Guitar that rules them all

maltingsaudio

inspired by this http://www.nilerodgers.com/about/press/2767-worlds-most-successful-guitar  Any ideas on a single guitar that has earnt more than Nile’s? Maybe the red special?

Funkfingers

First guess, Micawber.

Second guess, Pearly Gates.

Third guess, one of Tommy Todesco's hollowbody instruments.

ICBM

Paul McCartney's Epiphone Texan. He wrote the most recorded song in history on it.

Funkfingers

ICBM said:

Paul McCartney's Epiphone Texan. He wrote the most recorded song in history on it.

... thereby, indirectly financing Michael Jackson's legal advisors and conk modifications.

mr-mac

ICBM said:

Paul McCartney's Epiphone Texan. He wrote the most recorded song in history on it.

McCartneys B&H archtop (Ivor Mairants model made by framus for b&h.  Most beetles songs were written on it so probably overtakes the Texan on total number of songs, sales of songs and even covers if totalled for all songs...

jdgm

Interesting topic...hard to say. The figures are not readily available!

Blackie, the Beatles' guitars, Elvis/Scotty Moore? James Burton's Paisley Tele did alright too...

Much as I love Jimi, his Strats would probably come behind Peter Green's LP...

maltingsaudio

jdgm said:

Interesting topic...hard to say. The figures are not readily available!

Blackie, the Beatles' guitars, Elvis/Scotty Moore? James Burton's Paisley Tele did alright too...

Much as I love Jimi, his Strats would probably come behind Peter Green's LP...

Thing about Jimi’s strats is he used so many! This is about a single guitar

guitarfishbay

My guess is it’d be a guitar owned by some kind of songwriter/producer nobody outside of the recording world would care about, especially if it was someone prolific pre internet era

stimpsonslostson

In modern times I'd have to suggest Ed Sheerans little Martin. 

octatonic

Willie Nelson's Trigger must be up there.

stickyfiddle

It depends how you count, obviously. If we're talking record sales, then it's probably either McCartney's Hofner bass. Or whatever Garth Brooks uses to write with, though he has a signature Takamine, which probably means he chops & changes a lot.

Arguably Springsteen's modded Esquire is up there too, though I'm aware he writes mostly on piano, so not sure if it counts.

If you add in revenue from live sales, then U2 and the Rolling Stones are surely at the top, so you'd have to assume Micawber and Edge's "Streets" Strat. Though again that would boost McCartney's Hofner & Texan, which still both get used (not sure if the originals or reissue versions?)

Strat54

The Edge's black Strat? U2 have sold far more records than Nile and factor in touring revenue too then that would equate to more. Bruce Springsteen's guitar would have also outsold and outgrossed Nile. 

gibsongretschfan

Brent Masons tele

stickyfiddle

Ooh, how about Malcolm Young's Gretsch Jet? Certainly must be up there if you count albums + live shows. 

meltedbuzzbox

Jimmy Page's Les Paul?

BloodEagle

Whatever guitar Eddie Van Halen used on Beat It

SNAKEBITE

guitarfishbay said:

My guess is it’d be a guitar owned by some kind of songwriter/producer nobody outside of the recording world would care about, especially if it was someone prolific pre internet era

Good point.

Struggling to remember names at the moment, but you have a point.

ICBM

guitarfishbay said:

My guess is it’d be a guitar owned by some kind of songwriter/producer nobody outside of the recording world would care about, especially if it was someone prolific pre internet era

If you count basses, Carol Kaye’s Precision would probably be a good bet.

Bridgehouse

SNAKEBITE said:

guitarfishbay said:

My guess is it’d be a guitar owned by some kind of songwriter/producer nobody outside of the recording world would care about, especially if it was someone prolific pre internet era

Good point.

Struggling to remember names at the moment, but you have a point.

If Lloyd Webber didn’t write on the piano but in a guitar it would have been that one...

robinbowes

Strat54 said:

The Edge's black Strat? U2 have sold far more records than Nile and factor in touring revenue too then that would equate to more. Bruce Springsteen's guitar would have also outsold and outgrossed Nile. 

Evidence?

Schnozz

Nathan East's Yamaha BB