Every Guitar and Every Piece of Gear Has a Story to Tell

GroundGuitar’s mission is to gather those stories, tracing the history behind some of the most iconic guitars, and creating a chronological list of all the equipment used by specific guitarists.

A Passion Project

GroundGuitar is a hobby, run by one person, but enriched by contributions from people like you, who share a passion for history and the thrill of uncovering details on their own.

Constantly Evolving

Unlike traditional media like books, this website is ever-changing. Mistakes are corrected, and missing information is added over time, making GroundGuitar a living, dynamic resource.

Start Exploring

These are the few pieces of gear that visitors find most interesting, and read about most often. To see all the gear that's currently on the website, please visit our Guitars Page

1962 Fender Stratocaster

John Frusciante

Kurt Cobain's Fender Stratocaster “Vandalism”

Fender Stratocaster “Vandalism”

Kurt Cobain

1965 Fender Jaguar

Kurt Cobain

1968 Fender Stratocaster (Woodstock)

Jimi Hendrix

Frankenstein

Eddie Van Halen

1968 Fender Stratocaster "Black Beauty"

Jimi Hendrix

1970s Ibanez Destroyer 2459

Eddie Van Halen

196? Fender Stratocaster (Zappa)

Jimi Hendrix

1964 Fender Stratocaster (Linda)

Jimi Hendrix

Martin D-18E

Kurt Cobain

Featured Guitarists

To view all the guitarists currently featured on the website, please visit our Gear Page

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix Experience Band of Gypsys

Duane Allman

The Hour Glass The Allman Brothers Band

Kurt Cobain

Nirvana

John Frusciante

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Eric Clapton

Yardbirds Cream Derek and the Dominos

Mark Knopfler

Dire Straits

Brian May

Queen

Eddie Van Halen

Van Halen

Stories from the Blog

To read all of our blog posts, please visit our Blog Archive

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Meet Thierry Raynaud, a Talented Miniature Guitar Maker from France

We recently had a chance to chat with Thierry Raynaud, whose hobby really caught our attention. Thierry is a miniature guitar maker and someone who is really passionate about what…

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The Super Rare Fender “Charley” Lipstick Stratocaster in the Style of SRV

As part of my ongoing effort to encourage readers to point out any mistakes or share their own stories on GroundGuitar, I’m occasionally lucky enough to be contacted by people…

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The Most Expensive Guitars in the World

This is a list of the most expensive guitars ever sold. A couple of notes before we begin - most of the guitars on this list were sold through auction,…

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The Ultimate List of the Greatest 12-String Guitar Songs Ever

The 12-string guitar has sort of a mystique all its own. It’s the secret weapon behind some of the most unforgettable riffs in rock history, from the jangling intro of…

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The End of the Stairway to Heaven Lawsuit – Led Zeppelin vs. Spirit

The long-running lawsuit claiming that Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven was based on a chord progression from Spirit’s song Taurus has finally reached its conclusion. The lawsuit, filed in 2014…

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Greatest Album Covers of All Time – From 1967 to 2021

Album cover art in the past was a unique experience. It was not only about the music, but the artwork was also part of the journey. The covers were full-sized,…

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Post Malone did a surprisingly good cover of RATM’s “Killing in the Name”

You probably wouldn’t expect Post Malone to be associated with the world of guitars and rock music, but it turns out he has quite a connection. Born in 1995, Post…

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Is Fender making a John Frusciante Signature Stratocaster?

With John Frusciante back in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the guitar world has been buzzing with one big question: Is Fender finally going to release a John Frusciante signature…

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How Good is OpenAI’s DALL-E at Drawing Guitars

Just this morning, I woke up with an invitation to join the DALL·E platform. In case you're not familiar with what this is - it's OpenAI's innovative AI system that…

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Josh is Out, John is In – Peppers go Back to the Old Formula

As a surprise to pretty much everyone aside from the band members themselves, Flea recently announced on his Instagram account that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to make…

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How Jimi Hendrix Learned Guitar by Ear

Quick Answers: When did Jimi Hendrix start playing guitar? In 1958, when he was about 15 years old. How did Jimi Hendrix learn to play guitar? He taught himself by…

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How to Get the ‘Wicked Game’ Guitar Tone – Effects, Amp & Gear Guide

Artist: Chris IsaakAlbum: Heart Shaped WorldRelease Year: 1989Guitarist: James Calvin Wilsey Wicked Game by Chris Isaak is one of those instantly recognizable songs because of its haunting, atmospheric guitar tone,…