Tatty guitars used by pros?

axisus

I wonder what the tattiest guitar actually used by a pro guitar player has been?

I guess that Rory Gallagher's guitar is right up there as the one that comes to mind, but I was reminded recently of what a wreck of a Messenger guitar Mark Farner used to use in his early Grand Funk Railroad days. Hand painted, filled with foam and the sound holes taped up.




Although a critically reviled band, Farner was a class act, handling lead and rhythm guitar, singing at the same time, playing keyboards when required and having good showmanship.

Here it is in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxcOxvEsE_Y

vasselmeyer

Probably SRV's No.1

Snowy White's Les Paul is up there.

Willie Nelson's acoustic guitar is also held together with hope and love.

saltyseadog

I would imagine that professional musicians are more interested in what it sounds like rather than what it looks like?.

Ddigger

^^True, but a lot of the greatest music has been made by non-professional musicians. 

the_jaffa

Neil Young’s Old Black

JerkMoans

Willie Nelson for the Round 7 TKO.

Bod

Willie Nelson's Trigger

 

Sassafras

Richie Havens used to beat the shit out of some sort of Martin. When I saw him at Wembley I was worried his guitar was about to fall apart.

markblack

Glen Hansards Takamine has seen a few gigs.



Sean Rowes - is patched to cover the cracks from his playing style.

Bennyboy-UK

Steve Morses Guitar has had a tough old life - was it up to 10 refrets - something like that?

EricTheWeary

Jon Gomm’s guitars look like they’ve been dragged behind a lorry.

The Quo teles come to mind. 

Everybody in the nineties - Nirvana, Sonic Youth,etc. Okay, that’s not everyone but it was a thing. 

ICBM

EVH’s Frankenstrat.

Winny_Pooh

JJ Cale's Harmony

paulnb57

Poppa Chubby Strat

skullfunkerry

Some of Seasick Steve's gear...

CeeJay

paulnb57 said:

Poppa Chubby Strat

That really should be dipped in something 

Edit: That's the guitar, just for clarity!

proggy

Jeff Beck's white Fender Esquire from his Yardbirds era was pretty tatty, although the pattern of wear doesn't look natural to me.

phil_b

I liked the story of the button on the headstock of Richie Blackmore's strat. He put it there just to drive all the gear heads crazy trying to work out what it was for.

danishbacon

axisus said:

I wonder what the tattiest guitar actually used by a pro guitar player has been?

I guess that Rory Gallagher's guitar is right up there as the one that comes to mind, but I was reminded recently of what a wreck of a Messenger guitar Mark Farner used to use in his early Grand Funk Railroad days. Hand painted, filled with foam and the sound holes taped up.




Although a critically reviled band, Farner was a class act, handling lead and rhythm guitar, singing at the same time, playing keyboards when required and having good showmanship.

Here it is in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxcOxvEsE_Y

Wasn’t familiar with Mark Farmer. Thanks for this.

SlopeSoarer

Pete Shelley's Starway springs to mind.

thegummy

When I hear the term "tatty guitars" it makes me think "Irish guitarists".

So here's Rory Gallagher: