[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2082.0. "famous guitars" by SUBWAY::YATES () Fri Jan 18 1991 12:57

    
    	What guitars are famous to you?
    
    	What makes a guitar famous?
    
    	
    	Here are a couple that come to my mind
    
    	1) Jimi Hendrix's strat that he played at Woodstock.  Its 
    	   just a standard whit strat.  But it reciently sold 
    	   at auction for $300k+.
    
    	2) Kieth Richards black les paul with 3 pickups that he's 
    	   pictured on the 'get your ya ya's out' album with.
    	  
    
    	Maybe theyre famous - maybe I'd just like to own them
    
    	tom
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
2082.1BlackieDPE::STARRSRV......I can't believe you're gone....Fri Jan 18 1991 14:0415
Eric Clapton's "Blackie" Strat. A mongrel made up of parts from three 
different Strat he bought and tore apart, it was Clapton main instrument
from the Derek and the Dominoes era through the 'Behind The Sun' album 
and tour. 

The guitar has since worn out, and has been replaced by 3 identical copies,
custom made by Fender.

Others:

B.B. King's "Lucille" 
Eddie Van Halen's early Strat (?) that had the stripes all over it
Paul McCartney's Hofner bass

alan
2082.2FREEBE::REAUMEPassing Lane-TR @ RedlineFri Jan 18 1991 14:1112
    
      Bo Diddley's rectangular guitar
    
      Michael Schenker's black and white graphic Flying V
    
      Les Paul's Les Paul (yuk,yuk)
    
      The Venture's Mosrite guitars 
    
      Steve Vai's Universe 7-string (does ANYONE else play one?)
    
    						-B()()M-
2082.3psychodelic SGSUBWAY::YATESFri Jan 18 1991 14:1610
    
    	Another
    
    
    	The psychodelic (spelling?) SG that eric clapton and
    	
    	and Todd Rungrin has now
    
    
    
2082.4Not Sure if this is to the point or not..FSTVAX::GALLOSpontaneous Harmony SingingFri Jan 18 1991 14:2813
    
    	Maybe this topic should be called "guitars artists are 
    identified with"
    
    	Chris Squire's Rickenbacker 4001 Bass
    	
    	John Lennon's 3/4 Scale Rickenbacker
    
    	Angus Young's SG.
    
    	Elvis Costello's Fender Jaguar
    
    	
2082.5RAVEN1::JERRYWHITERoll'em-I'll just feel somethingFri Jan 18 1991 14:555
    George Lynch's skull and crossbones ESP (?)
    
    CC Deville's entire collection of the BC Rich NJ series ...  8^)
    
    
2082.6SALEM::MADDENFri Jan 18 1991 15:023
    SRV's Number One
    Albert King's Flying V, I believe it is nicknamed Lucy not to be
    confused with Lucille
2082.7custom V?SUBWAY::YATESFri Jan 18 1991 15:0816
    
    	re: -1
    
    	as an aside on Albert King 
    
    	Doesnt Albert use a custom make Flying V these days?  And didnt
    	he used to use an original old one.
    
    	Is this true?  Does anyone know anything on dates.
    
    
    	PS. One of his album covers has a picture of him playing
    		a strat.
    
    
    
2082.8PNO::HEISERnews: 70 shopping days til no PNOFri Jan 18 1991 15:335
>      Steve Vai's Universe 7-string (does ANYONE else play one?)
    
    I think Greg House is the only one that would want to ;-)
    
    Mike
2082.9D'Angelico and D'AquistoPOBOX::DAVIABud Powell,Bud Powell,Bud Powell..Fri Jan 18 1991 15:437
    
    A  D'Angelico New Yorker. I've never even played one, and at current
    prices probably never will. It's famous not because of who played
    it, but because of who made it. D'Angelico (and D'Aquisto too..) 
    is to guitars what Stradivarius is to violins. 
    
    Phil
2082.10The NOSE knows!ICS::BUCKLEYNever let you goFri Jan 18 1991 16:024
    Don't forget Nuno's [pronounced NuNOSE(tm) ;^)] Washburn N4!!!
    
    swooning in coolness,
    B.
2082.11GeorgeorgegeorgeSMURF::BENNETTFri Jan 18 1991 17:236
George Thorogood and that Hollow Gibson....

