13 Famous Guitars and Basses From Music History
![13 Famous Guitars and Basses From Music History](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/9/6/878296_320x180.jpg)
Though they may be talented players, rock history’s most celebrated guitar heroes wouldn’t get very far without the instrument in their hands. From humble four string basses to double-necked behemoths, these iconic instruments helped to shape a soundtrack to history. As it's been said, an artist is only as good as their tools, and these poor suckers lived in a world before AI could be refined enough to delicately mash together art that other, real humans have made into a grotesque amalgamation that spits in the face of God. Imagine actually learning a craft and mastering it to the point where your art is but an extension of yourself! What a waste of time. Still, you have to admire craftsmen and women so thoroughly invested in the act of creation that not only are they themselves highly recognized and have risen to the status of an icon but so too have the planks of wood that they hold in all these photos.
Gibson Les Paul
![GRACKED GIBSON LES PAUL (LES PAUL) Sometimes, you just can't beat the original. Music wouldn't be what it is today without the work of guitarist and engineering pioneer Les Paul, who developed the original Gibson Les Paul electric guitar in 1952. From Jimmy Page to Slash to Duane Allman, the Les Paul has remained ubiquitous.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/7/878327.jpg)
Martin D-28
![GRACKED MARTIN D-28 (JONI MITCHELL) While Mitchell used a number of different instruments throughout her career, the canadian song-writing icon had a soft spot for Martin acoustic guitars, specifically the Martin D-28. One of her favorite D-28's was stolen from an airport luggage carousel while Mitchell was on tour in Hawaii.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/3/878323.jpg)
RIC 4001
![GRACKED RIC 4001 (GEDDY LEE) To non-bassists, the Rickenbacker 4001 looks more like a coffee table than a proper instrument. The gargantuan bass's grindy tone was especially favored by the Rush frontman, becoming a staple instrument of the band's live shows.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/2/878322.jpg)
Fender Precision Bass
![GRACKED FENDER PRECISION BASS (JAMES JAMERSON) The early years of Motown would not have been the same without the steady thumping of James Jamerson, one of the grandfathers of modern bass playing. Jamerson was a devotee of the Fender Precision, which can be heard through iconic records such as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/5/878325.jpg)
‘Tiger’
![GRACKED 'TIGER' (JERRY GARCIA) Custom built by Luthier Doug Irwin, who also built instruments for 'Tiger' was Grateful Dead maestro Jerry Garcia's instrument of choice from 1979 to 1989. We assume it was built entirely out of spent hash pipes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/4/878324.jpg)
Monterey Stratocaster
![GRACKED MONTEREY STRATOCASTER (JIMI HENDRIX) Hendrix's 1965 Fender Stratocaster was set on fire by the iconic guitarist before making it to the end of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. It's sacrifice wasn't in vain though, as the performance launched Hendrix into legend.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/8/878318.jpg)
Frankenstrat
![GRACKED FRANKENSTRAT (EDDIE VAN HALEN) All modern guitar virtuosos can trace their lineage back to this iconic heavily modified Fender Stratocaster, which Eddie Van Halen constantly tweaked and modified throughout the 70s and 80s. Despite its legendary status, Van Halen reportedly treated the guitar like garbage.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/0/878320.jpg)
Hohner Mad Cat (Prince)
![GRACKED HOHNER MAD CAT (PRINCE) Prince was nothing short of perfectionist, so it's a bit of a head scratcher to hear that he allegedly purchased this Telecaster lookalike at a gas station. Then again, every guitar can sound amazing when in Prince's hands.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/7/878317.jpg)
Double-Neck Gibson
![GRACKED DOUBLE-NECK GIBSON (DON FELDER) Though it wasn't part of the original process of writing the song, Eagles guitarist Don Felder's super-sized white EDS-1275 double-neck Gibson has become synonymous with Hotel California after hundreds of live performances. In 2019 the guitar was put on display at the Play it Loud exhibition at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/1/878321.jpg)
Trigger
![GRACKED TRIGGER (WILLIE NELSON) Country singer Willie Nelson went through a number of different models before settling on the nylon-string Martin N-20, which he affectionately dubbed 'Trigger.' The battle-damaged guitar has a regular maintenance regiment, and visits Nelson's longtime friend and luthier Mark Erlewine once a year. Callaway](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/2/6/878326.jpg)
Hofner 500/1 Bass Guitar
![GRACKED HOFNER 500/1 BASS GUITAR (PAUL MCCARTNEY) The instantly recognisable bass has been with McCartney from The Beatles early days playing clubs in Germany to their final rooftop concert in London, and beyond, with it making several appearances throughout his solo career.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/9/878319.jpg)
Lucille
![GRACKED LUCILLE (B.B. KING) Lucille was the name given to many of the Gibson ES-335 and ES-355's owned by the Blues Legend. When a fire at a venue started by two men fighting over a woman nearly killed him, King chose her name, Lucille, as the nickname for his guitars.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/6/878316.jpg)
The Black Strat
![GRACKED THE BLACK STRAT (DAVID GILMOUR) The 1969 Fender Stratocaster had been with the Pink Floyd guitarist since 1970, appearing on every album between 1970 and 1983. It was recently sold at a charity auction for $4 million to Colts owner Jim Irsay, because a piece of music history should definitely be in some rich dude's living room.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/1/5/878315.jpg)