From the luscious Les Paul to the glorious Gretsch, here are my three favourite electric guitar models. What are yours?
Les Paul would have been 96 today. And even now, nearly a century after his birth (and two years after he died), his name is synonymous with rock'n'roll. Although he was a jazz musician by preference, the solid-bodied guitar to which he gave his name became one of the industry standards of rock'n'roll. The guitar geeks will tell you about its "humbucking pickups" and its "full and mellow tone". But you know what's really great about it? The way it looks: those luscious curves, with the half-hourglass figure at the top and sleek, streamlined lower half. It looks like something to caress (its heaviness means it is a guitar to caress, too, rather than yank around) .
Everyone who goes to rock shows loves guitar shapes, and what they signify. Cast your eyes over the rack of guitars at the side of the stage and even if you've never heard the band, you'll get an idea of what's in store. These are the three that set my pulse racing: what does the same for you?
1 Gibson Explorer
You don't see many of these outside hard rock. And it's easy to see why: it's jagged and aggressive. It looks like an axe ? not a metaphorical axe, but a literal axe. You could have someone's eye out with that thing. Like its cousin, the Flying V, it serves as a warning: prepare to be pummelled. You will never see Belle & Sebastian employing an Explorer, though Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake was once an unlikely adherent.
Famous user: James Hetfield of Metallica
2 Gretsch 6120
I think this is the most beautiful electric guitar ever made. Someone playing this will not be abusing your ears, even though ? as the instrument of choice of Eddie Cochran ? there's nothing to stop it being used aggressively. The thing that first made me want to check one out was a lyric in The Bugle Sounds Again by Aztec Camera: "Grab that Gretsch before the truth hits town." These days it stands as a signifier of authenticity: you know something rootsy is in store when you see a Gretsch leaning against an amp.
Famous user: Duane Eddy
3 Fender Telecaster
Can I be frank for a moment? I really don't care much for the Stratocaster. It's always seemed the shellsuit of classic guitars: everyday but somehow showy and a little vulgar. The Fender model that to me communicates true utiliity ? the guitar that can be used anytime, anyplace, for anything ? is its cousin the Tele, one of the simplest electric guitar designs (making it super-easy to repair). It replaces the Strat's top horn with a smooth, rounded curve, giving it the look of a tool more than an instrument. So it's no surprise the Tele is associated with simple, straightfoward ? dare we say "blue collar" ? rock. Think Status Quo and Keith Richards.
Famous user: Bruce Springsteen
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/jun/09/electric-guitar-shapes-les-paul
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