And Prince has a favorite - that thing with the long horn.

Jaco's Jazz Bass....
2082.12...more...SALISH::TUTAK_PEOnce again without the netFri Jan 18 1991 20:0117
    
    -B.B. King's candy-apple Gibson...
    
    -Roger McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker...
    
    -John McLaughlin's twin 6/12 monstrosity (was it an Ibanez ? from the 
    Mahavishnu days)...
    
    -Just about anything in Rick Nielsen's collection....
    
    -John Entwistle's 'Fenderbird'....
    
    -Stanley Clarke's old Alembic....
    
    Peter
    
    
2082.13JERRY'S TIGERJUPITR::OCONNORSFri Jan 18 1991 23:027
      JERRY GARCIA'S  Doug Irwin custom....with the tiger on it
    
    
    
    
    
    Sean
2082.14and...JUPITR::TASHJIANSat Jan 19 1991 03:3910
    Mark Farner's Messenger  (tape & all)
    
    Page's sunburst LP    &
           Danelectro shorthorn
    
    Ian Hunter's "H" (called a skull & crossbones) guitar.
    
    
    Jay Tashjian
    
2082.15AYOV11::SROBERTSONSat Jan 19 1991 09:266
    Paul Weller's [ WHAM! ] Rickenbacker
    
    
    Dave Gilmour's  Fender  
    
    Joe Cool's  ,don't know bass players name , crimson bass.
2082.16ESKIMO::AUSTINSun Jan 20 1991 17:569
    Keith Richards' Fender Telecaster, "Micawber"
    
    Jimmy Page's dual neck SG and sunburst Les Paul.
    
    Jeff Beck's Tele(?).
    
    Neil Young's black Les Paul.
    
    Brian May's red (Guild?)
2082.17WELMTS::GREENBIt'll all be over by ChristmasMon Jan 21 1991 04:171
    Chuck Berry's red Gibson.
2082.18a legend in the making - give it timeCHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakMon Jan 21 1991 07:5123
    Re back a couple.....
    
    Brian May originally built his own guitar and this was subsequently
    copied by Guild and had May's name on it.
    
    More for the list...
    
    Tony Rice's Martin with the overlarge soundhole (ex Clarence White)
    
    Ry Cooder's mandocaster
    
    Mark Knopfler's National (Dire Straits)
    
    Leadbelly's Stella 12 string (and Blind Willie Mctell's - come to that)
    
    Buddy Holly's Fender Strat
    
    My HD-28 :-) :-) ;-)
    
    and the list goes on.......
    
    
    andy
2082.19nit pickin'RANGER::WEBERMon Jan 21 1991 09:1115
    re: a few back
    
    McLaughlin's twin-neck was a Bogue--Ibanez made a copy of it
    
    Costello's "Jaguar" is a Jazzmaster
    
    Although Berry often poses with a cherry-red guitar, he almost always
    plays a walnut ES-355. Most of his classics, however, were recorded on
    a blond ES-350T.
    
    For the past 10 years, BB has played a black "Lucille" model.
    
    A future legend: DRW's "Big Red" :-)
    
    Danny W.
2082.20PNO::HEISERnews: 69 shopping days til no PNOMon Jan 21 1991 11:211
    Satriani's chrome and swirly 540R's.
2082.21MSBCS::SKIMon Jan 21 1991 11:537
    Mike Nesmith's Blond Gretsch White Falcon 12-string

    Jimmy Page's sunburst Les Paul

    B.B. King's Lucille

2082.22Does this count?BEEZER::FLOWERSNo more new notesMon Jan 21 1991 12:129
    
    
    Chong's (or is it Cheech??) 'Custom' guitar I saw him 'play' in
    one of their films.  The guitar with the chrome motorcycle chain
    trim and mirrors on the headstock.
    
