Hendrix's Strat, Slash's Les Paul, Angus Young's SG, Princes Cloud. Some of the most iconic guitars of all time, but which is the most iconic? Would love to hear all of your opinions and suggestions on this topic to find out really which is the most iconic guitar of all time.

Lucille and Blackie.

Chet Atkin's Country Gentleman, McCartney's Hofner, Mike Nesmith's White Falcon, James Burton's Telecaster, Donald "Duck" Dunn's Jazz bass.

Of them all my vote is for McCartney's Hofner bass. It's such a part of his image there is an expectation to see it anytime you see him perform. He realizes that and uses it during each performance.

On the country side, Willie Nelson's 'Trigger'.

All simply guitars, just the player behind them that made the difference.

No doubt they could do the same with a $200 instrument!

musiclover

Tony Rice's Martin D28, which was previously owned by Clarence White of the Byrds.

SRV's "Number 1" (a sunburst Strat) and Page's double necked 6/12 string Gibson

I agree on the player..... but not exactly on the el-cheapo instruments.

there is a significant quality difference between a $200 MIM guitar and a $2000 customized or even a straight up factory Gibson/Fender. The playability of the neck, the types of wood used, the accessories and pickups...all factor in and make a huge difference.

Carlos Santana comes to mind. He played a number of guitars and they all lacked the sustain he wanted. Sustain comes from the density of the wood and the quantity of it. He had a block of solid brass installed under the bridge of his guitar to increase the mass of the guitar to increase the natural sustain.

I have a MIC Fender Tele and a USA 69 Gibson SG. There is a noticeable difference in the 2 instruments when it comes to playability and sustain and just overall tone.

If a $200 guitar would do the job, why then would the pro's have the finest guitars available on the planet when they are on stage?

Just my 2 cents...

Well you are no doubt correct $200 is probably a bit on the cheap side, and I must admit I have never owned an expensive guitar in my life, all for under $100, I have a nice Ashland by crafter acoustic at the moment cost that and I love it.

To be honest owning an expensive guitar for me anyways is a bit of a liability, I would have to be too careful with it to avoid knocks etc. I mean say you pay $2000 or more for a guitar and then it gets a little nick or knock in it, its enough to bring tears to your eyes. With a cheaper guitar I don't have that worry, and I am sure with a blind test knocking out a few chords or lead lines the ordinary person and a lot of musicians couldn't tell the difference.

"If a $200 guitar would do the job, why then would the pro's have the finest guitars available on the planet when they are on stage?"

Anything to do with the fact and I am guessing here that they got them free as a promotional gift from the maker?

Musiclover

Herb, the MIMs are now $500 street. They were $375 or so many moons ago. My MIM Fat Strat, I bought used on eBay about 10 years ago for $175 and if I recall correctly, the new ones were in the $375 range at that time. BTW, that's without a proper case.

Nearly all of the great players these days also have their personal guitar concierge/repair guru - These guys can take a cheap guitar and turn them into players. And not all cheap guitars are crap. I love the bass and classical guitars I have purchased from Rondo Music, and yes, they were well below $200. Much higher build quality than my Fender MIM Fat Strat. TERRIBLE setup on the bass (saddles were straight across upon arrival!), but components and fretwork, and shielding were way better than the MIM.

Back on topic - I would say that Eddie Van Halen's first 'striper' guitar is pretty iconic, as is Bo Diddley's box. Yngwie's scalloped fretboard strat, Brad Paisley's paisley Tele. Ted Nugent's various hollow body Gibsons, Les Paul's Les Paul.

There are instruments that are inexpensive.
And there are instruments that are cheap. The latter instruments are probably the more expensive buys.

Guido