There are just a few guitars that even non guitarists would recognize, guitars that were used by someone so famous and influential that they are seared on the memory.
Elvis's first guitar
Elvis Presley had a meteoric rise to fame in the early fifties and immediately set to buying those things he couldn't afford before. Like cadillacs and guitars. But long before, on an afternoon in 1946, Gladys Presley offered to pay the extra dollars her 12 year old son needed if he'd choose a guitar rather than a 22 caliber rifle. It wasn't much of a guitar that cost $7.75 plus sales tax at the Tupelo Hardware Store, but a more significant musical instrument is difficult to imagine.
Elvis's Martin D-28
When he began to earn money of his own, Elvis chose Martin guitars the finest acoustic guitars then made, starting with a 1942 D-18. Around 1955 he moved up to a brand new 1954 D-28, a big bodied guitar well suited to his rudimentary driving style. The same model was favoured by many bluegrass and country artists of the time, notably Hank Williams. But more of Hank later.
Elvis was pictured playing the instrument at the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, TX in mid '55. It is unadorned except for his name in stick on letters on the upper bout. In line with his increasing flamboyance, Elvis soon had someone (specifically Marcus Van Story at the OK Houck Piano Co in Memphis where he'd bought the guitar) tool a fancy leather cover with the name Elvis Presley emblazoned across it. As if he needed help to stand out from the crowd, but there it was, one of the most famous guitars of all time and one that most people would be able to draw to mind easily. It is rumoured that the leather cover is in the hands of a Japanese collector but the guitar itself is unaccounted for. It must be out there somewhere and, oh - the stories it could tell.
Elvis's Come-back Special
We jump now to the '68 come-back special that Elvis filmed and another very famous and evocative guitar. This one didn't even belong to Elvis. He borrowed a 1963 Gibson Super 400, a large bodied semi-acoustic guitar with a single cutaway, from long time guitarist Scotty Moore. It's this guitar that was used in the famous jam session scenes where Elvis and his musicians sit around and play "unplugged" before "unplugged" was heard of. The memory of Elvis, impossibly good looking and charismatic in his black leather suit strumming the big bodied Gibson with gusto, is one many people will never forget. Scotty sold the guitar in 1986 for only $10,000. He needed to buy a tractor. The guitar is now in a museum.
Neil Young and Hank Wiliams - guitars should be played
Many would feel that even iconic guitars should be played, not put in museums and Neil Young is of this opinion, bless him. In the seventies Neil actually bought a guitar that had been owned by Hank Williams. It's a 1941 Martin D-28 with herringbone purfling. Neil wanted a vintage Martin and was shown the well worn D-28 by noted dobro player and then proprietor of a guitar store Tut Taylor. It was just what Neil was searching for regardless of it's provenance. When he learned that Hank Williams owned it the guitar took on a special significance, but it wasn't locked away behind glass. It's one of Neil's favourite live and recording guitars and he even loans it to folks he thinks should play Hank's guitar.
Who needs a tractor anyway?
