# Famously owned guitars with names **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532 "2013-10-29T06:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/21 "2013-10-29T16:56:39Z")
Oleg Bernov, bass player and vocalist with **Red Elvises** [has an iconic Bass balalaika.](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2146289377_e5147a42aa.jpg) Not sure of its name, but I’m sure it has one. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/22 "2013-10-29T17:00:03Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > (psst…OP 😉 ) Well, crap. Sorry **squeegee**! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/23 "2013-10-29T17:10:41Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Observation: in guitar circles, on guitar message boards, there is a regular thread started that basically asks “Do you name your guitars?” The VAST majority go out of their way to say that: a) they do NOT - only shorthand names based on make, model and/or color; and b) naming your guitars is silly, bad and uncool. I’ll go there. I don’t name my guitars mostly. I’m not sure why; there’s several I’m very fond of that deserve names. My Tele Deluxe should have a girls name, she’s my sweetheart and I’ll probably never sell her, but I haven’t thought of one I’ve liked. I named my LP Special clone with P-90s “Sir HumsAlot”, because, well, P-90s. My well liked Strat and Les Paul aren’t named, but I haven’t owned them that long; we’re dating, not married yet. And the rest of my collection is mostly mutts I’d part with, so why bother? I don’t think naming a guitar is uncool. > [@](#): > > Just interesting that so many Heroes name theirs. Sure, many _are_ based on make, model and color (Black, apparently ;)) Yeah, seriously. “#1”? “The Black Strat”? Not much better than “Hey, You!” for a name. > [@](#): > > but “Mighty Mouse”? 😉 Now _that_ is an awesome guitar name. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/24 "2013-10-29T17:11:31Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Observation: in guitar circles, on guitar message boards, there is a regular thread started that basically asks “Do you name your guitars?” The VAST majority go out of their way to say that: a) they do NOT - only shorthand names based on make, model and/or color; and b) naming your guitars is silly, bad and uncool. Oh, well. Mine are Little Ed, Big Ed, Tristan, Big Bill, La Mouette de neige, Ralph and Lorne. The names are on the cases so I don’t walk out of the house with the wrong one. Big Ed and Ralph are named for the guitarists whom I want to emulate on those instruments; Big Bill and Lorne are named for the guitarists who previously owned the instruments; La Mouette de neige and Little Ed are puns on the makers’ names; Tristan is called that because Purolator wounded his side. I’d actually feel stupider saying make, model and/or colour. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/25 "2013-10-29T17:12:51Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Les Paul’s first solid body guitar, the [the Log](http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/electricguitar/pop-ups/02-07.htm). I always thought of it as more of a semi-hollow/semi-solid body guitar. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/26 "2013-10-29T17:22:34Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I always thought of it as more of a semi-hollow/semi-solid body guitar. It was a four-by-four solidbody log that functioned just fine without the jazz guitar “wings” bolted onto either side; he added those (getting access to the Epiphone factory on Sundays to do so) so that his bandmates wouldn’t tease him and it wouldn’t distract the audience… ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/27 "2013-10-29T19:31:47Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > My well liked Strat and Les Paul aren’t named Oops, I forgot my Strat _is_ named. Ruby. Because it’s, um… red. Crap. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/28 "2013-10-29T19:47:44Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Eric Clapton: > [Blackie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackie_(guitar)), a black Strat pieced together from other strats. > [Brownie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_(guitar)), a brown-burst Strat bought at a pawn shop. > Lucy, a '57 Les Paul gold top that was refinished red, later given to George Harrison. Clapton’s work on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was recorded with this guitar. You forgot _[The Fool](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_%28guitar%29)_, the 1964 SG Standard painted by Marijke Koger and Simon Postuma for Clapton when he was in Cream - _Disraeli Gears_ was recorded using this guitar. Clapton apparently loaned it to Jackie Lomax in 1968, who sold it to Todd Rundgren who played it until he sold it to pay a tax bill in 2000 for $150,000 (it was re-sold a couple of years later for $500,000). Todd had a couple of reproductions made, one of which he used on the A Wizard/A True Star tour