A guitar is a very personal extension of the person playing it. You have to be emotionally and spiritually connected to your instrument. I’m very brutal on my instruments, but not all the time.
-Eddie Van Halen
Here are a few iconic guitars you need to know of
Fender Stratocaster
- Guitar Type: Solid-Body Electric
- Legend Who Played It: Eric Clapton
It’s hard to overstate the influence of the Stratocaster. A tremendous pedigree of electric guitarists have made history on this type of guitar. It’s been reissued in hundreds of different designs and is by far one of the most popular types of electric guitars. The slanted, double-cutout body and three-pickup control setup give the Stratocaster both a visual signature and sonic versatility.
This guitar probably had its first major introduction to the public from Buddy Holly, but Clapton was one of its most influential proponents. Check out this clip from the song “The Weight” where Clapton pulls the soulful voice of this guitar into its full bloom.
Martin D-45
- Guitar Type: Steel String Dreadnought Acoustic
- Legend Who Played It: Neil Young
For most guitar enthusiasts today, this is what “playing the guitar” means: the snap and brightness of 6-string