30+ Craziest Guitars in Rock Music History (38 photos)

Rock music is not just about sound, but also about spectacle. And nothing highlights an artist's individuality like their instrument. From furry guitars to multi-neck monsters, this collection features 30+ of the wildest, strangest, and most iconic guitars to ever grace the rock scene.





ZZ Top Rotating Shearling Guitars



Fun fact: These iconic instruments, made of genuine sheepskin, were created by Dean Zelinsky. The rotating mechanism is attached to the musicians' belt buckles. Billy Gibbons joked that you had to be careful that the guitar didn't "say hello to you in an unfashionable way" when it spun.

Bill Bailey's Six-Neck Guitar





Fun fact: This instrument, aptly named "The Beast," was created by comedian and musician Bill Bailey as a parody of the multi-necked guitars of rockers. Despite its comedic intent, the guitar is a fully functional instrument and has even been on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Nigel Tufnel's Guitar Amp



Fun fact: The guitar of the fictional guitarist from the cult film "This Is Spinal Tap" wasn't just a prop. Only two of these instruments were ever made, and, of course, all the knobs on the "amps" are dialed up to 11. The bottom of the "stack" is detachable for quieter studio work.

Michael Angelo Batio's Double Guitar



Fun fact: Guitar virtuoso Michael Angelo Batio not only plays this V-shaped, double-necked guitar, he invented it himself. He is able to play both necks simultaneously, using both hands, demonstrating his phenomenal technique.

Rick Nielsen's Five-Neck Guitar



Tired of constantly changing guitars on stage, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen asked Hamer to build him this monster in 1981. Several versions of this guitar exist, and Nielsen still uses them today, dazzling audiences with his eccentric performances.

Steve Vai's Hydra Guitar



This steampunk monster, created for Steve Vai, features three necks (seven-string, twelve-string, and fretless bass), harp strings, and a highly complex electronic system. Vai called it "an incredibly complex machine," and it is one of the most complex stringed instruments in the world.

Bo Diddley's Square Guitar



The blues legend built his first square guitar at age 17 because he couldn't afford a real one. He used a headstock from an old gramophone as a pickup. Gretsch later released an official model for him.

John Paul Jones Triple-Neck Mandolin



This unique instrument (mandolin, 12-string, and 6-string guitars) was created specifically for the Led Zeppelin multi-instrumentalist. According to the builder, Jones was delighted and said, "I can't wait to see Pagey's face when I take this on stage!"

Prince's Symbolic Guitar



Prince commissioned this guitar in the shape of his unpronounceable symbol, which he adopted as a stage name in 1993 in protest against his record label. Several versions of this guitar existed in different colors, and they became as emblematic of Prince as his music.

The Triple-Neck Guitar – Steve Vai's Heart



This instrument was created specifically for David Lee Roth's "Just Like Paradise" music video. Vai wanted the guitar to be as "catchy" and memorable as possible. He admits the instrument is "weird," but that hasn't stopped it from becoming an icon of '80s guitar design.

Pat Metheny's Picasso Guitar



Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny asked luthier Linda Manzer to create a guitar "with as many strings as possible." The result was this 42-string instrument that sounds like an orchestra and looks like a Cubist work.

Gene Simmons' Bass Axe



This instrument has become an integral part of the stage persona of KISS's "Demon." Simmons not only plays it, but uses it as part of his show, "threatening" the audience with it. There are many versions of this bass, and it has become one of the most recognizable instruments in rock.

Michael Anthony's "Jack Daniel's" Bass



This whiskey bottle-shaped bass was made for the Van Halen bassist with the official permission of Jack Daniel's. Only three were ever made: one is still in Anthony's possession, one is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the third is in the archives.

John Entwistle's "Buzzard" Bass



The Who bassist John "The Ox" Entwistle collaborated with Warwick, the founder of the company, on the design of this bass. The name "Buzzard" came to them during a bar party, after which the headstock was shaped like a bird of prey's beak.

John Fogerty's Bat Guitar



The Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman commissioned this guitar, shaped like a Louisville Slugger baseball bat, in honor of his hit "Centerfield." He later donated the instrument to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, combining his two greatest passions—music and baseball.

Ian Hunter's "Maltese Cross" Guitar



While the original guitar from the '70s, according to Mott the Hoople's frontman, looked better than it sounded, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard gave Hunter two new, improved versions for his 70th birthday. Hunter now claims they sound as great as they look.

