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Old 05-25-2015, 12:20 PM   #5 (permalink)
EPOCH6
V8s & 12 Bars
 
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: British Columbia
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Oh you're asking who's guitar is the most iconic. That's a lot more difficult. Lets start by getting the obvious competitors written in text.

Jimmy Page's Les Paul Standard or double-neck Gibson SG
Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster
Angus Young's Gibson SG Standard (or Jaydee SG later)
Keith Richard's butterscotch blonde Fender Telecaster
EVH's Frankenstrat

Every other iconic guitar I can think of doesn't stand a chance against the above 5 because they're either too obscure outside of metal or too blues to appeal to rock and roll fans on a wider scale. From the above 5 I think the first to fall would be Keith Richard's Telecaster, unfortunately. After that probably EVH's Strat because it's too personalized and custom for a lot of fans to really identify with, part of what makes guitars iconic and inspirational is having that model accessible to fans, I've never met somebody that primarily plays an EVH signature model clone, I've met countless people who play Les Pauls because Jimmy Page played a Les Paul. Next to fall I believe would be Angus Young's SG, it's extremely iconic, especially since he almost exclusively played SGs, but I can't think of any specific historical moments where people would go "Whoa, that guitar just made history", and while Angus Young's playing style is very unique and famous, it's not inspirational like the remaining options are, it was never mind blowing. Next I think Jimmy Page's Les Paul Standard would overshadow his double-neck SG, the double-neck was kind of an added stage prop, almost gimmicky, it wasn't his primary guitar.

So I think realistically it would always come down to Jimmy Page's Les Paul vs. Jimi Hendrix's Stratocaster. The Les Paul and the Strat are the most iconic guitars in rock and roll, no question, it's like Coke vs. Pepsi, Jimmy Page is probably the most famous Les Paul player, even if he didn't exclusively play Les Pauls, and Jimi Hendrix is almost certainly the most famous Strat player. Now which is more iconic? I think I'd have to go with Jimi Hendrix's Strat. I believe that when most people hear a classic strat sound they immediately associate it with Hendrix, you hear people refer to Strat players as "Hendrix-esque", you hear the riff from Purple Haze or Foxy Lady or All Along the Watchtower and you're hearing the epitome of Strat tone. And while a Strat may not be the ideal rock and roll guitar, even if it is very close, it was a Strat that was center stage during perhaps the most iconic moment in rock and roll history:

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Originally Posted by Bobbycob View Post
There's 3 reason why the Rolling Stones are better. I'm going to list them here. 1. Jimi Hendrix from Rolling Stones was a better guitarist then Jimmy Page 2. The bassist from Rolling Stones isn't dead 3. Rolling Stobes wrote Stairway to Heaven and The Ocean so we all know they are superior here.
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