The 28 Most Recognizable Guitars

12. Artist: Gene Simmons, KISS
Instrument: Axe Bass
Description: Designed by luthier Steve Carr and shaped like an executioner's ax, a limited number of these basses was released by Kramer Guitars in the early '80s.
Factoid: Although the fire spitting, tongue-flaring Simmons typically plays his B.C. Rich signature “Punisher” bass for live shows, the Axe Bass was used from 1978 to 1981 as Simmons's primary bass and is now brought out for the occasional encore performance.
Shining Moment: Simmons's declaration that the Axe looks the way a bass should be played — like a weapon.

11. Artist: Eric Clapton
Instrument: Blackie
Description: Comprised of the parts of three different Fender Stratocasters, Clapton crafted Blackie in 1970 and quickly dubbed it “the most amazing guitar I’ve ever played.”
Factoid: After Clapton retired the old girl in 1985, Blackie resurfaced at Christie’s Auction House of New York in 2004, where she sold for $959,500, becoming the world’s most expensive guitar.
Shining Moment: Besides being the guitar from the Derek & the Dominos classic "Layla," Blackie made her live debut in 1973 at the Rainbow Concert in London, on a stage where the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and — wait for it — Jethro Tull once performed.

10. Artist: B.B. King
Instrument: Lucille
Description: Lucille is a black Gibson ES-251 semi-hollow-body guitar with dual humbuckers and a snarl that postrock indie kids are still dialing in.
Factoid: King got the name after an Arkansas bar caught fire during an early gig, forcing him to risk his life rushing into the building to retrieve his guitar. The next day it was revealed that the blaze began when two men knocked over a bucket of kerosene while fighting over a woman named Lucille.
Shining Moment: On December 19, 1997, King was invited to Rome to perform for Pope John Paul II at the annual Christmas Concert in Vatican City. After rocking out for the Holy Father, King spread the Christmas cheer by giving Lucille to the Pope.

9. Artist: Jack White
Instrument: 1964 J.B. Hutto Montgomery Airline
Description: A lover of old-school equipment and old-style blues, the White Stripes guitarist gravitated toward an oddball homage to bluesman J.B. Hutto that also happens to work well with his signature red-black-white color scheme.
Factoid: Originally made out of a composite in the fiberglass family known as Res-O-Glas, later models used actual wood.
Shining Moment: The Simpsons stop-motion "Hardest Button to Button" chase scene.