Music Banter - Most Iconic Guitar in the History of Rock?

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Most Iconic Guitar in the History of Rock?

As much as I'd love to say something else, probably the Gibson Les Paul Custom. The only obvious competitor that immediately comes to mind is the Fender Strat. It's pretty hard to determine which one made more of a mark. Strats are designed for versatility and are used all over the place, Les Paul Customs kind of strike me as the quintessential rock and roll guitar, two humbuckers, heavy as ****, big beefy neck, they're tanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EPOCH6 (Post 1593534)

As much as I'd love to say something else, probably the Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Agreed, but this is about the marriage between the fiddle and the player.

If we're talking blues the game would be over.

http://assets.rollingstone.com/asset...6ad47c9ac3.jpg

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:

http://i.imgur.com/hvU4waG.jpg?1

Great post. Exactly what I was hoping for! Strat vs LP is the bottom line and your argument for best is spot on.

But let's keep it going. You mentioned Keef and Angus.

http://assets.rollingstone.com/asset...7d30d6e055.jpg

http://k06.kn3.net/7E7BEA360.jpg

A few more.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...ve2_edited.jpg

http://www.takegreatpictures.com/app...ert-pictur.jpg

https://queenphotos.files.wordpress....n-late-70s.png

For better or worse, everyone knows the Gibson Flying V is everything that is rock 'n' roll, metal especially.

http://img.guitarchina.com/img2012/0504wj1/49.jpg

Not the most iconic but it's pretty any way. John McLaughlin and his 'Double Rainbow'.

http://cdo.seymourduncan.com/blog/wp...johnnymac1.jpg

The Double Rainbow Guitar

Generally speaking, I agree it's either strat or les paul with telecaster not far behind. I'd vote for the strat. To me, it's basically the electric guitar.

As for specific iconic guitars, I don't really know. A lot of the music which makes a great impression on me might not make such an impression on the majority of others. But I know that I badly want a Gibson SG "Roxy", like what Frank Zappa had customized and played in the 70s.

http://www.premierguitar.com/ext/res...16ede98590.JPG

http://www2.gibson.com/Images/Produc...410&width=1000

Iconic to me at least :) Gibson were making these signature models or what you'd call it, but I don't think they're producing them at the moment.

Can't stand Van Halen but I think I'd say that his guitar takes the cake since it's so unique.

Not rock, but Willie Nelson's guitar is pretty iconic too, mostly because badass and I want to steal it from him.

http://media.nu.nl/m/m1mxc72ajgwv_std320.jpg

Fender strat without question. And specifically the one Hendrix played at Woodstock. And then its a toss up between Tele and Paul but probably Paul. I'm a biased Fender guy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista (Post 1593530)

http://customguitarprojects.co.uk/wp...e-LesPaul1.jpg

:bowdown: For me it would have to be this one. Really just a gorgeous instrument.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland (Post 1619628)

I've heard that a good guitar can actually improve with age, but can a guitar with a hole in it help but sound at least slightly ****ty, no matter how aged-to-perfection it is?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord (Post 1619867)

I've heard that a good guitar can actually improve with age, but can a guitar with a hole in it help but sound at least slightly ****ty, no matter how aged-to-perfection it is?

I personally cream at a unique sounding guitar that some might call ****ty so I'm kind of biased when I say it helps. It's a case by case basis that depends on a lot of things like the shape of the guitar, size of the hole, type of wood, where the hole is, etc. In Nelson's case it worked out.

...and this. Every shredder from the late 80's/early 90's wanted this:

http://www.vai.com/site-images/tm/originalpromo_87.jpg

I always thought the handle was a stupid gimmick, but a pretty cool stupid gimmick at that.

While I'll jump at any chance to root for the Telecaster, being a biased Tele player myself, I don't think I'd be stepping out of line claiming that it may have been the most iconic guitar during the birth of rock and roll and the evolution of the electric blues. Muddy Waters is often credited as the godfather of the electric blues and possibly rock and roll, getting his first electric in 1945 and becoming one of the first blues musicians to regularly utilize the electric guitar in a full band configuration.

http://i.imgur.com/vG5tymO.png?1

The Rolling Stones, one of the first bands to really define rock music as it's own genre.

http://i.imgur.com/9xAUQcf.png

The Kinks, one of the first bands to really popularize distortion in rock music.

http://i.imgur.com/xz9haGp.png?1

Eric Clapton's Yardbird's / Blind Faith days.

http://i.imgur.com/zOYgW5O.png

Led Zeppelin's early days.

http://i.imgur.com/mhJogiI.png?1

That being said, many of these early Tele players picked up Les Pauls and Strats in the early 70's when rock music became more visceral.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EPOCH6 (Post 1619936)

Eric Clapton's early days with The Yardbirds.

http://i.imgur.com/zOYgW5O.png

Dude......

I need a Tele.

This one was kind of a big deal:

http://www.rockbandaide.com/wp-conte...en-500x360.jpg

...and how could we leave out Zakk and his bullseye LP:

http://www.nyrock.com/img/2002/zakk2.jpg

Lol my bad, that picture is with Blind Faith. For whatever reason it showed up alongside Yardbird's pictures on Google.

Here we go.

http://i.imgur.com/t12NS5u.png

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton (Post 1619962)

http://www.nyrock.com/img/2002/zakk2.jpg

EMGs. Yuck. Iconic paint job for sure though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista (Post 1619969)

EMGs. Yuck.

:crazy: EMGs are my favourites.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland (Post 1619971)

:crazy: EMGs are my favourites.

Makes perfect sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chula Vista (Post 1619974)

Makes perfect sense.

They're great if you want to play pinch harmonics way too often.

I think EMGs get more hate than they deserve. If you judge them in their turf doing what they're good at then they do fine.