    J
    
    Oh yeh he was using a wrench as a slide  :-)
2082.23Steve Morse's "Frankenstein"DREGS::BLICKSTEINI'm hungry, I'd like 2 all-u-can-eat plattersMon Jan 21 1991 16:3117
    Steve Morse's "Frankenstein".
    
    The name derives from the fact that this guitar is actually made
    of parts from many guitars.  It's got a tele body and a strat
    neck, and 5 different pickups.
    
    As the neck has been refretted half a dozen times and can't be redone,
    he doesn't use this guitar much anymore but when you think of Morse,
    you certainly think of him with Frankenstein.
    
    Amazingly enough, despite the fact that this guitar was the center
    of his existence, I was very touched that at a clinic I attended he
    was more than willing to give me the thrill associated with strapping
    this guitar on and playing it.
    
    I remember having it on and thinking that THIS thing was what created
    all those records that I love so much.
2082.24maxi axesCHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakThu Jan 24 1991 03:2722
    I've thought of some more....
    
    Elvis' Martin (D18?) and Gibson J200
    
    Emmy Lou Harris' J200
    
    Blind Boy Fuller's National
    
    Sol Hoopii's National
    
    Django Reinhardt's Maccaferri
    
    Leo Kottke's Bozo 12 string
    
    Gordon Lighfoot's Gibson 12 string
    
    
    This is good......I'm enjoying it.....
    
    
    andy
    who likes party games
2082.25Not to mention..........CHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakThu Jan 24 1991 07:306
    Forgot perhaps the most instantly recognisable guitar of all time......
    
    Les Paul's Les Paul
    
    andy
    
2082.26\WELMTS::GREENBIs it heck as likeThu Jan 24 1991 08:533
    Joe Strummer's 'Noise' Telecaster
    
    Bob
2082.27Some more...GLASS::ALLBERYJimThu Jan 24 1991 09:4025
    RE: Les Paul's Les Paul
    
    I'd like to put in a vote for Les Paul's "the log."  This guitar was
    was the prototype for his solid body guitar.   The log started life as
    an archtop (I believe an Epiphone).  Les split the body in half,
    attached the neck to a slab of wood (hence the name), but pickups
    on the slab, and re-attached the two body halves.  I believe he used
    this prototype to convince Gibson to develop a solid body guitar.
    
    I seem to remember that Les and the log where featured on a Guitar
    Player cover, but that was probably over ten years ago.
    
    Other famous guitars:
    
    	Bruce Springsteen's '52 Fender Esquire (upgraded to Tele status)--
    				the one on the Born to Run cover.
    
        George Harrison's Country Gentleman
    
        Willie Nelson's battered Baldwin classical
    
        Django Rienhardt's McCafferie (sp?)-- a gut string with an oval
    				sound hole
    
        Don and Phil Everly's Gibson Everly Brother models
2082.28Famous BassGVA05::BERGMANSThu Jan 24 1991 09:576
    Paul McCartneys' "Violin" Hofner Bass
    
    Not the best intrument on earth, but he did set some standards in the
    way he played it.
    
    Jean-Paul
2082.29more....HOTWTR::TUTAK_PEOnce again without the netThu Jan 24 1991 12:5522
    
    -Albert King's Flying V
    
    -Any one of a number of Strats that JH torched in various venues, and
    are probably in collections somewhere (I believe Zappa uses a rebuilt
    Hendrix Strat that was flamed in Miami)
    
    -Brian Jones' VOX teardrop 6-string
    
    -Alvin Lee's ES335 (?)...the one with all the decals on it
    
    -Lennon's Rickenbacker six-string (is this the same model Pete
    Townshend originally used ?)
    
    -Anyone of a number of Mosrites used by the Ventures....
    
    -Leslie West's LP Junior...
    
    -Chris Squire's old Rickenbacker bass...
    
    Peter
    
2082.30...whoops....SALISH::TUTAK_PEOnce again without the netThu Jan 24 1991 13:265
    
    ...Forgot to mention Jimmy Page's Danelectro in the previous note....
    
    Peter
    
2082.31WELMTS::GREENBIt's me birthday!Fri Jan 25 1991 08:294
    Probably only famous to UK noters; Whatsisname from the Glitter Band's
    star-bodied monstrosity!
    
