Heroes of the Fretboard

Johnny Ramone

• Guitar: Mosrite Ventures II
  Johnny Ramone's sound was synonymous with punk rock's raw energy. He favored the Mosrite Ventures II, a quirky, high-output guitar that cut through the Ramones’ driving, fast-paced music. Its simplicity and powerful tone were perfect for his aggressive down-stroke playing.

Jimi Hendrix

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
  Jimi Hendrix and the Fender Stratocaster are inseparable in rock history. Known for his unique left-handed playing style on a right-handed Strat, Hendrix pushed the guitar to its expressive limits, using techniques like feedback and whammy-bar dives. His Olympic White Strat remains iconic.

Eric Clapton

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster ("Blackie")
  Clapton began with a Gibson Les Paul during his time with Cream, crafting legendary blues-rock tones. Later, he transitioned to his customized Fender Stratocaster, "Blackie," which became his signature guitar during his solo career.

David Gilmour

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (The Black Strat)
  David Gilmour's ethereal tone on Pink Floyd records was shaped by his Black Strat. Modified over the years, this guitar provided the soaring leads and lush textures heard on Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

Billy Gibbons

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard ("Pearly Gates")
  Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is synonymous with "Pearly Gates," his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. The guitar's rich, creamy tone powered classics like La Grange and Tush.

Jack White

• Guitar: Airline Res-O-Glas
  Jack White's choice of the vintage Airline Res-O-Glas perfectly suited his raw, lo-fi style. The fiberglass body guitar produced the distinctive tones heard in The White Stripes’ hits like Seven Nation Army.

Keith Richards

• Guitar: Fender Telecaster ("Micawber")
  Keith Richards' Telecaster "Micawber" is as iconic as his riffs. The modified Tele, strung with five strings for open-G tuning, powered Rolling Stones classics like Honky Tonk Women and Brown Sugar.

Ritchie Blackmore

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
  The Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist’s fiery solos and classical influences came alive on his Stratocaster, shaping hits like Smoke on the Water and Highway Star.

Mark Knopfler

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender Stratocaster
  Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits is celebrated for his fingerpicking style. He used a Les Paul on Sultans of Swing and later switched to Stratocasters for their clarity and warmth.

Andy Summers

• Guitar: Fender Telecaster Custom
  Andy Summers’ modified Telecaster Custom delivered the shimmering, atmospheric tones heard in The Police’s tracks like Every Breath You Take.

Tom Verlaine

• Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster
  Television's Tom Verlaine shaped the punk art-rock sound with his Fender Jazzmaster, creating jangly, intricate tones on albums like Marquee Moon.

John Cale

• Guitar: Vox Phantom
  A founding member of The Velvet Underground, Cale occasionally played the Vox Phantom, contributing to the experimental soundscapes of the band.

Thurston Moore

• Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster
  Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore relied on heavily modified Jazzmasters, often equipped with alternate tunings, to craft the band’s noisy, avant-garde sound.

Muddy Waters

• Guitar: Fender Telecaster
  Muddy Waters, a cornerstone of the blues genre, is often associated with his distinctive red Fender Telecaster. This guitar, sometimes referred to as the "Hoss," became iconic for its rugged simplicity and the raw, gritty tone that Muddy harnessed to define the electric Chicago blues sound.

Kurt Cobain

• Guitar: Fender Jaguar, Fender Mustang
  Cobain’s grungy, angst-filled style was embodied by his Fender Jaguar and Mustang, customized with high-output pickups to cut through Nirvana’s distorted riffs.

Eddie Van Halen

• Guitar: "Frankenstrat"
  Eddie Van Halen built his "Frankenstrat" by combining Stratocaster and Gibson components, creating a revolutionary tone and playability that fueled songs like Eruption.

Steve Vai

• Guitar: Ibanez JEM
  Designed in collaboration with Ibanez, Vai’s JEM series featured a distinct handle cutout and advanced playability, perfect for his virtuoso techniques.

Frank Zappa

• Guitar: Gibson SG
  Frank Zappa’s innovative approach to guitar included extensive use of effects and unusual playing techniques. His modified Gibson SG helped create his unique sound.

Tony Iommi

• Guitar: Gibson SG
  Tony Iommi, the pioneer of heavy metal, used a Gibson SG with customized string gauges, enabling his powerful riffs despite a finger injury.

Kirk Hammett

• Guitar: ESP KH-2
  Metallica's lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett, often uses his signature ESP KH-2, known for its aggressive tone and playability suited for shredding.

Duane Allman

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard
  Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band used a 1957 Goldtop Les Paul for his iconic slide guitar work, notably on Layla and Statesboro Blues.

Chet Atkins

• Guitar: Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman
  Chet Atkins’ mastery of fingerstyle playing earned him the title “Mr. Guitar.” His Gretsch Country Gentleman, designed to his specifications, became a staple in country music for its warm, clear sound.

