Some people will tell you that looks don’t really count for anything in rock music. Others will tell you that what you’re playing doesn’t mater at all – it’s all about how you’re playing. We’re here to tell you that those people are wrong, and give detailed reasons for why the most important instrument in rock music can have an impact that goes beyond the sound. Here are the twenty-one most iconic guitars in rock music:
21. Kurt Cobain’s Fender Jag-Stang
Though the Nirvana frontman had a fair share of guitars played (and smashed) throughout the band’s career, a couple of the Fender models he played tend to stand out: the Jaguar and the Mustang. Rather than having to pick either one of those, it’s only natural to feature the Jag-Stang, Cobain’s very own combination of both guitars. As the story goes, Kurt designed the guitar himself via a montage of polaroid photos.
He later pitched the Jag-Stang model to Fender, who had it made for him – though he only used it on rare occasions, for some reason.
After Cobain passed away, his blue model of the guitar was given to R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, who can be seen using it on the video for What’s the Frequency Kenneth?
20. James Hetfield’s “EET FUK” ESP Explorer
Even though James Hetfield has used several different Explorer guitars with Metallica, one stands out in particular: his “EET FUK” white model from ESP, which was used extensively while touring behind And Justice For All.
The words written on the guitar never got a proper explanation from its owner – though one isn’t necessary, really. After having its headstock broken several times, the Explorer was retired, though James picked it up again to record the track Suicide & Redemption on their most recent album Death Magnetic. White Explorers went on to become an easily identifiable element of Metallica’s live image.
19. Rick Nielsen’s Five-Neck Hamer
To be perfectly honest, there isn’t that much competition when it comes to iconic 5-neck-guitars. After the first double-neck came out, one could easily guess that things guitars would get bigger (and sillier) in the future. However, Rick Nielsen’s 5-neck model is one that looks just the right amount of ridiculous, and probably the only one with over three necks even worth a mention here – or anywhere.
18. Willie Nelson’s “Trigger”
Named after the famous horse that was featured in several of Roy Rogers’ Western films, Willie Nelson’s acoustic Martin N-20 guitar was bought in 1969, and stayed with him ever since. Though Trigger shows a significant amount of damage, its most recognizable one comes from gaping hole right in the middle of it – due in part to a lack of a pick-guard. Willie Nelson famously stated that “When Trigger goes, I’ll quit.”
If you want to read a very extensive telling of Trigger’s story, check out this Texas Monthly article.
17. Bo Diddley’s “Twang Machine” Gretsch
Frequently referred to as “that rectangular guitar”, Bo Diddley’s “Twang Machine” is the one most closely associated with the very early days of rock music on this list. The greatly influential blues / rock musician first created the rectangular-shaped guitar with Gretsch in 1958. He drew his inspiration from old homemade instruments by folk musicians, who made guitars out of cigar boxes. According to Diddley himself, the necessity for an instrument with a smaller body came after an incident with a Gibson L5, where he jumped around the stage a bit too much and eventually hit his groin with the guitar. We’re not sure how the Twang Machine’s sharp corners are any safer, though.
16. Prince’s “Cloud”
Originally custom-built by Minneapolis luthier David Rusan in 1983, the guitar was featured prominently in Prince’s Purple Rain film. Though some fans might argue in favor of his symbol guitar, the Cloud just looks sexier, more like something a regular musician might actually want to play.
15. Matt Bellamy’s Black Kaoss Manson
The most recent entry in the list comes from Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, and one of his many customized Manson guitars. Debuted in 2006, the Black Kaoss Manson guitar features a Korg Kaoss pad connected to a MIDI controller, allowing for some effects on a live setting. But it mostly just emits a cool light that makes the instrument stand out.
By the way, John Paul Jones had the same Kaoss pad on that monstrous bass he used with Them Crooked Vultures.
14. Tom Morello’s “Arm The Homeless” Custom
Tom Morello’s choice for standard tuning with Rage Against The Machine comes with his “Arm The Homeless” guitar. Morello ordered it from a custom guitar shop in Hollywood, down to his exact specifications – and it came out as “the shittiest guitar in the world,” in his own words.
