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

1968 Fender Stratocaster (Woodstock)

Jimi Hendrix

1965 Fender Jaguar

Kurt Cobain

Frankenstein

Eddie Van Halen

Martin D-18E

Kurt Cobain

1968 Fender Stratocaster "Black Beauty"

Jimi Hendrix

1970s Ibanez Destroyer 2459

Eddie Van Halen

1964 Fender Stratocaster (Linda)

Jimi Hendrix

1966 Fender Jaguar (Under the Bridge)

John Frusciante

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

...

Eric Clapton’s Unplugged – The Story Behind the Acoustic Reinvention of Layla

There’s no denying that the original recording of Layla, featuring Duane Allman, is one of the most iconic songs in rock and roll history. However, a track already legendary in…

...

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…

...

Isolated Vocal Tracks – 17 Voices That Marked The Last Century

Isolated vocal tracks, also known as vocal master tracks, offer an intimate listening experience where we can truly feel the emotion and expression in a singer's voice. In this setting,…

...

Decoding the Noise in the Intro to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’

The opening of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" grabs your attention immediately with a mysterious and powerful build-up that has intrigued fans since the track’s release. As soon as the song…

...

Jeff Buckley Delivers a Stunning Phone Performance of Dylan’s ‘I Shall Be Released’

YouTube can be a goldmine for hidden gems, where unexpected treasures and amazing talent pop up from both well-known and lesser-known artists. One such gem I recently stumbled upon during…

...

Tom Morello’s “Nightmare” Performance – Story of a Mishap at Reading Festival 1993

Tom Morello, the acclaimed guitarist known for his work with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, is revered for his technical prowess and innovative use of effects pedals. But even…

...

Rare 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard with Bigsby Listed on Reverb – A Closer Look

When it comes to vintage Les Paul Standards, three years are most coveted: 1958, 1959, and 1960. However, it’s the 1959 models that are often hailed as the "Holy Grails"…

...

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…

...

12 Must-See Rock Music and Guitar Movies for Every Music Lover

Whether you're a guitarist or just looking for some rock-and-roll-inspired films, we’ve put together a list to get you started. While you’ll likely check out other recommendations, we’ve included a…

...

Watch James May Assemble a Stratocaster from the Ground Up

As part of a new BBC Four program, James May (formerly of Top Gear and The Grand Tour) took on the challenge of building an electric guitar from scratch. His…

...

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…

...

Jimmy Page on how “Stairway to Heaven” came to be, and Guitars Used

There’s no doubt that Stairway to Heaven remains one of the most iconic songs in rock history—an anthem that resonates with generations of guitarists and music lovers. For many, it…