Bumblefoot "Flying Leg" Guitar



This instrument by the former Guns N' Roses guitarist features retractable wings. When the player presses the tremolo arm, wings appear on the sides of the pink "leg." It's not just a show-stopper, but also Bumblefoot's main working instrument.

George Lynch's "Mom" Guitar



This skull-and-crossbones guitar, affectionately nicknamed "Mom," was built for guitarist Dokken in the mid-'80s. It became one of the most recognizable symbols of hair metal of that era.

Andrew W.K.'s Taco Guitar



After his pizza guitar, "party king" Andrew W.K. commissioned a taco-shaped guitar from ESP Guitars to celebrate National Taco Day. He claims that despite the wild shape, it's a top-notch instrument with no compromises in quality.

Misa Kitara MIDI Controller



Technically, it's not a guitar, but a digital controller. Instead of strings, it features touch-sensitive buttons, and an 8-inch screen allows for the creation of a variety of sound effects. Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme played a modified version of this instrument in the video for the song "Madness."

Dave Hill's "Super Yob" Guitar



The Slade guitarist's guitar, created in 1973, was stylized as a sci-fi ray gun. It perfectly complemented his outrageous costumes and became his signature piece.

John 5's Lava Lamp Guitar



This Fender Telecaster has a real lava lamp inside. The Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson guitarist admits the instrument is "heavy as hell," and that it's filled with antifreeze to prevent the fluid from freezing and damaging the guitar during transport.

Ginger Wildheart's "Smiley Bones" Guitar



This guitar, based on the Wildhearts logo, was created as a replacement for the original, which was stolen. Ginger liked it so much that the luthier ended up making two versions for him.

Zakk Wylde's Coffin Guitar



This model, created for guitarist Ozzy Osbourne, comes in a coffin-shaped case. The instrument itself is adorned with crucifixes on the body and headstock, perfectly matching Zakk's gothic image.

Guitar with the Blue Öyster Cult logo



The band's logo, which became the shape of this guitar, is a stylized astronomical symbol for the planet Saturn. It was created by the artist who designed the first two BÖC albums.

Bass guitar "Space Star" by Bootsy Collins



The first version of this bass was created for the funk legend in 1975 by a novice luthier working in an accordion shop. Since then, many variations have been created, but the star shape remains Bootsy's signature.

Brian May's "Red Special" Guitar



One of the most famous guitars in history. Brian May and his father created it in 1963 because they couldn't afford a signature instrument. Parts for it were salvaged from an old fireplace, a motorcycle, and even knitting needles. Its unique sound became the foundation of Queen's sound.

Todd Rundgren's Ankh Guitar



This aluminum guitar, shaped like the ancient Egyptian symbol of life (ankh), was created in the early 1970s. Rundgren loved its look and sound so much that he ordered two copies.

Dave Mustaine's Double-Neck Guitar



This jagged monster became one of the Megadeth frontman's main instruments. Its aggressive design perfectly suits the band's brutal music.

Rob Davis's Heart Guitar



The guitarist for the glam rock band Mud played this famous red guitar during the height of their popularity in the '70s and still performs with it today, nearly five decades later.

Prince's Yellow "Cloud" Guitar



This guitar, made famous by the film "Purple Rain," was just one of more than 100 unique guitars in Prince's collection. In 2018, one of them sold at auction for $225,000.

Rick Nielsen's "Uncle Dick" Guitar



In addition to his five-neck guitar, the Cheap Trick guitarist also owns this 1983 double-neck instrument, the body of which is shaped like a caricature of himself.

Michael Angelo Batio's Quad Guitar



As if the double guitar weren't enough, Batio also invented this instrument, consisting of four necks. It's the pinnacle of guitar madness and a showcase of his unique technique.

Lita Ford's Steam Locomotive Guitar



The former guitarist of The Runaways debuted this instrument in a 1991 music video. She worked closely with B.C. Rich, who, she says, "were willing to do anything I asked."

James Hetfield's "Carl" Guitar



This guitar is made from wood salvaged from the California garage where Metallica rehearsed and lived in the 1980s. A friend of Hetfield's saved the wood after the building was demolished and donated it to him. The guitar is named after the garage's address: 3132 Carlson Boulevard.

Dan Hartman's Bass Suit



In 1974, bassist for the Edgar Winter Group paid $5,000 (a huge amount at the time) for this suit, which featured a bass guitar built into the pelvic area. The controls were located on the sleeve.

Stig Pedersen's iPhone-Shaped Bass Guitar



The bassist for the Danish band D-A-D is known for his wild basses, including the bass rocket and the bass invert. But this iPhone-shaped instrument, unveiled in 2018, has become a social media hit.