He adds: “Everything about it was bad: it looked bad, it sounded bad, it was grotesquely overpriced, and over the course of the next two years I changed literally everything about it except for the piece of wood.” After several modifications, Morello eventually gave up on making the guitar sound exactly like he wanted, and instead focused on creating sounds with it – which worked out pretty well, we think. As for the words written on the body of the guitar, Morello claimed he enjoyed the juxtaposition of the strong line “arm the homeless” with images of the smiling hippos he drew himself.
13. Zakk Wylde’s “Bullseye” Gibson Les Paul
When Zakk Wylde started touring with Ozzy Osbourne, he knew he couldn’t simply show up with his cream Gibson Les Paul – though it sounded great, it was too similar to a model used by his predecessor, Randy Rhoads. Wylde himself explains how the Bullseye design came about: “I saw the poster from Vertigo, and thought that would be fucking awesome. So I explained it to my buddy Max, who ended up doing Slash’s guitar, but when I went down there for the photo shoot, I opened up the case and saw the Bullseye logo. I said, ‘Dude, what the fuck?’ I had drawn it on a piece of paper and everything, but it was too late anyway. So we did the photo shoot, and the rest is history.”
Say what you will about Kiss and their music, it’s pretty much impossible to deny how powerful the band’s image has been over the years, always making them the act to see live rather than listen to at home. But enough about that – Gene Simmons has a bass guitar shaped like a fucking axe. Originally conceived in 1978 as something to make his “Demon” character look a bit more iconic onstage (fire-breathing and spitting blood didn’t give Simmons quite the amount of attention he craved, apparently), it went on to be a fine example of “instrument shaped like ordinary object.”
It’s admittedly a bit silly, but no other band could pull this off better than Kiss. Here’s a video of Gene Simmons doing his “bass solo” – as you’ll see, the term only applies loosely:
11. Neil Young’s “Old Black” Gibson Les Paul
Neil Young’s “Old Black,” originally a Goldtop Gibson Les Paul, has been with the musician for over forty years, and was used as his main electric guitar on nearly all of his studio albums. Few musicians show quite this much dedication to a single instrument throughout their careers – Young even admitted to having back pains due to the weight of the guitar, but kept on playing it anyway.
10. Paul McCartney’s Höfner Bass
The second (and last) bass to be featured on this list, Paul McCartney’s violin-shaped bass is probably more remembered than any other instrument played by The Beatles. McCartney was reportedly pleased by how symmetrical the Höfner bass looked, allowing it to look like a regular left-handed instrument. He continues to bring it out onstage while touring, preventing pretty much any other bass player in the world from using the same model without looking like a hack.
9. Randy Rhoads’ polka-dot Flying V
Ozzy Osbourne’s post-Black Sabbath career would’n’t have started quite so well if it weren’t for Randy Rhoads, and this classic picture of the former lifting the latter couldn’t get much more symbolic. The guitarist co-wrote every song on Ozzy’s first two (and arguably most successful) records, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, before his tragic death in 1982. Rhoads’ image was closely associated with his polka-dot Flying V guitar, made by luthier Karl Sandoval – a transaction which can be verified via scans of the original receipts and drafts of the project.
8. Brian May’s “Red Special”
The instrument responsible for most of Queen’s guitar riffs comes with a nice backstory to it. Brian May designed and built the Red Special with his father, in 1963, mostly using wood from an old fireplace mantel. It comes with a few peculiarities: though it looks solid, its pieces are kept together in a such a way that it’s semi-acoustic, and the hardware is wired in odd ways, having on/off switches for each of the three pickups. Brian still uses the guitar to this day, after a few restorations, though he commonly plays replicas as well.
7. Eddie Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat”
The Frankenstrat came about as Eddie Van Halen’s attempt at combining the sound of a Gibson with the body of a Fender Stratocaster. After getting the body of the instrument at a discount price because it had a knot in the wood, Van Halen went on to build the guitar by himself, and eventually giving it the custom finish that became well-known and seen releases of official replicas over the years.
