5 Electric Guitars that Changed the Sound of Music Forever

Date:2020/3/3 11:44:10 Hits:

If you spend even a few minutes in the electric guitar section on Sweetwater.com, you’ll see hundreds of different models aimed at a massive variety of styles and musical genres. But the truth is that almost every one of those guitars’ origins can be traced back to a handful of 6-string designs. And oftentimes, these original designs not only changed the electric guitar, but they changed the sound of popular music as we know it.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of these game-changing instruments.

Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster

These were two of the first solidbody electric guitars to ever go into production, so they seem like a great place to start. Released in the early 1950s, both the Tele’s twang and the spank of the Strat continue to make them some of the most popular designs today.

Before the release of these two models, rock ‘n’ roll was predominantly performed on the same guitars used by the jazz players of the day. But as soon as Buddy Holly stepped onstage swinging his tobacco-burst Strat, the real sound of rock was born. And of course, we can’t forget the similar impact the Tele had on country music in the hands of players such as James Burton.

But these guitars aren’t relegated to the vintage tones they made famous. Part of what keeps Fender’s two flagship models at the top is their versatility. Today, you’ll find these guitars in the hands of players of every genre imaginable. From country to metal, polka to jam, there’s nowhere these original trailblazers won’t be found.

Iconic Players
Stratocaster: Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dave Murray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lincoln Brewster, Nile Rodgers, Jeff Beck, John Frusciante, Simon Neil

Telecaster: James Burton, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Danny Gatton, John 5, Keith Richards, Albert Collins, Brad Paisley, Joe Strummer, Bruce Springsteen, Muddy Waters, Prince, Richie Kotzen

Fender Jazzmaster and Offset Guitars
Along with the rest of Fender’s lauded offset designs, the Jazzmaster paves a very fascinating path through the history of the electric guitar. Although they seem to rise and fall out of popularity with an uncanny consistency, thanks to their ability to work great fuzz and other effects, they have been dependable favorites of the sonically adventurous.

These models first came to prominence in the 1960s. Though designed for jazz players and students, they quickly caught on as the go-to instruments for the burgeoning surf rock scene. But thanks to the British invasion, they quickly fell out of favor behind the jangly tones of Gretsch and Rickenbacker.

Over 30 years later, their lower price points helped these guitars become the weapon of choice for ’90s alternative guitarists who found the offset design’s idiosyncratic personality perfect for their sonic experimentation. Put an offset through a wall of fuzz and BOOM! You have Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, and more.

Now we’re almost 30 years beyond 1990, and Fender’s line of offsets again rules the airwaves as modern artists like Bethany Cosentino from Best Coast, Slipknot’s Jim Root, and country sensation Chris Stapleton are using them to shape their chart-topping sounds.

So while some guitar designs change the sound of music forever, the Fender Jazzmaster and the other offset models have done it over and over again, more than earning them a spot on this prestigious list.

Iconic Players
Kevin Shields, Johnny Marr, Nels Cline, Kim Gordon, Kurt Cobain, Thurston Moore, Elvis Costello, the Ventures, Bethany Cosentino, Troy Van Leeuwen, Jim Root, J. Mascis, Chris Stapleton

Gibson Les Paul and SG

If the Strat and Tele are the quintessential single-coil solidbody electric guitars, their humbucker-equipped counterparts are undoubtedly the Gibson Les Paul and SG.

As Gibson’s first solidbody offering, the 1952 Les Paul (named after its groundbreaking musical inventor, chief endorser, and guitar hero) changed the world upon its release. Right? Wrong. The Les Paul, with both single-coil P90 and humbucking pickup configurations, struggled to find its footing throughout the ’50s. In 1961 it was actually redesigned to gain more appeal. Today, we call that new design the SG.

Fast-forward a few years, and Gibson had brought the original Les Paul back, while keeping the SG design. And we’re glad they did, because both guitars have gone on to be the hard rock guitars. Look at this list of bands that used these two guitars for a seismic impact on the rock landscape: Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Free, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Cream, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper, Kiss, and the list goes on.

Thanks to the classic Gibson construction style utilizing 24.75” scale length and warm-sounding mahogany body woods, these guitars sang with a fat midrange-focused voice that still echoes through most harder-edged tunes today. From jazz to country, the Les Paul and SG can do it all. But put them through a cranked tube amp, and you’ll understand why the classic rock guitar legends lived and died by these two Gibson icons.

