Top 5 - Greatest Guitars in Rock and Roll

Yes guitars! Obviously, the guitarist has to know how to play it, but there are some guitars so ingrained in legendary status that they are instantly recognizable, even without a person behind them. Here are my Top 5:

5. B.B. King’s Lucille - There have been several Lucille’s throughout the years, a Black Gibson ES-355. Reportedly King ran back into a burning club after a show in 1949 to rescue his guitar, then named it after the woman the two men who started the fire had been arguing about.

4. Rick Nielsen’s five-necked Hamer - Not to be outdone by the dual neck wielding guitar gods of the 1970’s, Nielsen played a bit with adding not just one extra, but several. In fact, 5!, as a sort of absurdist parody. Let it be known that he can’t play the bottom neck while standing because of reach (you need to be plastic man to make that happen!)

3. Randy Rhoads’ polka dot Flying V - Competing with Eddie Van Halen’s flamboyant 80’s hard rock style, Rhodes had been turned on to Karl Sandavol’s Flying V’s which combined the best sounds and styles of a Fender and a Gibson.

2. ZZ Top’s Spinning Guitars - Always the showman, Billy Gibson designed these to spin on a special belt buckle using a wireless connection. All white with imported Scottish sheep’s wool. Truly needs to be witnessed live, if you ever get the opportunity. Still touring even though Dusty Hill has sadly passed.

1. Jimmy Page’s Double Necked Gibson - Yes, it’s iconic. Yes, it seems overplayed sometimes, but man, that thing is cool. 6-strings on top neck and a twelve-string bottom. Perfect for the signature Stairway to Heaven and an indelible symbol of Page himself.

Honorable mentions: Van Halen’s Frankenstrat, Brian May’s Red Special, Hendrix’s white right-handed Strat, played left, and Prince’s Cloud Guitar. What’s your favorite?