6. Tony Iommi’s “Old Boy” SG
The first of two Gibson SG-shaped models featured here, though not a Gibson SG itself, Tony Iommi’s “Old Boy” was built in his hometown of Birmingham by Jaydee Custom Guitars. Even though the guitar was first used during the Dio era of Sabbath, its crosses inlays fit right in with the band’s aesthetic, and Iommi continues to play the instrument nowadays. As for its extremely worn look, the guitarist explains: “It was built on John Diggins’s kitchen table and had to be finished very quickly. As a result, the coats of paint and finish did not have the time to cure properly. At a later date the guitar was left in a car in an extremely hot part of the world and a lot of the finish bubbled up, giving the guitar the look that has become familiar to all Sabbath guitar fans.”
5. Jack White’s Airline
It’s pretty well-known by now that The White Stripes’s basic color scheme worked in favor of the band, fitting perfectly with their music – something that Jack White had planned all along, always one to care for the visual aspect of his music. White’s Airline model, one of the three main guitars he used with the group, fit so well in the band that it almost seems custom-made. Originally manufactured by Valco and sold at low prices through Montgomery Ward catalogs, the guitar’s design looked so unique at the time that it immediately stood out and fueled claims that the Stripes were new rock icons to look out for. According to White, the reason for choosing it “was to prove that you don’t need a brand new guitar to have character, to have tone, and to be able to play what you want to play.”
4. Keith Richards’ “Micawber” Fender Telecaster
Arguably responsible for popularizing the Telecaster model quite a bit – and being associated with The Rolling Stones’ image in general – Keith Richard’s butterscotch-yellow 1953 Fender Telecaster Blonde came with some influence to his playing.
Richards famously removed the sixth string from the guitar and left it in an open G tuning, allowing for “two chords playing against each other” on songs like Brown Sugar. The guitarist explains: “One hangs on because you’ve just got to move one finger — or two at the most — to change the chord, so you’ve still got the other strings ringing. It’s a big sound.”
3. Jimi Hendrix’s Monterey Fender Stratocaster
This guitar holds a spot in the list for a unique reason: the fact that it’s probably best-known for how it ended up, rather than its actual appearance. At the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience were closing their set with an extended version of Wild Thing, when Hendrix knelt next to his Fender Stratocaster and set it on fire, giving place to one of the most beautiful, memorable moments in recorded rock history. Watch it below, around the 7:00 mark:
2. Angus Young’s Jaydee SG
Another guitar made by Jaydee Custom Guitars (yes, the same from Iommi’s Old Boy), Angus Young’s SG actually carries the name.
Though the AC/DC guitarist had previously used the Gibson SG Standard – and contributed immensely to its popularity – his unique version of the instrument came thanks to Jaydee, adding lightning bolt inlays to the neck of the red guitar, something that carried over to later custom-built versions of the instrument. Regardless of which version of the SG Angus Young is playing, it’s become nearly impossible to picture him without that red guitar – and, in some ways, the guitar without him.
1. Jimmy Page’s Gibson Les Paul Standard
At this point, anyone would’ve guessed that the only musician truly missing here was Jimmy Page – though that fails to answer the question of which guitar of his we’d choose.
To be fair, all of his guitars look pretty damn iconic, even his oft-forgotten red Les Paul. A very strong case could be made for his double-necked Gibson SG, a model that Page helped popularize with performances of Stairway To Heaven, where he actually used both necks – something most other musicians using the instrument don’t really care about doing.
However, all things considered, the extra neck feels a bit like a gimmick when compared to the simple beauty of Jimmy Page’s Les Paul Standard (be it #1 or #2). The sunburst finish doesn’t really have anything unusual about it, making it seem like any musician could play the guitar and look as good, yet Page wore it so well that we can’t help associating it with Led Zeppelin.
Unlike most of the instruments here, what makes this Les Paul so iconic is not the way it looks by itself, but the way one guitar player managed to make it his own through his extraordinary music, and not much else. Maybe a violin bow helped a bit:
100 Comments
Insert ‘Where is Trey from Phish with his Languedoc Guitars?’ comment here.
Don’t forget Clapton’s Brownie and Gilmour’s Black Strat.