    Bob
2082.32Thunderbuck Ram...SALISH::TUTAK_PEOnce again without the netFri Jan 25 1991 10:556
    
    Didn't Ariel Bender, or whoever it was from Mott the Hoople use a
    similarly-bodied guitar ?
    
    Peter
    
2082.33WHELIN::OMALLEYYou're twisting my melon, man.Fri Jan 25 1991 11:014
    On a slightly different tack, how about The Honky Tonk Man's guitar
    for a famous axe.  What an awesome musican!
    
    Peter
2082.34"Mom always like you best....!"LUDWIG::PHILLIPSMusic of the spheres.Sat Jan 26 1991 15:2913
    Some of my early ones:
    
    Tom Smothers' sunburst Guild acoustic - droooool!
    
    Chet Atkins' Gretsch Country Gentleman
    
    Glen Campbell - I remember watching his TV variety show and seeing
    Ovation roundbacks for the first time!
    
    
    This IS fun!!!!!
    
    					--Eric--
2082.35more fav ravz !!MILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetSun Jan 27 1991 23:0734
    A few replies back, someone mentioned George Harrison's Gretch Country
    Gentlemen, but his black Duo Jet is perhaps even more famous. George
    has many notable instruments, including the pschycodelic-painted Strat
    which appeared inside the Magical Mystery Tour album cover, the White
    Strat he played on the Concert for Bangla-Desh, One of the first 
    Rick 12-strings made, A wine-red Les Paul given to him by Eric Clapton,
    and a Coral Sitar given to him by Danelectro. The red Les Paul is very
    rare, and was stolen and taken to Mexico. George had to buy a Mexican
    guy a Les Paul to get the red one back. All of these and more are
    pictured in the November (88/89??) Guitar Player. 
    
    Willie Nelson's battered classical is actually a Martin, with a Baldwin
    pickup, and he plays it through Balwin amps. At Willie's All-time low
    point in life, his home burned to the ground. I read somewhere that the
    only things he managed to save in that fire was the Martin guitar and
    a pound of "smokable-herb". The guitar is an obscure model for Martin,
    and he plays the nylon strings with a pick. Definately an onorthadox
    style, but it works for Willie.
    
    One of the most famous 6-strings guitars to me is the custom guitar
    that Jerry Garcia has been using exclusively for the past 10 years.
    Anyone that has been to a Dead show (we're talking millions folks)
    would immediately recognize this one-of-a-kind instrument. Jerry 
    had the guitar built to overcome some of his biggest gripes about 
    production guitars. It has a built-in efx loop with a unity-gain 
    buffer. The direct signal from the pickups goes out through a 1/4" 
    jack and is fed into his efx rack. The output of the efx goes back 
    into the guitar, through the pots, and back out. The unity-gain 
    buffer assures that the guitars output going to his amp is the same 
    whether the efx are kicked in or not. The guitar was beautifully 
    crafted by a California Luthier. I think the guys name is Doug Irwin. 
    
    
    Mark
2082.36morwe yet......CHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakMon Jan 28 1991 07:418
    Bigsby's prototype.
    
    Doc Watson's Gallagher.
    
    Lester Flatt's Martin.
    
    
    andy
2082.37How 'bout TheseMSBCS::KALINOWSKIMon Jan 28 1991 09:1516
    Lets not forget ....
    
    Randy Rhodes ...... Jackson Flying V
    
    Tom Scholtz ......  Les Paul Gold top
    
    Rick Neilsons ..... 5 neck Hamer
    			(not to mention almost all of his guitars)
    
    Tom Peterson ...... 12 string bass	
    
    Angus Youngs....... Burgandy SG
    
    
    Brian
    	
2082.38Honky TonkRANGER::WEBERMon Jan 28 1991 09:418
    Re: a few back
    
    The "Honky Tonk" man is Billy Butler, who played that landmark
    recording on an Epiphone Broadway archtop with a DeArmond pickup
    through a Fender Twin. Note that he played the original in the key of
    F, but most guitarists prefer to play it in the far easier key of E.
    
