone Roses reunion era, appearing at many of the band's historic live performances. Modified to John's personal specifications, the guitar features a covered neck humbucker, locking machine heads and a brass high-mass bridge, reflecting his preference for instruments tailored to meet the demands of large-scale touring and live performance.
The guitar can be seen in footage from numerous reunion concerts as well as contemporary press photography from the period, making it a significant instrument from one of the most celebrated reunions in British music history. Accompanied by written, photographic and video verification provided directly by John Squire himself, the instrument represents a rare opportunity to trace the journey of a guitar that played a role in the return of one of Britain's most influential bands.
1966 Fender Stratocaster
Among the most historically important instruments to have passed through Denmark Street Guitars is this original custom-colour 1966 Fender Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red. Owned and used by John Squire, the guitar was played during a landmark performance that reunited Squire with Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown for the first time since 1995.
Widely regarded as one of the key moments that paved the way for the eventual Stone Roses reunion, this performance holds a special place in the band's history, making the guitar far more than simply a desirable vintage instrument. Modified to John's personal preferences with a Lace Sensor bridge pickup and revised control configuration, the Stratocaster remained a trusted part of hisarsenal while retaining its character as a highly collectible mid-1960s Fender.
1976 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Originating from the Second Coming era, this Les Paul Custom was used during the period when John's playing evolved towards a heavier blues-rock style.
The instrument is associated with the classic track "Love Spreads", one of the defining songs from the band's second album.
The Blackguard Telecaster
Built by renowned luthier Clive Brown using original 1950s components, this unique Telecaster became one of John's most recognisable Seahorses-era instruments.
It can be seen prominently in the video for the Seahorses single "Blinded By The Sun".
Lindert Locomotive T
One of the most unusual guitars ever owned by John Squire, the Lindert Locomotive T featured heavily on the Seahorses classic "Love Is The Law".
A particularly memorable detail from the period was the band's request for all backline equipment featured in the video to be painted blue, creating one of the most distinctive visual identities of the era.
Martin Custom 000
Unlike many of John's stage instruments, this Martin was purchased primarily for writing and recording.
Acoustic guitars have always played an important role in Squire's songwriting process, and this instrument contributed to that more intimate side of his musical output.
Larrivée LS-10 Acoustic
Purchased during the Second Coming period, this acoustic guitar formed part of John's creative toolkit at a time when songwriting and arrangement were becoming increasingly sophisticated.
"Pinko" – Fender Masterbuilt Stratocaster
Affectionately nicknamed "Pinko" by John himself, this striking pink Stratocaster became one of the standout instruments from the first reunion concerts.
Its distinctive appearance made it an immediate fan favourite and a memorable part of the reunion tour imagery.
1959 Gibson ES-355
Following the end of The Seahorses, this beautiful ES-355 became associated with John's solo performances.
Combining elegance and versatility, the guitar showcased another side of his playing style away from the large stadium stages.
Fender Desert Sand Stratocaster
Most recently, Denmark Street Guitars has handled a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster used throughout John's performances with Liam Gallagher.
The guitar represents the latest chapter in a career that continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the classic tones that first established John as one of Britain's most influential guitarists.
The Jaguar/Stratocaster Hybrid
One of the most significant chapters in John Squire's guitar story began through an introduction made by Denmark Street Guitars.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, John was searching for an instrument that could deliver the performance and visual impact he had in mind. It was through our introduction that he began working with respected British luthier Stuart Palmer.
The collaboration would result in one of the most recognisable custom guitars in British music history: the Jaguar/Stratocaster Hybrid.
Built around John's ideas and Palmer's craftsmanship, the guitar combined elements of a Fender Jaguar with Stratocaster hardware and custom electronics, creating a unique instrument unlike anything available from a major manufacturer. The design became synonymous with John during the peak Stone Roses years and remains one of the most discussed custom guitars of its era.
More importantly, the relationship between John and Stuart Palmer continues to this day. Palmer remains one of the trusted craftsmen responsible for repairing, maintaining and modifying many of John's guitars, ensuring that instruments used on stage continue to perform at the highest level.
Preserving Guitar History
For Denmark Street Guitars, these instruments represent far more than collectible guitars.
They are pieces of British musical history that document the journey of John Squire from the rehearsal rooms of Manchester, through the rise of The Stone Roses, the years with The Seahorses, the reunion tours and onto the modern stage.
Our long-standing relationship with John has allowed us to help preserve and share that history with collectors and fans around the world. Each guitar carries a story that forms part of the legacy of one of Britain's most celebrated guitarists.
If you have an interest in purchasing a John Squire owned item then get in touch by emailing sales@londonvintageguitars.com