How do you
need
Buddy Guys pocodot
Peter green/ Gary Moore/ now Kirk Hammett les Paul
Trey is up in Colorado tearing up the Nar powpow with all the other smelly pot smoking hippies bro. Phish, iconic? Ha. Fuck that. Nobody cares.
Honorable mention to Steve Vai’s heart-shaped 3 neck guitar perhaps.
I know, I know – novelty guitar. So were ZZ Top’s white fuzzy Explorers. But what about Brian Setzer’s Gretsch. Mustaine has his flying V as well.
These lists are fun!
Oh and if you’re putting together iconic drum list, Bonham’s clear Vista Lites get my vote.
Josh Homme’s Ovation comes to mind, but that’s more personally and less universally.
ummm, Lucille???
This is a glaring omission.
Lucille should be number one, or maybe Les Paul’s Les Paul.
Stevie Ray Vaughn #1?
Eh, I’m not sure Matt Bellamy’s is deserving. Awesome concept, but not iconic yet. Also, if you’re gonna put the Nielsen guitar on there you might as well put Michael Angelo Batio’s. Maybe replace Cobain’s with Jerry Cantrell’s G&L or Kim Thayil’s Guild.
+1 for the Guild
There’s also that weird ass electro guitar Flight of the Conchords play, but they aren’t exactly rock nor iconic.
21 guitars and not one of Eric Clapton’s listed. How about his Gibson “Beano” Les Paul, Cherry ES-335TD, Fender Stratocasters “Blackie” and “Brownie” or probably the most iconic of all guitars, his psychedelic painted Gibson SG “The Fool” which should be Number One on this list. Fernando, what are you on???
easy there, clapton fan club president.
Billy Gibbons & Pearly Gates
Page and the double neck SG
Thayil & the Guild
Johnny Ramone & the Mosrite
Joe Strummer’s telecaster
yeah, that one probably should have been on here.
What about the Steinbergers!?
They turned the bass world upside down in the 80’s!
Why not use a pic of Kurt playing the Jagstang, and where’s The Dean from Hell?
Dimebag’s Dean ML Dimebolt is less iconic than Jack white’s or Matt Belamy’s gitboxes… and no lucile…. credibility out the window. Cool info on some of the guitars you did include tho
I think Gene Simmons’ axe is far more recognizable than being number 12.
Definitely ahead of Paul McCartney, Randy Rhodes, Tony Iomi and Jack White at least.
Everyone’s list is different tho I guess, right?
Paul has been playing his Hofner bass since 1962. Should be closer to #1.
This list is missing Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Number One Strat…
Bruce Springsteen’s Fender from the cover of “Born to Run” The whole image just screams Rock ‘n Roll and that guitar in that picture is iconic.
Iconic Guitars? What about Dave Hill’s “Superyob” Guitar..
bootsy collins space bass was /is a icon
Wayne Kramer’s American Flag strat and Fred Smith’s Mosrite.
I Just Became Friends With MArk Knopfela of DIRE STRAIGHTs…YOu Could Not Buy A Better Guitar than one of his Surely…As For Mr Paul Stanley he gets axes supplied by Zeus Or Odin Or Someone,,,but great glossy Article..Glad to be on board!!
tHe BaByEaTeRs
http://www.numberonemusic.com/babyeaters/
your friend is Mark Knopfler surely you mean…..
Dude, you completely forgot one of the most relevant guitars: The Gibson 1961 SG The FOOL. Why so?
WHY SLASH NOT LISTED
Roger McGuinn’s 12-string Rickenbacker may have made this list. He influenced Petty, the Eagles, R.E.M., the Pretenders, the Smithereens, and tons of other bands from the 70’s to now.
Emmylou Harris ‘Rose’, probably most recognizable acoustic ever, and one of the most beautiful.
did I miss SRV’s number one???
I can’t believe Stevie Ray Vaughan’s stratocaster isn’t there !!!!!!!!
Jerry Garcia (3 Iconic Guitars), Trey Anastasio, Clapton’s Psychadelic SG, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s No. 1, Dimebag’s Dimebolt, And Jerry Cantrell’s G&L. But A Nice List, Just Make It Longer.