    Danny W.
2082.39Must fit like and old shoeMISFIT::KINNEYDABNORMAL - Do not use this BrainMon Jan 28 1991 10:199
    Re Garcias guit,
    
    I read somewhere (GP?) that the, I think it is a, tiger  below the bridge
    was just a sticker Jerry had put on. One day, the guy who cares for
    the equipment sent it out for frets or something and had an exact 
    duplicate tiger inlaid where the sticker was. He reported that Jerry 
    didn't notice this for some time after getting it back.
    
    Dave K.
2082.40GOES11::G_HOUSEHey! Where's my TONE???Mon Jan 28 1991 13:345
    re: a few back, Randy Rhodes Jackson V
    
    When I think of Randy Rhodes, I think of his Creme Les Paul or his
    custom polka-dot flying V with the bow-tie inlays rather then the
    Jackson model that bears his name.  
2082.41Ya...that's what I meant....MSBCS::KALINOWSKIMon Jan 28 1991 15:319
    Greg,
    
    	Ya, I think of his creme LesPaul too... Beauty hey.....
    
    Actyally I meant the funky polka dot "V". Wasn't that a Jackson ? He
    had 2...one black with white one white with black.  But at least were
    on the same track.
    
    Brian 
2082.42Rhoads Guitar ClarificationCAVLRY::BUCKLove's not safeMon Jan 28 1991 15:597
    Brian,
    
    The Black flying V with white polka dotz was made by a luthier who used
    to work for Charvel, back when Charvel did custom work (pre-production
    line).  The Black Skark fin V and the White shark fin V w/the black
    pin-striping were both Jackson guitars (and ultimately Jackson
    production models).
2082.43Aging, and Showin' ItCOMET::MESSAGEYou can't dust for vomitMon Jan 28 1991 18:047
    How about:
    
    John Lennon's J160E, Gibson.
    
    Brian Jone's (or anyone's) Teardrop VOX 12-string
    
    Bill
2082.44I wouldn't mind any of these....CHEFS::IMMSAadrift on the sea of heartbreakTue Jan 29 1991 03:4921
    Merle Travis' Bigsby/Travis
    
    Ray Whitley's J200
    
    Lonnie Mack's Flying V
    
    Gene Autrey's D45
    
    Joe Maphis' double neck Semie Moseley
    
    John McLaughlin's Rex Bogue doubleneck
    
    Anything of Bo Diddley
    
    Scrapper Blackwell's National Triolian
    
    Mississippi Big Joe William's 9-string
    
    
    
    andy
2082.45DjangoDREGS::BLICKSTEINI'll have 2 all-u-can-eat plattersWed Feb 06 1991 09:033
    Or Django Rheinhardt's Maccaferri.
    
    (Don't know if I've spelled anything right in this note...)
2082.46Robbie Robertson's StratocasterLEDS::BURATIInfidel THIS!Tue Mar 12 1991 14:4220
Funny thing happened last week. I pulled out a video cassette to tape a 
special program for someone else and checked the tape before I recorded on 
it. All that was on it was a two or three year old David Letterman show.
I fast forwarded it to see who the musical guest was (since that's why
I usually tape the show) and learned that it was Robbie Robertson. 

He was playing his 1956 strat. The one that he had bronzed. Oh, you didn't
know about this? Yes, he had it bronzed!

Another note-worthy feature of this instrument is that he moved the
middle pu down next to the bridge pu. I had seen this guitar in the Last
Waltz and on the cover of Musician Magazine so I was somewhat familiar with
it. But he added a new modification before this network appearance.
He put a Floyd Rose (or Kahler or something) whammy bar on it! Yes he 
took a 1956 stratocaster, bronzed it, moved the middle pickup and finally 
put a modern whammy bar on it. 

I thought that all you guys that recoil at the idea of screwing around
with a vintage guitar would get a kick out of this. (I personally
would have stopped before the whammy mod.)
2082.47Heavy meet all.....TENERE::MALLETThu Apr 25 1991 04:315
Nothing about the Keith Richard's Dan Armstrong AMPEG
and the Gray Moore's Les Paul 59 (the Peter Green one)


Jean 'Les' Paul