Rock tune historical past is riddled with iconic guitars, signature sounds, and mythical partnerships between artists and world-class guitar manufacturers.
Slash’s enduring standing as a Les Paul participant is just about 40 years within the making. The hand made tone of Brian Would possibly’s DIY construct, the Purple Girl, made him one of the most best rock guitarists of all time. And The Beatles’ early Rickenbacker generation lives on as one of the trendy moments in Brit-rock reminiscence.
Our listing collects 7 of probably the most well-known rock guitarists in historical past, diving deep into the guitars that captured their swift ascent to status and revealing the tales at the back of the mythical axes used on the top of every icon’s heyday.
1. Slash: The “Gibson” Les Paul
Slash indisputably performed some Jacksons and B.C. Richs used to be again in his early days, however for many rock enthusiasts, it’s inconceivable to consider the legend wielding anything else instead of a Gibson Les Paul. This is till you to find out that Slash’s iconic Les Paul isn’t a Gibson in any respect. It’s a knock-off copy of a 1959 Les Paul, purchased simply as Weapons ‘N’ Roses have been monitoring their debut album, Urge for food For Destruction. This iconic guitar is referred to as the “Derrig Les Paul,” named after its author, Kris Derrig.
Stamped with a Gibson headstock brand, it’s simple to peer why such a lot of enthusiasts think Slash’s mythical Derrig Les Paul is authentic, particularly after freeing a variety of signature Gibson guitars and including a collection of authentic Gibsons to his early armory. As he informed Guitar Global in 2023, “I purchased a few manufacturing unit 2d Les Paul Requirements from Gibson. I took the ones at the street and retired the Derrig from traveling. However I at all times use it, […] that’s at all times been my major recording guitar. Why? As it’s at all times the best-sounding Les Paul within the room.”
2. Jimi Hendrix: The Fender on Fireplace
White Fender Stratocasters have been Jimi’s method of fixing guitar tune ceaselessly. However the notorious white Strat Jimi burned on degree on the 1967 Monterey Pop Competition wasn’t picked out from his common rotation. This guitar used to be one price sacrificing to the rock gods: a 1963-64 Fender Stratocaster tradition painted psychedelic graffiti-style in nail polish by means of Hendrix handiest the night time prior to his notorious gig.
Whilst the sound of this iconic guitar is definitely replicable (assuming you’ll be able to play a stock-standard ‘60s Fender in addition to Hendrix), the “Monterey Strat” used to be in reality one in all a type in aesthetics till 2017, when Fender reproduced Hendrix’s tradition design on some restricted version replicas, paying tribute to the 50-year anniversary of Jimi’s career-defining stunt.
3. Kirk Hammett: Gibson vs. Jackson Flying Vs
It’s no secret that Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett, has an affinity for V-shaped guitars. Kirk followed two Flying Vs into his golden-age artillery, the primary being a 1979 Gibson Flying V in jet black. Die-hard Metallica enthusiasts will already know that this ‘79 Gibson V used to be used throughout Metallica’s early albums, particularly taking the highlight on their debut, Kill ‘Em All.
In the meantime, the Jackson “Randy Rhoads” Flying V used to be the principle guitar Kirk used to document Metallica’s mythical LP, Grasp of Puppets. In 2020, Kirk recalled the guitar arrange which catalyzed the distinct voice of its name observe, pointing out, “I used my Jackson Randy Rhoads V for [the Master of Puppets’] solo […] Maximum of Grasp of Puppets used to be tracked with Boogie heads and Marshall heads mixed, and I used my Gibson Flying V and my Jackson.”
4. Jimmy Web page: The Double-Necked Gibson EDS-1275
Jimmy Web page’s Gibson EDS-1275 is a Frankensteined good looks that includes a 12-string neck on best and a typical 6-string neck underneath. It quickly turned into synonymous with Led Zeppeling’s illustrious reside renditions of Stairway To Heaven, regardless of now not in fact that includes at the studio recording.
As Jimmy Web page informed Guitar Global long ago in 1977, “I didn’t use a doubleneck on [Led Zeppelin IV], however I needed to get one in a while to play Stairway to Heaven.” The Gibson EDS-1275’s intensive vary of tones ingeniously fulfilled Web page’s want to carry out the huge vary of sounds provide at the unique ‘71 recording of Stairway To Heaven reside, with out swapping guitars mid-song.
A little of digging finds the real sound of Stairway To Heaven’s studio recording: an acoustic ‘60s Solidarity Sovereign H1260, with a twelve-string 1965 Fender XII to play the electrical overdubs, completed by means of a 1959 Fender Telecaster for the solo. Amusing reality: this ‘59 Telecaster, which Jimmy Web page used for Stairway To Heaven’s solo, used to be a present from Jeff Beck;.
5. Eddie Van Halen – The Frankenstrat
Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstrat used to be a custom-built icon of 70s-80s steel. This awl underwent a relentless evolution, changed over and over by means of Van Halen himself to craft the very best signature sound.
This sound got here within the type of a Fender Stratocaster clone. The frame used to be an unfinished and “cosmetically undeserving” Strat copy Eddie purchased for simply $50. In keeping with legend, Eddie would “cannibalise his 1961 Stratocaster” to convey the Frankenstrat to existence, moving its neck, pickguard and humbuckers to his new mutation.
With regards to each and every part of this guitar used to be changed time and again right through its six years within the highlight, together with the neck, bridge, and pickups. The Frankenstrat used to be all about experimentation, a sly mixture of anarcho-punk DIY mentality, intuition, and creativeness. Its paintwork presentations it; its sound personifies it.
6. Kurt Cobain – The Jag-Stang
Kurt Cobain’s Jag-Stang used to be any other mix-matched tradition icon. After Kurt patchworked its design in combination from cut-up polaroids of Fender Jaguar and Mustang guitars, Fender custom-built the sector’s first Jag-Stang particularly for the Nirvana front-man, crafting an awl that quickly outlined his anti-hero character.
Kurt defined the muse at the back of having a guitar custom-built for him, pointing out, “Ever since I began enjoying, I’ve at all times preferred positive issues about positive guitars however may just by no means to find the very best mixture of the whole thing I used to be searching for. The Jag-Stang is the nearest factor I do know.”
In spite of Fender commercially generating Kurt’s Jag-Stangs for a handful of years after Kurt Cobain’s loss of life, the Jag-Stang stays exceptionally uncommon and collectible. However this didn’t forestall Fender construction any other tradition Jag-Stang for My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero after mourning the lack of his unique version, sleekly main us to the general iconic guitar on our listing.
7. Frank Iero – “Pansy”
My Chemical Romance’s early days have been riddled by means of the sight of “Pansy” — a snow-white, Japanse-built Epiphone Les Paul Customized Elitist performed by means of rhythm guitarist, Frank Iero, topped by means of circus-style letters stickering its identify punk rock-style throughout its frame.
Performed predominantly at the studio recordings of the band’s cult hit document, 3 Cheers For Candy Revenge, Frank Iero’s iconic guitar used to be stamped into each and every selection child’s thoughts within the mid-2000s, that includes within the tune movies of Helena and I’m Now not K (I Promise), and throughout MCR’s 2004-05 reside presentations. However this guitar rapidly fell off the scene, allegedly “destroyed” by means of an MTV guitar tech in an unrevealed twist of fate, main Frank to retire Pansy in a while after she turned into one of the iconic guitars of the emo rock generation.
