Guitars

When it comes to Classic Rock, the two biggest names in guitar are Gibson and Fender, with the Les Paul and Stratocaster being the best known representatives of each company.

The Humbucker equipped Les Paul is known for its power, fatness, and warmth, especially when played through an overdriven amp. Les Paul guitars feature a 3-way pickup selector. Les Pauls are known for being physically heavy guitars.

Stratocasters generally feature single coil pickups, and are known for their versatility, particularly when playing clean, low-gain, and Fuzz tones. Most Stratocasters feature a 5-way pickup selector and a vibrato bar (incorrectly called a tremolo bar), which usually gets called a whammy bar. Fender guitars are generally lighter then Gibson guitars.

While Humbuckers and Single Coils are the most common pickups, there are others. The P-90 is a wider single coil pickup, but it is thicker sounding. Many people consider the P-90 to be the "middle ground" between a Humbucker and a Single Coil.

Gretsch guitars famously feature Filtertronic pickups on many of their guitars, which are effectively a thinner and lower output Humbucker with plenty of attack and a rather "open" sound.

PICKUPS

Humbucker

Single Coil

P-90

Filtertron

I have created a list below of the most common guitars you'll see used in Classic Rock, and listed the players associated with that model.

The way a guitar sounds, looks, and feels all need to be considered when you are deciding on the guitar that is right for you!

Like the Gibson sound but don't like the idea of a heavy guitar, maybe consider an SG or a Jr. The Fender sound appeals to you, but you want something simpler than a Stratocaster, look at a Telecaster. Do you like the look of a big guitar? How about a 335 or a White Falcon?

Or, do what most guitar players do... buy a bunch of different guitars! However, you should keep in mind, many of the great guitar players are often associated with a particular model that they spend countless hours with... they know how to coax every possible sound out of that guitar. It's almost as if they have a special bond with that one guitar. It can be like friends. You will likely have a larger group of friends that you aren't super close to, but you may have a couple of really close friends who know you better than anybody else, and will always be there for you. Guitars are like this - make sure you get to know your guitar really well, if you want to get the most out of the relationship!

GIBSON GUITARS

Gibson Les Paul (1952)

Jan Akkerman of FocusDuane Allman of the Allman Brothers BandMartin Barre of Jethro TullDicky Betts of the Allman Brothers BandMike Bloomfield of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Electric FlagMarc Bolan of T-RexMick Box of Uriah HeepVivian Campbell of DioEric Clapton of the Bluesbreakers and CreamSteve Clark of Def LeppardPeter Frampton of Humble Pie and soloAce Frehley of KissBilly Gibbons of ZZ TopScott Gorham of Thin LizzyPeter Green of the Blues Breakers and Fleetwood MacSteve Hackett of GenesisMick Jones of ForeignerMick Jones of the ClashSteve Jones of the Sex PistolsMark Knopfler of Dire Straits (Money for Nothing)Paul Kossoff of FreeAlex Lifeson of RushBob MarleyRonnie Montrose of MontroseGary Moore of Thin Lizzy and soloRick Neilsen of Cheap TrickJimmy Page of Led ZeppelinJoe Perry of AerosmithMick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad CompanyRandy Rhoads of Ozzy OsbourneBrian Robertson of Thin Lizzy and MotoheadMick Ronson of David BowieGary Rossington of Lynyrd SkynyrdTom Scholz of BostonNeal Schon of JourneySlash of Guns N' RosesMick Taylor of the Blues Breakers and the Rolling StonesPete Townsend of the WhoJoe Walsh of the James Gang and the EaglesZakk Wylde of Ozzy OsbourneNeil Young

Gibson SG (1961)

Angus Young of AC/DCFrank ZappaCarlos SantanaPete Townsend of the WhoTony Iommi of Black SabbathBuck Dharma of Blue Oyster CultElliot Easton of the CarsRobbie Krieger of the DoorsFrank Marino of Mahogany RushPaul Weller of the JamGlenn Tipton of Judas Priest

Gibson ES-335 (1958)

Eric Clapton of CreamLarry Carlton of Steely DanEric JohnsonAlvin Lee of Ten Years AfterAlec Lifeson of Rush

Gibson Les Paul Jr. (1954)

Leslie West of MountainMick Jones of the ClashJohnny Thunders of the New York DollsMick Ralphs of Mott the HoopleKeith Richards of the Rolling Stones

Gibson Byrdland (1955)

Ted Nugent

Gibson Flying V (1958)

Marc Bolan of T-RexKirk Hammett of MetallicaAndy Powell of Wishbone AshRandy Rhoads of Ozzy OsbourneMichael Schenker of UFO and MSGRudolf Schenker of the ScorpionsPaul Stanley of KissK.K. Downing of Judas Priest

Gibson Explorer (1958)

Allen Collins of Lynyrd SkynyrdThe Edge of U2Billy Gibbons of ZZ TopJames Hetfield of MetallicaMatthias Jabs of the ScorpionsAdrian Smith of Iron MaidenPhil Collen of Def Leppard

Gibson Melody Maker (1959)

Joan JettPat Travers

Gibson Firebird (1963)

Allen Collins of Lynyrd SkynyrdBrian Jones of the Rolling StonesPhil Manzanera of Roxy MusicJohnny Winter

FENDER GUITARS

Fender Stratocaster (1954)

Eric Clapton (from 1970)Jimi HendrixDavid Gilmour of Pink FloydRory GallagherMark Knopfler of Dire StraitsJeff Beck (from 1975)Randy BachmanRitchie Blackmore of Deep PurpleTommy BolinRy CooderThe Edge of U2Lowell George of Little FeatEric JohnsonYngwie MalmsteenDave Murray of Iron MaidenBonnie RaittRobin TrowerStevie Ray VaughanRonnie Wood of the Rollinng StonesJames Young of Styx

Fender Telecaster (1950)

Jeff Beck - (in the 60's)Mike BloomfieldRoy BuchananMike Campbell (Broadcaster)Chrissie Hynde of the PretendersWilko Johnson of Dr. FeelgoodJimmy Page of Led Zeppelin (first album)Bruce Springsteen (Esquire)Keith Richards of the Rolling StonesRobbie Robertson of the BandFrancis Rossi of Status QuoBilly SquierJoe Strummer of the ClashAndy Summers of the Police

Fender Jazzmaster (1958)

Elvis Costello

Fender Jaguar (1962)

Johnny Marr of the SmithsElvis Costello

Fender Mustang (1964)

OTHER BRANDS

Gretsch White Falcon (1954)

Billy Duffy of the Cult

Danelectro U2 (1956)

Danelectro Shorthorn (1959)

Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin

Rickenbacker 360 (1958)

Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom PettyThe Edge of U2John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater RevivalGeorge Harrison of the BeatlesJohn Lennon of the BeatlesJohnny Marr of the SmithsRoger McGuinn of the ByrdsPaul Weller of the JamRobin Zander of Cheap Trick