Missing guitar key evidence....
Michelle, as a lapsed Frederictonian who read the original story of Richard's discovery with interest, thank you for your post.
I seem to remember, but cannot be sure, that the news story had an old picture of Richard with a white guitar. At the time I wondered whether that photo was the same as the one I seemed to remember in the (late) Bob Riley's history of Fredericton bands, locally published in the late 70's as a newsprint tabloid (?) (the picture from a group photo of Teddy and the Royals).
Too bad I can't put my hands on the Riley publication now, but the news story photo may be the same thing anyway.
Anyway, the guitar wasn't a real 60's Strat, and would probably have disappeared in a pawn shop or a string of young owners until it was destroyed, as was the pattern for most economy instruments then and now.
Peter