Jeff Beck

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
  Jeff Beck’s unparalleled creativity on the Fender Stratocaster brought out expressive bends and volume-swelling effects, crafting iconic solos like those on Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers.

Chuck Berry

• Guitar: Gibson ES-350T
  Chuck Berry’s early rock-and-roll sound relied on the Gibson ES-350T. With his signature licks and rhythmic style, he created classics like Johnny B. Goode that influenced generations of guitarists.

Buddy Guy

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
  Buddy Guy’s fiery blues playing often came through his polka-dot Fender Stratocaster, a visual and tonal icon of the electric blues scene.

George Harrison

• Guitar: Gretsch Country Gentleman, Fender Rosewood Telecaster
  George Harrison shaped The Beatles’ sound using the Gretsch Country Gentleman and the unique Fender Rosewood Telecaster during the Let It Be sessions.

B.B. King

• Guitar: Gibson ES-355 ("Lucille")
  B.B. King’s “Lucille” delivered the smooth, vocal-like tones central to his blues style, cementing its place as one of the most iconic guitars in music history.

Randy Rhoads

• Guitar: Jackson Rhoads
  Randy Rhoads worked with Jackson to design his signature guitar, merging aggressive aesthetics with superior playability. It became synonymous with his work with Ozzy Osbourne.

Slash

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Standard
  Slash’s Les Paul Standard, particularly his 1959 replica, created the soaring solos and gritty riffs on Guns N’ Roses classics like Sweet Child O’ Mine.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

• Guitar: Gibson SG Custom
  Known as the “Godmother of Rock and Roll,” Sister Rosetta Tharpe brought the Gibson SG Custom to gospel and rock music, inspiring countless artists with her energetic performances.

Pete Townshend

• Guitar: Gibson SG, Rickenbacker 360/12
  Pete Townshend wielded the Gibson SG for The Who’s thunderous power chords, while the Rickenbacker 360/12 contributed to the jangly sound of Can’t Explain.

Johnny Marr

• Guitar: Fender Jaguar
  Johnny Marr of The Smiths redefined rhythm guitar with his Fender Jaguar, creating shimmering, intricate patterns on hits like This Charming Man.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (“Number One”)
  Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Stratocaster, nicknamed “Number One,” delivered the soulful, fiery blues tone heard on tracks like Pride and Joy.

Angus Young

• Guitar: Gibson SG Standard
  Angus Young’s energy-filled riffs and searing solos for AC/DC came through the double-cutaway Gibson SG Standard, which he made synonymous with high-voltage rock.

Neil Young

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul ("Old Black")
  Neil Young’s “Old Black,” a 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop converted to a black finish, delivered the raw, distorted tones on tracks like Cinnamon Girl.

Albert King

• Guitar: Gibson Flying V (“Lucy”)
  Albert King’s upside-down Gibson Flying V, dubbed “Lucy,” shaped his powerful, soulful blues playing style.

Bob Dylan

• Guitar: Martin D-28, Fender Stratocaster
  Bob Dylan’s Martin D-28 defined his acoustic folk sound, while his switch to a Fender Stratocaster at Newport Folk Festival 1965 marked a historic moment in rock history.

David Crosby

• Guitar: Martin D-18
  David Crosby’s fingerpicking on the Martin D-18 contributed to the lush harmonies and intricate arrangements of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

David Byrne

• Guitar: Fender Mustang
  David Byrne of Talking Heads used the Fender Mustang for its quirky, angular sound, fitting perfectly into the band’s art-rock aesthetic.

The Edge

• Guitar: Gibson Explorer, Fender Stratocaster
  The Edge’s sound relies on guitars like the Gibson Explorer and Fender Stratocaster, combined with extensive use of effects to craft U2’s ethereal, delay-heavy sound.

Robert Fripp

• Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Custom
  King Crimson’s Robert Fripp utilized his Les Paul Custom to deliver precision and sustain, central to his pioneering progressive rock style.

Fred “Sonic” Smith

• Guitar: Epiphone Crestwood
  Fred “Sonic” Smith of the MC5 wielded the Epiphone Crestwood, delivering garage-rock energy with raw power.

Ron Asheton

• Guitar: Fender Stratocaster
  Ron Asheton’s searing, fuzz-drenched tone for The Stooges was achieved using a Fender Stratocaster, creating proto-punk anthems like I Wanna Be Your Dog.

Kevin Shields

• Guitar: Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Jaguar
  Kevin Shields, the mastermind behind My Bloody Valentine, is synonymous with the "shoegaze" sound. Using Fender Jazzmasters and Jaguars, Shields pioneered the "glide guitar" technique, employing tremolo arms and intricate effects chains to craft ethereal, lush soundscapes.