Iconic Players
Les Paul: Les Paul, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Slash, Paul Kossoff, Duane Allman, Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa, Ace Frehley, Bob Marley, Peter Frampton, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Adam Jones, Randy Rhoads

SG: Tony Iommi, Angus Young, Glen Buxton, Eric Clapton, Gary Rossington, Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa, Pete Townshend, Elliot Easton, Carlos Santana, Derek Trucks, Robby Krieger, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Frank Marino

Gibson ES Hollowbodies
This one is a bit ambiguous because it’s not any one singular guitar. But perhaps no collection of electric guitars did more to change the sound of music than the Gibson hollowbody line.

The first in the line was 1936’s ES-150, with its lone single-coil pickup in the neck position. This original pickup was a simple design enhancement that was heard around the world. An early adopter of these newly electrified instruments was Charlie Christian, possibly the first electric guitar hero of all time. For the first time, his inventive single-note improvisation could be heard loud and clear over bands of any size.

While the new possibilities offered by Gibson’s electric hollowbody guitars are enough to add them to this list, their staying power, and the fact that they continue to be used in almost every kind of music imaginable, cements their spot.

Whether discussing Larry Carlton’s ES-335 with its singing tones, the landmark jazz tones delivered by the L-5 and ES-175, or even the fire-breathing rock tones that scream from Ted Nugent’s Gibson Byrdlands, these guitars are capable of an astounding array of tones that continue to push music forward every day.

Oh, and did we mention that Scotty Moore, Elvis’s right-hand man, pretty much invented rock guitar on an ES-295?

Iconic Players
Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Grant Green, Scotty Moore, Eric Clapton, Ted Nugent, Steve Howe, George Thorogood, Larry Carlton, Chuck Berry, Alvin Lee, Alex Lifeson, Tom DeLonge, Johnny A.

Gibson Explorer and Flying V
Hard rock and heavy metal simply wouldn’t be as hard and heavy without these next two guitars. The Gibson Flying V and Explorer have the distinction of changing not only the sound of music but also its look.

These two futuristic-looking instruments were originally released in 1958, at the height of America’s space-age fashion fascination. But if the ’58 Les Paul wasn’t catching on, you can rest assured that these two boundary-pushing designs didn’t either. Not that they didn’t have their supporters — players like Lonnie Mack and bluesman Albert King adopted the V to great effect. But both of these models were quickly discontinued.

With the explosion of hard rock and heavy metal in the 1970s came a renewed interest in Gibson’s most adventurous creations, and production was reintroduced. Instead of looking space-age to the newer breed of guitarists, they looked flat-out mean. And thanks to their mahogany bodies and higher-output humbucking pickups, these guitars were perfect for pounding the front end of the Marshall stacks that lined stages throughout the world.

Today, every electric guitar that sports a pointy profile, angular cuts, and an attitude of aggression owes everything to these original designs. Yes, other humbucker-loaded electrics sound similar, but if you want to dominate the stage with a look and sound that define harder music, you need a Flying V or Explorer.

Honorable Mention
The Superstrat
The only reason this guitar isn’t on the main list is that it’s really an amalgam of all the other guitars (other than the hollowbody and offset, of course). And that all started with Mr. Eddie Van Halen.

In the 1970s, Eddie was looking for a way to get the feel and performance of a Strat while still having the sonic power of a Les Paul. So he went to work chiseling out a spot to drop a humbucker in a Strat-style body, and his Frankenstein’s monster — a.k.a. the first Superstrat — was born.

Almost overnight, the guitar designs of the ’50s and ’60s were deemed old and inadequate. Manufacturers such as Ibanez, ESP, Kramer, Charvel, Jackson, and even Fender and Gibson, soon had their takes on an S-style body with high-output pickups, super-stable tremolos, and necks that were carved for speed. And to make sure these guitars made a visual impact as big as their sonic one, bright and over-the-top guitar finishes became standard practice.

While the rise of the offsets in the 1990s put a stop to the wild popularity of these guitars, today they are experiencing a renaissance. But it’s not just hard rockers getting in on the game. These were some of the first guitars designed by guitarists to cater to the needs of guitarists. So from bulletproof hardware like double-locking tremolos to compound-radius fingerboards, and even a multitude of pickup combinations, the Superstrat is definitely worth your attention if you need a reliable instrument for gigging or studio work.

There is a guitar design for every guitarist on the planet. But if you look carefully, it’s easy to see how each took its inspiration from the guitars listed above. Some of them, like the Strat and Tele, introduced a new world of sonic expression. Others, like Gibson hollowbodies, have simply stood the test of time better than any other. But the thing that each of these guitars has in common is that music simply wouldn’t sound as good today without them.

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