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Quiz about Iconic Guitars
Quiz about Iconic Guitars

Iconic Guitars Trivia Quiz


Through the history of guitars, there have been many models that can be recognized simply by their shape. Take a look at these, and see if you can tell which is which.

A photo quiz by ertrum. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
ertrum
Time
6 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
335,458
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1800
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (10/10), Guest 70 (5/10), Guest 77 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Leo Fender's Telecaster was introduced in 1951 and has been in production ever since. However, when it was first introduced, it wasn't named the Telecaster. What was it named? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This guitar has been played by artists ranging from Buddy Holley to Yngwie J. Malmsteen to Jimi Hendrix (who played his upside down). It was introduced in 1954. What is it? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Country gentlemen such as Chet Atkins, rock 'n' rollers including George Harrison, and bluesmen like Bo Diddley all played this maker's guitars, while drummers like Phil Collins and Max Roach played their drums. Who are they? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Rickenbacker produced the first commercially successful solid body electric guitar, which players called the frying pan. Which Beatle was shown playing a Rickenbacker guitar on the "Ed Sullivan Show"? Hint


photo quiz
Question 5 of 10
5. Epiphone, owned by Gibson, hit the jackpot with this guitar, which was a copy of the parent company's ES-330. What did Epiphone name it? Hint


photo quiz
Question 6 of 10
6. This company was founded in 1833, and has its headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In 2004, it sold its millionth guitar. Who is it? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This guitar brings us down to the heart of the American South, where it found a place in bluegrass and blues playing. Unlike most guitars, the body is made of steel, and a resonator takes the place of the usual sound hole. Paul Simon likens the Mississippi Delta to which one of these in his song "Graceland"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Though the man whose name graces this model guitar had very little to do with its design, he was a pioneer both in guitar and electronic effects design, as well as a virtuoso player in his own right. Who lent his name to this iconic guitar? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Gibson first introduced their Flying V guitar in 1958, but it didn't sell well, and they scrapped it in '59. They reintroduced the model in 1967, and it is still part of their catalog. Which band featured Rudolph Schenker playing a Flying V guitar?

Answer: (One Word, plural - watch for the sting!)
Question 10 of 10
10. This guitar became popular among players in the 1970s and '80s. It was made of graphite and carbon fiber, and all unnecessary weight was pruned away. Because the guitar did away with the traditional headstock and instead used a different tuning mechanism at the bridge, these were sometimes called "headless" guitars. Who made them? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 86: 10/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Leo Fender's Telecaster was introduced in 1951 and has been in production ever since. However, when it was first introduced, it wasn't named the Telecaster. What was it named?

Answer: Esquire

The Telecaster was first named Esquire, and some of the early models only had one pickup - this is the version that Fender later reissued. Then Fender called it the Broadcaster. But when Gretsch complained that the Broadcaster name conflicted with their line of drums, Fender renamed the guitar the Telecaster. There was a brief period when they had no headstock decals available with the new "Telecaster" name, so Fender removed the "Broadcaster" from the remaining decals. These guitars are now called "Nocasters", and are quite rare.

Albert Collins, Bill Frisell, Merle Haggard, Chrissie Hynde, Mike Oldfield, Keith Richards, Keith Urban, and Muddy Waters are only a few of the many players who are famous for playing Telecasters.
2. This guitar has been played by artists ranging from Buddy Holley to Yngwie J. Malmsteen to Jimi Hendrix (who played his upside down). It was introduced in 1954. What is it?

Answer: Fender Stratocaster

The Stratocaster was designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares. It has three pickups, instead of the Telecaster's two, and was designed to be more comfortable to play for long periods. Fender claim that it is "the most popular and influential electric guitar ever".
3. Country gentlemen such as Chet Atkins, rock 'n' rollers including George Harrison, and bluesmen like Bo Diddley all played this maker's guitars, while drummers like Phil Collins and Max Roach played their drums. Who are they?

Answer: Gretsch

Fredrich Gretsch founded the company in Brooklyn in 1883. Chet Atkins started playing and endorsing Gretsch guitars in the mid-1950s. George played his on the "Ed Sullivan Show", in 1964. In an ironic twist of fate, Gretsch, who caused Fender to change their guitar's name from Broadcaster to Telecaster, are now owned by Fender.
4. Rickenbacker produced the first commercially successful solid body electric guitar, which players called the frying pan. Which Beatle was shown playing a Rickenbacker guitar on the "Ed Sullivan Show"?

Answer: John Lennon

George played his Gretsch, Paul had a Hofner bass, and Ringo, of course, played his drums. George also had a Rickenbacker twelve string which he used on many of the Beatles' recordings.
5. Epiphone, owned by Gibson, hit the jackpot with this guitar, which was a copy of the parent company's ES-330. What did Epiphone name it?

Answer: Casino

The Epiphone Casino became very well known in the mid '60s when John, Paul, and George all bought them. They were used on Beatles recordings from "Rubber Soul" onwards. John can be seen playing his Casino in the film "Let It Be".
6. This company was founded in 1833, and has its headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In 2004, it sold its millionth guitar. Who is it?

Answer: Martin

C F Martin emigrated from Germany, where he had learned to build guitars, to the US. He arrived in New York and started his company there, but relocated to Pennsylvania five years later. The Martin guitar company is still family owned.
Famous Martin players include Sting, Paul Simon, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, Del McCoury, and Joan Baez.
7. This guitar brings us down to the heart of the American South, where it found a place in bluegrass and blues playing. Unlike most guitars, the body is made of steel, and a resonator takes the place of the usual sound hole. Paul Simon likens the Mississippi Delta to which one of these in his song "Graceland"?

Answer: National

"The Mississippi Delta was shining like a National guitar".
The National guitar company was founded in 1927. National and its main rival, Dobro, merged in 1932. Since World War II, there have been several different companies which have manufactured resonator-style guitars, and the "Dobro" brand is now owned by Gibson.
8. Though the man whose name graces this model guitar had very little to do with its design, he was a pioneer both in guitar and electronic effects design, as well as a virtuoso player in his own right. Who lent his name to this iconic guitar?

Answer: Les Paul

However much Les Paul had to do with the design of the guitar that bears his name, it has become a legendary instrument. Slash, Peter Frampton, Gary Moore, Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman, Bob Marley, John McLaughlin and Neil Young are among the many famous musicians to play Les Pauls.
9. Gibson first introduced their Flying V guitar in 1958, but it didn't sell well, and they scrapped it in '59. They reintroduced the model in 1967, and it is still part of their catalog. Which band featured Rudolph Schenker playing a Flying V guitar?

Answer: Scorpions

Though Jimi Hendrix is best known for playing, and setting fire to, Fender Stratocasters, he also owned Gibson guitars, including the Flying V pictured here.
10. This guitar became popular among players in the 1970s and '80s. It was made of graphite and carbon fiber, and all unnecessary weight was pruned away. Because the guitar did away with the traditional headstock and instead used a different tuning mechanism at the bridge, these were sometimes called "headless" guitars. Who made them?

Answer: Steinberger

Ned Steinberger was an industrial designer who had worked with Neil Spector on his bass design, the NS 1. That spurred Steinberger to first make a new electric bass and then to make the Steinberger guitar. Later, Steinberger was bought by Gibson, who still hold the license for the Steinberger name.
Source: Author ertrum

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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