What kind of electric guitar is played for classic rock?
Waddah asked:
I noticed that guitars that were played in the 70’s and the 80’s sound alot different from today. And frankly, I think Rock music in the past is alot better. Just wondering what kind of guitar was played at that time? .
I noticed that guitars that were played in the 70’s and the 80’s sound alot different from today. And frankly, I think Rock music in the past is alot better. Just wondering what kind of guitar was played at that time? .
Gibson Les Paul dropbeatsnotbombs
Either Gibsons or Fenders. They are the best two brands for rock music. NGAoldone
Gibson SG or Les Paul. If a Gibson is too expensive then get a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster Dethphone
People have proved again and again it makes no difference what guitar you play - it’s the player.
Jimmy Page recorded the first two Zep albums with a TELECASTER, hardly thought of as a “Metal” guitar but you can get the most enormous tone from them if you try! future
Mainly Fender Stratocaster. Magic*
Mainly the Gibson “Les Paul” or Fender’s “Telecaster” or “Strato-caster” guitars. Depends on what guitarist you’re talking about from that time period. Here’s what some of the main guitarist I listed to used.
1. Jimi Hendrix- Strato-caster
2. Jeff Beck- all of the above
3. Eddie Hazel- Strato-caster & Telecaster
4. Eric Clapton- Strato-caster
5. Jimmy Page- Les Paul The Elements
LOL at the above answers!
Ofc the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Les Paul were most popular but there was still a variety of brands and models being used in the 80’s by legendary guitarists.
Did Kirk Hammett play a Strat, Tele, or Paul? Nope! I do believe in his younger career (Earl-mid 80’s) he played Jackson Super-Strats, and Gibson Flying V’s.
The Red Rocker, Sammie Hagar, sported a Washburn ML more than a decade before it became Darrell Abbotts (Dimebag: Pantera) signature.
Steve Vai sported Ibanez Super-Strats.
George Lynch sported ESP guitars and other Super Strats.
Eddie Van Halen sported his home-made Charvel Frankenstrat.
There are many examples. As for the 70’s, yes it was 95% Strat/Tele/Paul. But the 80’s carted in many assorted models used by various legendary guitarists.
I would say, if your looking for a good guitar to play classic rock with, look into a Super-Strat.
A super strat is a Stratocaster type guitar but is equipped with less primitive features. For example: instead of the plain old Spring Tremelo units, some super strats are equipped with Floating/Locking Tremelo Units. Instead of your every day coil pickups, they can come equipped with higher quality ones such as Demarzio makes. Most even come with Humbuckers. A strat which uses 1 coil + 1 humbucker is called a Fat-Strat.
The three main companies that make these types of models include.
. ESP
. Jackson
. Ibanez Hosorrow
Hey Waddah. Great question. I’m going to give you a two part answer—you’ll see why in just a second.
First—Classic rockers, for the most part, played classic guitars—like Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters and Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, Explorers and Flying Vs. Any of those guitars plugged into a classic tube amp like a Marshall Stack or a Fender Twin Reverb (cranked to 11 or course) would sound fantastic!
Here’s the second part of the answer. The sound of today’s music isn’t different because different guitars are being played—many bands are still playing Les Pauls, Strats, etc. The difference is the TUNINGS they are using. The low E string (the lowest/heaviest string on a standard guitar) is traditionally tuned to … you guessed it, “E”. Today, bands are tuning that string down to D, and in some cases a C! And yes, there are some new guitars on the market that have added additional strings. These strings are even LOWER than a C. That is where that massive, booming, thumping bass sound comes from.
As a 70s and 80s rock fan—I agree with you in preferring the classic sounds. But if you ever want to play around with the “modern” sound, just tune your low E string down to D. Or drop it to a C and then tune the rest of your strings in accordance with that and you’ll get a big, thumpin, crazy fat sound.
Hope that helps. Brad