It’s well known that Rory used an electric Coral Sitar for tracks such as Philby , but less well known is how much his devotion to its atmospheric sound ended up costing. The 19-string instrument, made by the Danelectro sub-brand Coral in collaboration with session guitarist Vinnie Bell, was surprisingly rare and reputedly only around 50 were ever made, many of which were already owned by well-known players such as Pete Townshend. So Rory simply hired one for touring.
But, being a scarce item, doing so cost him an arm and a leg. “I’d got to the point of frustration with touring costs and budgets,” Donal Gallagher recalls, adding that he tried to find Rory a Coral Sitar he could buy and so do away with hire costs. To Donal’s further chagrin, a seemingly perfect example that he found for sale on tour in Australia was rejected by Rory, leaving him back at square one, paying the sitar bills.
However, Donal eventually spotted another one for sale for $1,500 in New York. Taking matters into his own hands, he decided to buy it on a business trip and bring it back for Rory. Little did he know that the Coral Sitar would once again end up costing dear.
Donal takes up the story: “I had to make a short trip out to the States as we were negotiating a new record deal with Mercury Records at the time,” he says. “I had an accountant and a lawyer with me so that the deal could be done within a week – it was quite a pressure. But I took the time then to look up one of the gui.
