The Four Most Famous Guitars In Rock

Whatever criteria you want to use (influence, notability, coolness...) these are The Most Famous Guitars In Rock:

 

I'll play. Here are two, I'll continue to think about the other two. The real ones, of course though:

 

Ha, I've got my other two:



Ok, one of the following two:





Wow, they are all Gibsons!

 

The Van Halen Strat, two Rickenbackers and a Tele? I’d go with:

1. Stratocaster
2. Les Paul
3. Telecaster
4. Martin D-28

 

this

although there is a case to replace the Martin with a ricky....

 

“Basically a hunk of plywood with a pickup on it”

 

1. Les Paul
2. Stratocaster
3. Rickenbacker
4. Hofner Violin Bass (You never specified what kind of guitar)

 

I like this color better than the other better/well known one:



And one more from someone else. Similarly, I like this color better than the one he's really known for:

 

Some of you are really missing the point. These are SPECIFIC guitars for SPECIFIC artists.

 

Totally agree.
If we were talking about iconic due to being recognized via paint job or design by the most people...
Probably
Van Halen's frankenstrat.
McCartney's hoffner bass
Gene Simmons axe bass
Jimmy Pages twin neck

 

Ok, I'll play...

[In order of appearance]









Edit: Those would be my picks for iconic / recognizable to general public. Although as a musician I have to say the combo of:
1. Stratocaster
2. Les Paul
3. Telecaster
4. Martin D-28 / Rickenbacker
is pretty hard to beat...

Re-edit: Ok, maybe my first one is not so recognizable by general public... but it may be the most influential....

 

Jimmy Page's Les Paul
Hendrix's woodstock strat
EVH Frankenstein
Peter Green's Les Paul

Honroable mention:
David Gilmour's Black Strat
Duane Allman's Goltop and/or Hot 'Lanta
Chuck Berry's ES-335
Billy Gibbons' Pearly Gates
Malcolm Young's Gretsch Fire Jet 6131
Angus Young's '67 SG Custom
Rory Gallagher's Strat
Steve Vai's Ibanez Jem

 

Nobody's mentioned Brian May's Red Special?

 

Three, invariably associated with certain players, but really transcend those associations because they are simply part of rock and roll history from a visual standpoint:

Fender Stratocaster
Gibson Les Paul
Hofner violin bass

after that it’s a many-way tie including the Telecaster, the Ric 12, the Gretsch 6120 (or maybe more broadly, big hollow body or semi hollowbody guitars like various Gretsch guitars, Gibson ES335 or Epiphone Casino.)

But the above are ‘the’ iconic rock and roll guitar models, regardless of individual associations.

 

Then I say you would have to substitute that Hofner Bass, that pretty much only Paul used, and instead list the Fender Precision. Way more widely used by countless rock bass players

 

I’m considering the recognizable design of the guitar in determining my list. While I agree the PBass is ubiquitous in its use, the Stratocaster serves as the style for both. So they both win, I suppose.

Simply, the Hofner is as recognizable as a famous RnR guitar as either the Strat or LP. Maybe even more so. Even though only Paul played it.

 

I do not agree, Sir, but it's all good. Rock on!

 

You're from England, and you mention Steve Vai...but not Brian May?!?!

 

Les Paul
Telecaster
Strat
Gibson SG

 

Perhaps you would like to take a stab at pleasing everyone?...

 

Page's LP doesn't have anything that sets it apart from a lot of other bursts.

The Bloomfield Burst is the one. No hiding that Flame or that telltale damage.

 

Bruce Kulick
Paul Stanley
Neal Schon
Richie Sambora

 

Les Paul Custom
SG
Strat
Tele

 

I'm surprised no one has championed that guitar that helped underwrite the British Invasion: the Epiphone Casino.