Famous Guitars + Free Guns N’ Roses Download

There’s a saying that goes, “It isn’t what you play, it’s how you play it . . . ” For many of our favorite guitarists, the saying rings true. Honestly, most of them could shred gold on a shoebox rubber band guitar without any of us being too surprised. But for many of the players themselves, there’s always that one special guitar whose fame rises with the guitarists themselves, making that particular instrument just as iconic as their masters. So to honor our favorite “axes,” here’s an ode to the legendary guitars (and guitarists) responsible for some of our favorite riffs in rock ’n’ roll.

Eddie Van Halen’s “Frankenstrat”

 Image Credit: Taringa!

What happens when you combine a Fender Stratocaster body, Gibson pickups, some paint and masking tape? Well it seems for Van Halen’s guitarist Eddie Van Halen, the answer is the iconic “Frankenstrat.” Eddie thought he’d try his hand at creating the Gibson sound with a $50 Fender and by golly we’re glad he did.

B.B. King’s “Lucille”

Photo Creddit: Cage Doc

After a fire broke out in an Arkansas dance hall, a 24-year-old B.B. King ran back inside to save his $30 Gibson. He found out later the cause of the fire was a dispute between two men fighting over a girl named Lucille. As a reminder to never fight over a girl (or run into a burning building) he’s named every Gibson he’s owned (usually similar to the ES-355 model above) “Lucille.” Watch King and “Lucille” here.  

Brian May’s “Red Special”

Photo Credit: DCM

Queen’s searing, harmonic guitar tones, created by guitarist Brian May, can be attributed to the one and only “Red Special” (also known as “The Old Lady”). The guitar was designed and handcrafted by May and his father between 1962 and 1964, largely from pieces of an old fireplace mantel, to produce a distinct sound that May could hear in his head, but couldn’t find in any other guitar.  Thus “The Red Special” was born.

Jimmy Page’s EDS-1275 Double-Neck Gibson 

Photo Credit: Wackerman

Famous for its 12-string neck on top and a 6-string neck on the bottom, Page’s double-neck Gibson is famous for not only its obviously unique look, but for being the force behind the multifaceted Led Zeppelin epic “Stairway to Heaven.” Two heads are better than one.

Slash’s Gibson Les Paul(s)

Slash of Guns N’ Roses has never hidden his adoration for Gibson guitars . . . He’s even collaborated with them on 12 signature Les Paul models. But his “main” guitar will always remain the 1959 Gibson Les Paul, which he used to record the majority of his sessions with Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver and his own solo albums. And speaking of Slash . . . it just so happens to be his birthday today! Celebrate with a free download of “Sweet Child O Mine” from our Lullaby Renditions of Guns N’ Roses. P.S. We know there are more than a handful of iconic guitars we missed on this list. That just means we’ll have to do a Part 2. ;)