Lists like this one is exactly why lists stink. My list would have a few of these guitars but overall look drastically different. None of Garcia’s guitars? Yeah, Jack Whites airline is MUCH more iconic than any of those (which are all valued ’bout a millon a piece)..
The Nuge’s Bydland is definitely missing and should have been on this list.
Where´s PeterFrampton and his Gibson Black Beauty ” Phoenix ” ?!??
What about Duane Allman’ Goldtop?
Or Dickey Bett’s ’57 Goldtop ?
George Harrison’s “Rocky” Stratocaster,along with Clapton’s “Fool” guitar. Two of the first custom painted guitars used by famous players.
Michael Schenker’s black and white Gibson Flying V
Where’s Lemmy Kilmister’s Rickenbacker?
Brian May’s Red Special only No. 9? You’re having a laugh, aren’t you? It should be at least No. 2 if not No. 1! Most iconic guitar in rock, and it gets treated like that?
Jerry Garcia’s Rosebud!
David Gilmour’s Black Strat is not there? WTF! Nor is Gilmour’s candy apple red Strat!
Stevie Ray Vaughn’s original worn SRV Stratocaster
#1 Is #1
Rory Gallaghers strat? Ah coe on….
21 spots, and no Blackie? No Lucille? What about Tony Rice’s Martin D-28?! The one with the custom enlarged sound hole, that was owned by Vlarence White, before him? smh….
…..yeah… Clarence…..
Jeff Beck’s Esquire? Page’s Dragon Tele? Lennon’s Rick or Casino? Harrison’s cherry LP? Keef’s Dan Armstrong? Townsend’s SG Specials? Hendrix’s black V? Leslie West’s LP Jr?
Alvin Lee’s Woodstock 335? Russ Ballards Argent Strat? Andy Summer’s Tele? (Buck Owen’s Tele, for that matter.) Lonny Mack’s V? Andy Powell’s V?
I’ve been playing for almost 50 years, and I hadn’t seen nor heard of some of the guitars on this list.
How did Stevie Ray Vaughans number one strat or the hamiltone NOT make this list?
It’s a crazy the SRV strat didn’t make the list and Eddies candy striped monster is easily the most famous.
jack white are you fucking kidding. YOur list is whack Fernando. This is a list of Fernandos favorite 21 guitarists. Not the 21 iconic guitars of alltime
Yessssss!!! So true
Stevie Ray Vaughans number 1?!!?!?
That’s the one. I think
You gotta be kidding. No Rickenbackers? How about Chis Squire & McCartney’s 4001 or Geddy Lee and Lemmy’s 4003? Or Lennon’s 325?
And what about the Peter Green/Gary Moore Les Paul? A grail of the British Blues era. Top 5 at least. Bad list.
I always thought Bob Weir’s Modulus G3FH is pretty iconic.
What about the Boss’s Telecaster, Michael Anthony’s “Jack Daniel’s Bass,” and anything played by SRV or David Gilmour?
FRied cHicKen and waTERmeLoN iS ttAsty!
Where is Clapton’s “fool”
Or George harrisons “Rocky”
Come on you have all these great musicians but you forgot a couple.
Lucille, blackie, number 1 for sure, but you take a Fender Telecaster and dress it in black. Wrap leather all around it so the buckle won’t scratch the back. We love Eric and Kieth and all the hot hands around, but Waylon’s guitar had that sound.
Oh yeah, there was this guy back in the ’50s that screwed pickups to a fencepost. I think his name was Les…
what about slash’s AFD les paul??
The Les Paul special Carlos Santana used on Abraxas.
Rory Gallagher’s battered ’61 strat.
Noel Gallagher’s Union Jack Epi should be here…
Jerry’s Tiger should have been at the very least an honorable mention. Other than that and Lucille though, good list.
Kirk Hammett’s KH-2 with the skull inlays
The ” vandalism” sticker strat of Kurt Cobain’s
Steve Jones’ from the Sex Pistols white Les Paul
From Green Day, Billie Joe’s BJ strat
Doyle Von Frankestein’s (Misfits) Annihilator
What a fun list to do!
