- Fender makes the Stratocaster and Telecaster styles of electric guitar, and musicians tend to prefer one or the other. For example, guitar legend, Keith Richards has used a Telecaster since the mid-70s and is the guitar model´s most famous devotee. Jimi Hendrix, on the other hand, preferred the Stratocaster, simply called a "Strat" by most musicians. Jeff Beck liked the Strat so much, Fender named a model after him, although he did use a Telecaster for more bluesy tunes.
- Nashville-based guitar maker, Gibson, has supplied many stars with their favorite "axe." The Les Paul models are used by Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend, who is particularly devoted to Gibson guitars. Gibson models such as the Flying V and the Firebird are considered classics and the Les Paul guitars have contributed to changes in rock music styles from the 1950s until the present. Gibson has over 100 years of experience in guitar making, which is possibly one reason for it producing the guitars chosen by so many stars.
- Rickenbacker introduced an innovative twelve-string guitar in the 1960s, which played a significant part in the brand´s importance. But it was the Capri 325 series electric guitars that became the most popular and contributed to The Beatles´ signature sound. John Lennon played the 325 model throughout his career, while George Harrison preferred the tones of the Rickenbacker 360, and Paul McCartney played a Rickenbacker bass. Pete Townshend also played a number of Rickenbackers and appears to like the 330, 340 and 360.
- Epiphone has a 130 year history and is still going strong. The company´s history illustrates how the firm fought market leaders, Gibson, to become the leading guitar brand in the mid 1930s. The rivalry didn´t stop until Gibson eventually bought Epiphone in 1957, but continued to produce guitars under the Epiphone brand name that were often less expensive than the Gibson models. In 1964, John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney each bought an Epiphone Casino. Seeing The Beatles with Epiphone guitars revived the brand, and it is the guitar of choice for Lenny Kravitz and Noel Gallagher (Oasis).
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