Most famous guitar?

[Kodiak3D]

I read a post earlier that made me wonder, "What is the most famous guitar out there?"

There are so many to choose from. Page's #1, Gilmour's Black Strat, Clapton's Brownie...the list goes on.

In your opinion, what is the most famous guitar? For me, I'd have to say it's B.B. King's "Lucille." Sure, there have been several Lucille's, but I think that's the guitar I've heard of the most.

[rugbynyc]

My votes:

SRV's #1 or EVHs original frankenstrat.

[sumitomo]

I have to agree with Kodiak3d,because Lucille/Lucy must have been quite the gal cause Albert King named his axe Lucy.Sumi

[red]

Keith Richard's Micawber Fender Telecaster.
Maybe Jimi Hendrix' white Woodstock Fender Stratocaster.

[Tig***]

While I was thinking along the same lines as above (Gilmour's Black Strat, Van Halen's Frankenstrat, etc) it hit me.
There is one guitar that when viewed, most people immediately know who plays it...

[marnold***]

I'd agree with the Frankenstrat too. For people my age, the red, white, and black striping is about as iconic as it gets. I personally would think of Lynch's ubiquitous bengal or Mr. Scary, but you'd have to be a fan to be familiar with those. Come to think of it, very few of my guitar heroes are known for just playing one guitar.

Back in the 70s someone might have said Buck Owens' red, white, and blue acoustic.

[deeaa*]

Gotta say I have no idea of who is playing that acoustic.

To me, Lucille would be a strong contender. It'd be Angus and his SG but he uses several so it won't work.

But when I really think about what guitar would probably be instantly the most recognizable, I'd have to say it'd be Van Halen's red striped thingy.

I mean, Ok, with BB in the pic you know it's lucille...but are there any guitars out there that you'd know even _without_ the player in the picture? You wouldn't know lucille at least from other alikes.

Neil Young's blackie would be known...SRV's strat...but yeah, I'd be quite sure no other guitar would be known as wide as VH stratkenstein. Hell, it was a major visual part of a worldwide Pepsi ad campaign too. I'm sure even my mother would know that is some famous guitar, even though she can't tell an electric from an acoustic.

[Tig***]

Gotta say I have no idea of who is playing that acoustic.

OMG, say it ain't so!
While I'm not a big country music fan, I thought most people would recognize it.
Here's a tiny clue...

[sunvalleylaw]

Gotta say I have no idea of who is playing that acoustic.

To me, Lucille would be a strong contender. It'd be Angus and his SG but he uses several so it won't work.

But when I really think about what guitar would probably be instantly the most recognizable, I'd have to say it'd be Van Halen's red striped thingy.

I mean, Ok, with BB in the pic you know it's lucille...but are there any guitars out there that you'd know even _without_ the player in the picture? You wouldn't know lucille at least from other alikes.

Neil Young's blackie would be known...SRV's strat...but yeah, I'd be quite sure no other guitar would be known as wide as VH stratkenstein. Hell, it was a major visual part of a worldwide Pepsi ad campaign too. I'm sure even my mother would know that is some famous guitar, even though she can't tell an electric from an acoustic.

I have to say that is a fair analysis that I agree with. It is either Lucille (many, many people of all musical persuasions have heard and seen one of the Lucilles, and heard BB talk about her) or the Frankenstrat, and for the reasons stated, and because of the nature of media in the 80s and after, I say Frankenstrat. I want to say Old Black, but naw, doesn't win as most generally famous. I DO know that the acoustic was Willie's though.

[mrmudcat]

<<<<<<< Hotlanta is my most famous.....even though it wasnt played as much as the media print would like fo ya to believe!

[duhvoodooman***]

SRV's #1, the white Hendrix Woodstock Strat, EC's Brownie & Blackie Strats, and the EVH Frankenstrat were the first to come to my mind. A few more that wouldn't be most famous, but are famous nonetheless:

Rory Gallagher's beat-to-sh*t Strat
Alvin Lee's 335
Bo Diddley's square Gretsch
Billy Gibbon's "Pearly Gates" LP & BillyBo Gretsch
Speaking of ZZ Top, the white, fuzzy "Eliminator" guitars
Jimmy Page's double-neck SG
Randy Rhoad's black V with the white polka-dots
Kurt Kobain's daphne blue Mustang
John Lennon's Ric & Casino
Albert King's Flying V, "Lucy"
Peter Green's Les Paul with the out-of-phase humbuckers
Buddy Holly's sunburst Strat
Bruce Springsteen's Esquire/Telecaster

[bigG]

I'd have to say B. B.'s Lucille. I think pretty much everyone knows that one. Willie's old nylon-string acoustic would be my #2 guess.

[Eric***]

The first guitar that came to mind for me was the Red Special.

I do think WN's acoustic makes a strong case too.

[Blaze]

This one comes in my mind...

[peachhead***]

<<<<<<< Hotlanta is my most famous.....even though it wasnt played as much as the media print would like fo ya to believe!

Yeah, I'm there with you on that. When I think 'guitar' that's usually what comes to mind, even though I know the story on it.

But SRVs #1 makes sense...and I can see the Buck Owens reference too, but then again I listen to a lot of classic country.

[deeaa*]

This one comes in my mind...

Another unknown to me, sorry :-)

[deeaa*]

OMG, say it ain't so!
While I'm not a big country music fan, I thought most people would recognize it.
Here's a tiny clue...

Sorry, never heard Willie Nelson...I have this understanding country music is strictly an american phenomenon? I don't know pretty much anything about it, it's almost never heard or played over here.

[bek]

A sad thing. Willie Nelson has written some of the most amazing songs, and is a gifted performer. Years ago, I saw him perform "Ain't it Funny How Time Slips Away," and was absolutely stunned. Later, the Yellow Rose soundtrack was an eye-opener, with its powerful rock and blues accents. If a cd was assembled with some of his stuff, maybe some Dwight Yoakam and Garth Brooks, I don't see how it could fail to excite any music lover. After all, country music is the basis of rockabilly, and from there came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, etc., thence to add gospel and blues and you get Ray Charles and Little Richard and the whole rest of it.

[deeaa*]

A sad thing. Willie Nelson has written some of the most amazing songs, and is a gifted performer. Years ago, I saw him perform "Ain't it Funny How Time Slips Away," and was absolutely stunned. Later, the Yellow Rose soundtrack was an eye-opener, with its powerful rock and blues accents. If a cd was assembled with some of his stuff, maybe some Dwight Yoakam and Garth Brooks, I don't see how it could fail to excite any music lover. After all, country music is the basis of rockabilly, and from there came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, etc., thence to add gospel and blues and you get Ray Charles and Little Richard and the whole rest of it.

OK now you just quoted a whole bunch of complete unknowns more ;-) Yokam? Brooks? Gospel? Does somebody listen to it beside in southern churches?

Elvis and Lee I know of course.