What about synyster gates’ “syn” guitar from avenged sevenfold? That should’ve been on the list.
From a guy new to playing, but a long time into Rock & Roll–
McCartney’s Hofner is a bass isn’t it? But It IS an icon– I knew that shape was Paul’s when I was kid.
Oddly to me Neil Young’s Icon guitar is his White Falcon.
I know “old Black” is awesome, but in concert I never really took notice of the Les Paul, like I did the big white guitar–
And Yes–Lucille– the first guitar I ever actually had to find out what it was and planted in my head for future reference.
Trigger is THE ICON guitar however-but not really a rock and roller.
Seriously, Everyone who has EVER seen it KNOWS it’s Willies guitar.
Most people could hardly tell the difference between Springsteen’s Telecaster and the one Keith Richards was playing in the most recent tour. One might guess that Bruce’s was actually Keith’s because it looks a lot more beat than Richard’s.
What about Hank Marvin’s red strat?
How about Les Claypool’s Carl Thompson Main Walnut 4-string Bass that has a funky cool design just like the band he plays in Primus
Matt Bellamy’s Manson is my favorite up there. I saw MUSE live and I literally almost cried. 10/10 MUSE best band all time.
Slash’s Gibson Les Paul
This list blows. No Jerry Garcia then it doesn’t count.
To not see Chuck Berry’s es-335 here is beyond ridiculous.
What about the “Fool”??? The Gibson SG owned by Eric Clapton and given to Todd Rundgen in 1969. A very Iconic Guitar.
Albert King flying V, hello?
where is dimebag?
Let’s face it, if you line up all these guitars in front of a bunch of casual music fans anywhere in the world, only one would stand out. The most iconic guitar played by the most prolific musician that was in the biggest band ever. The Hofner bass.
I will agree with others that mentioned it: Leaving off SRV’s battered sunburst Strat from a list of iconic guitars is like forgetting Mount Everest is an iconic mountain. I’ve never heard of anyone lusting after a polka-dot flying-V or a custom Kramer strat that says something about homeless people. But a beat-up sunburst strat with a black pickguard is pretty much what every wanna-be young player tries to own these days. Stevie Ray single-handedly made the relic Strat a thing.
Nice. Thanks for your listing!!!
ERIC CLAPTONS BLACKIE????!!!! ARE YOU STUPID BRO??
No SRV Strat…..No credibility
Maybe stick Billy Joe Armstrong’s blue in as an honorable mention? I get that it may not be quite old enough yet to be iconic, but it is pretty darn recognizable.
Don’t forget The Ventures’ Model Mosrite.
Any list without Merle Travis’ 1952 Gibson Super 400 is bogus
B.B. Kings Lucille?
I hate these fucking lists.
You should be able to show any picture of these guitars without the players and the person looking at them should be able to identify the owner. That would be Paul’s bass for sure at #1. There are some obvious omissions here due to the writers age and musical exposure. Tom Morello and Matt Bellamy? Really? Even Jimmy Page is suspect. He played so many different axes. You should have listed Jimmy’s double neck instead. Jack White? Honestly? Maybe in the Top 100 list! I agree with a lot of guys here about those who are missing. Who is the world played a blond Epiphone Casino other than John Lennon? Who else played a mahogany Tele other than G. Harrison? Come On! No BLACK Rickenbacker? Seriously? The BYRDS? BEATLES? Chuck Berry’s red es-335? Lonnie Mack’s flying Vee. Pete Townsend. Bob Wier’s Ibanez tree-of-life. Paul McCartney’s Gold Top. Peter Frampton’s 3 p/u Les Paul. Chet Atkin’s Gretsch Country Gentleman. Carlos Santana’s PRS. I would cut #5,14,15,20 and 21 and replace them with any of the additions I listed here. I guarantee you could show any 3 of the Beatles guitars to anyone in a 3rd world nation and they would know who played them. These others, not so much. TJ Smith
Brian Jones Vox Teardrop?
BRIAN JONES: VOX Teardrop