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We all know that Hank has guitars under his name by Burns and Fender, who must have cornered the market with signature models, but how many other players have signature guitars with differrent makers. Les Paul has Gibson and Epiphone, basically the same company and model. Bert Weedon:- Guild and Yamaha. Chet Atkins :- Grestch and Gibson,but more than one model. Brian May :- Guild and Burns . But Duane Eddy must top the lot with Guild,Gibson and now Gretsch.

Another interesting question is: who has the most guitars? I know Keith Richards has a large collection, Hank has about forty or fifty. What about Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton? And what about their signature models?

The question I'm asking is manufactuers. Fender produced several named guitars after various players, too many to list.At the moment Duane seems to be in the lead with 3 guitar companys.

I think Gibson first made a signature model in the mid 1920's- it was the Nick Lucas model. Nick had 'Tiptoe thru' the Tulips' as a hit song and he was a very good solo player too.

They made quite a few over the years which were endorsed by a number of guitarists as well as Les Paul- such as Johnny Smith, Barney Kessel, Trini Lopez...up to today, when they all seem to make signature models for just about any successful player who may sell them more guitars!

There were quite a few different Les Paul types, even an acoustic with a pickup..and a bass.

And of course, many makers built custom jobs for various players- but they weren't actual 'signature' models with adverts endorsing them and 'signed' headstocks etc.

As to which artists has the most different signature models named after him (Les Paul?) , or who actually owns the most signature models, or who owns the most instruments, period......goodness knows...!??

ala1940 wrote:We all know that Hank has guitars under his name by Burns and Fender, who must have cornered the market with signature models, but how many other players have signature guitars with differrent makers. Les Paul has Gibson and Epiphone, basically the same company and model. Bert Weedon:- Guild and Yamaha. Chet Atkins :- Grestch and Gibson,but more than one model. Brian May :- Guild and Burns . But Duane Eddy must top the lot with Guild,Gibson and now Gretsch.

I think that Jerry Donahue of the Hellecasters fame can beat that

Made in Japan Fender JD Telecaster
Custom Shop Fender Jerry Donahue Telecaster
Fender Jerry Donahue Hellecaster Strat
Peavey Omniac Jerry Donahue Guitar
Fret King Jerry Donahue Black Label Telecaster

A Fender is still a Fender wheter it is made in USA,Mexico or Japan so personally I would put Jerry on a par with Duane. Les Paul's are still basically Les Paul's they might be ***** or *****'s model with fancy paintwork but underneath it is still the same guitar its the same with the "Strat" and some "Gretsch" models.Underneath it all they are all very well designed guitars made to be sold and a "name" often adds a little more selling power. As a aside did Fender ever really produce a "Hank Marvin" guitar.Over the years I've looked at Fender catalogue's they do not seem to figure sure there's Eric etc but Hank.The way I understand it that the "Hank Marvin" models where commisioned by the importers/agents even in some "custom shop"case's dealers.

Well, from 1952 to about 1979, Gibson made the following models which were all different-

Les Paul standard

Les Paul special

Les Paul Custom

Les Paul Personal

Les Paul Professional

Les Paul Recording

Les Paul Bass

Les Paul signature

Les Paul acoustic/electric

The origional idea when I posted the thread was the relationship of player to brand ( Fender,Burns ,Gibson,Gretsch etc and not models. Maybe I worded it wrongly but that was the idea and still is.

Al Caiola..with Gretsch,Epiphone,Ibanez.

Dear old Bert Weedon- Hofner, Guild, Yamaha, and Zero One..? although perhaps it was just that he had his name on them all...