in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/29 "2013-10-29T21:54:02Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > You forgot _[The Fool](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fool_%28guitar%29)_, the 1964 SG Standard painted by Marijke Koger and Simon Postuma for Clapton when he was in Cream - _Disraeli Gears_ was recorded using this guitar. Clapton apparently loaned it to Jackie Lomax in 1968, who sold it to Todd Rundgren who played it until he sold it to pay a tax bill in 2000 for $150,000 (it was re-sold a couple of years later for $500,000). Todd had a couple of reproductions made, one of which he used on the A Wizard/A True Star tour in 2010. The guitar that he made his reputation on - the sunburst Les Paul used on the Bluesbreakers album that got nicked in '66 (I think) has been nicknamed The Beano Burst, since the Mayall album’s nickname is the Beano Album, after the comic Eric is reading on the cover… I am pretty sure that **Duane Allman** ’s favorite 'burst is nicknamed **Hot’lanta** … ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/30 "2013-10-29T22:01:30Z")
What I’ve learned from this thread is that I need to start naming my guitars. ---
**Author:** ![Mustardseed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mustardseed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustardseed)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/31 "2013-10-29T23:50:45Z")
The english Luthier Kevin Aram gives each of his guitars a unique female name. I know a few fellow classical guitar players owning an Aram - most of them refer to their guitars by the given name. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/32 "2013-10-30T00:00:54Z")
My 84’ Ibanez Roadstar Bass is named “Pearl” for obvious reasons. I have been looking at the same model but fretless, it is Blue with Red binding. What do I call that? **Capt of the Reavers** ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/33 "2013-10-30T01:26:13Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > As I have said in previous threads, naming a guitar is a tricky thing. I’ve tried hanging names on many guitars that really didn’t take - I quickly revert to make/model/color. Don’t forget, you named my guitar without even trying. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/34 "2013-10-30T01:32:40Z")
No post from **Meurglys** yet? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/35 "2013-10-30T01:44:56Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Don’t forget, you named my guitar without even trying. Ah yes, Mary Ann the Strat. Hope you two continue to enjoy each other 😉 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/36 "2013-10-30T03:38:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > As I have said in previous threads, naming a guitar is a tricky thing. I’ve tried hanging names on many guitars that really didn’t take - I quickly revert to make/model/color. Occasionally, a name gets attached to a guitar early in my acquiring/building it and I never end up calling it anything else. Tell Gracie I said Hi. Let me take you away, girl. 😉 Seriously, you got a fine lady, you better deserve it. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/37 "2013-10-30T03:44:19Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/38 "2013-10-30T11:23:32Z")
In my collection some have names some don’t. I have a Yamaha bass named “Ninja” because it has a huge Ninja sticker on it. I have a BC Rich Mockingbird I call “The Bitch” I have an EVH Wolfgang Special which I named “Sandy” in honour of a friend and fellow VH fan who died from cancer this year. But usually, since most of my guitars are black, I refer to them by make or model. i.e. The Charvel, The Les Paul, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/39 "2013-10-30T11:42:30Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > No post from **Meurglys** yet? I’m trying to avoid seeming like a one trick pony and giving Hammill/VdGG references for everything! And I knew someone here apart from me would know about Meurglys. But [here’s the story](http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/ph_guitars.htm) of all three (or maybe four) of them. And here’s the song he wrote about [Meurglys III](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0KB3jlXos) Originally in _The Song of Roland_ Meurglys was a sword, not an axe! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532/40 "2013-11-09T04:45:38Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > I’m trying to avoid seeming like a one trick pony and giving Hammill/VdGG references for everything! And I knew someone here apart from me would know about Meurglys. So wait, what? Are you Peter Hammill? An admirer of his? An admirer of his guitar (one of 3 or 4) ? Why should I know the name “Meurglys” connected a guitar also connected to the poster “Meurglys”? Seriously, I’m scratching my head how this is pertinent to the thread, not trying to be rude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famously-owned-guitars-with-names/672532.md?page=3)