Do you want to know what kind of guitars were used by the greatest guitarists of all time? Below is a list of instruments that brought out the genius in history's more influential musical icons.
While the list may not be all inclusive, it does shed light on guitars that seem to be showcased repeatedly in American music history. Also, this article does not aim to imply that these artists endorse these instruments. These are just the instruments that the artists are commonly associated with. So lets take a look!
Alex Lifeson of Rush
Early Career: Gibson ES335, Gibson Les Paul
Later Career: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Larry Ziffle/CC by 2.0
Andy Summers of The Police
Primary: Fender Telecaster
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson ES-335
Photo by Rick Mariner/cc by 2.0
Angus Young of AC/DC
Primary: Gibson SG
Photo by Larry Ziffle cc by 2.0
BB King
Primary: Gibson ES-335 "Lucille"
Photo by Guitarpop cc by 1.0
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
Primary: Gibson Les Paul
Other: Gibson Flying V, Gibson SG
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
Bob Marley
Primary: Gibson Les Paul
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Ovation Acoustic
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
Brian Setzer of The Stray Cats
Primary: Gretsch 6120
Photo by Luigi936 cc by 4.0
Brad Paisley
Primary: Fender Telecaster
Photo by Nesbitt Photocc cc by 2.0
Bradly Nowell of Sublime
Primary: Ibanez S-540
Photo by stefi123 cc by 3.0
Brian May of Queen
Primary: Custom built "Red Special"
Other: Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Acoustic, Gibson Flying V
Photo by Andreas Streng cc by-SA 3.0
Buddy Holly
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by John W Shulze cc by 2.0
Carlos Santana
Early career: Gibson Les Paul, Late career: PRS Custom
Other: Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Kevin Spencer cc by 4.0
Chuck Berry
Primary: Gibson ES-350TN "Maybelline"
Other: Gibson ES-335
David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Rick Mariner cc by 2.0
Dick Dale
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Dimebag Darrell of Pantera
Primary: Dean ML
Other: Hamer ML, Jackson Rhodes
Photo by Dave Barnett cc by 2.0
Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers
Primary: Gibson Les Paul, Telecaster
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson ES-335
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
Eddie Van Halen
"Frankenstrat" (Hybrid Strat/ Les Paul)
Kramer/Charvel Frankenstrat Replicas
Elvis Presley
Primary: Gibson J-200
Eric Clapton
Early Career: Gibson Les Paul/ Late Career: Fender Stratocaster
Other: Martin Acoustic, Gibson ES-335
Photo by akito-fu cc by2.0
George Benson
Primary: Ibanez LGB
Other: Gibson Les Paul, Gibson L-5
Photo by ataelw cc by 2.0
George Harrison of The Beatles
Primary: Gibson J160 E, Gretch Country Gentleman, Fender Telecaster
Other: Gibson Les Paul, Hofner Club 40, Epiphone Casino, Gibson J200
Photo by CasinoKat CC by-SA 3.0
Jake E Lee, Ozzy Osborne's Second Guitarist
Primary: Charvel (Stratocaster style)
Photo by Nick Soveiko cc by 3.0
Jason Mraz
Primary: Taylor Acoustic
Photo by Steve Jurvetson cc by 2.0
James Hetfield of Metallica
Primary: Gibson Explorer, LTD Explorers
Other: Gibson SG, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Telecaster
Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead
Primary: Doug Irwin Customs
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson SG
Photo by Carl Lender cc by 2.0
Jimi Hendrix:
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Other: Gibson Flying V, Gibson Les Paul
Photo by teresaphillips1965 cc by 2.0
Jimmy Nolan of James Brown's Band
Primary: Gibson ES-175
Other: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Mytto by CC BY-SA 2.5
Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin:
Primary: Gibson Les Paul
Other: Fender Telecaster, Gibson EDS 1275
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
John Frusciante of The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Other: Fender Jaguar
Photo by Rick Mariner cc by 2.0
John Lennon of The Beatles
Primary: Rickenbacker 325, GibsonJ160E, Epiphone Casino
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Gibson SG
Photo by Doryfour cc by 2.0
John Mayer
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Rick Mariner cc by 2.0
Johnny Ramone
Primary: Mosrite Ventures II
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones:
Primary: Epiphone Casino, Gibson Les Paul
Other: Gibson Flying V, Harmony Meteor H70
Photo by Mssimbo Barieri cc by 2.0
Kirk Hammett of Metallica
Primary: Jackson Flying V
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul, ESP
Photo by Rgmeyer2 CC BY-SA 3.0
Kurt Kobain of Nirvana
Primary: Fender Mustang
Other: Fender Jaguar, Fender Stratocaster
Photo by veddderman cc by 2.0
Mick Mars of Motley Crue
Primary: Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster
Other: Gibson Les Paul
Photo by De-fexxx666 cc by 3.0
Mike Mcready of Pearl Jam
Primary: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul
Photo by Rick Mariner cc by 2.0
Prince
Primary: Gus Guitar Custom, Hohner Telecaster Custom
Other: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by Eric cc by 2.0
Randy Rhodes, Ozzy Osborne's First Guitarist
Primary: Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Flying V
Photo by Ian Burt cc by 2.0
Robert Smith of The Cure
Primary: Fender Jazzmaster, Scheiter Ultracure, Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
Roy Orbison
Primary: Gibson ES-335
Photo by Larry Ziffle cc by 2.0
Slash of Guns n Roses
Primary: Les Paul
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by mrbill cc by 2.5
Ted Nugent
Primary: Gibson Byrdland
Photo by Clusternote CC BY-SA 3.0
The Edge of U2
Primary: Gibson Les Paul
Other: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Explorer, Gibson J200 Acoustic, Fender Telecaster
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
Toni Iommi of Black Sabbath
Primary: Gibson SG
Photo by Blast707 Photography cc by 2.0
Wes Montgomery
Primary: Gibson L-5
Yngwie Malmsteen
Primary: Fender Stratocaster
Photo by teresaphillips1965 cc by 2.0
Zack Wylde, Ozzy Osborne's Third Guitarist
Primary: Gibson Les Paul
Photo by Tsutano cc by 2.0
And this concludes our list. Hopefully I didn't leave out your favorite guitarist. The truth is, there are a lot of really good ones out there, and covering every single one of them would be damn near impossible.
The good news is that If you are a big fan of any of the guys I listed and want to own the same guitar you can probably can. Almost all of these models or an accurate replica can be found online. This even includes the custom made guitars used by some of the more eccentric artists like Eddie Van Halen or Brian May.
If you own a guitar, or prefer a particular model you probably have your own reasons for your choice. Some are stuck with whatever they can afford. Others make their choice based on comfort, sound, feel or aesthetics. But without a doubt, Instrument preference will always remain one of the key aspects of a musicians career.
* Featured photo for this article:
Photo by Iberia Airlines / cc by 2.0
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Very Cool, I actually have a George Benson L-5. Thing plays like a dream 🙂
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