Black Dog. Stairway to Heaven. Immigrant Song. Moby Dick. Over the years, Led Zeppelin and their lead guitarist Jimmy Page have put out hit after smash hit, cementing their names in the history books of rock and roll for all eternity. Alongside a handful of other bands, Led Zeppelin helped mold the landscape of hard rock in a way that few others could even hope to.
Setting aside the game-changing chops of John Bonham, Jimmy Page was arguably the most innovative member of the band. With gnarly, lightning-fast blues licks and low, heavy riffs that seem to drop below the lowest audible sound register, Jimmy is one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, bar none.
Jimmy Page’s guitar innovations didn’t stop at fast riffage and killer soloing. He also pioneered groundbreaking techniques such as alternate tunings and hybrid picking, popularizing some guitar rudiments that would go on to define decades of rock and roll to come. If it weren’t for him, modern music would be a very different place than it is today.
While some guitarists seem to be able to play on just about any guitar, Jimmy has always chosen his instruments to suit the sounds he pioneered. With a guitar collection that is fascinatingly diverse and unique, the instruments played by Jimmy Page warrant almost as much attention as his music. Let’s take a look at those, shall we?
A guitar for every sound
If you know anything about Jimmy Page, there’s a good chance that you know he loved weird and wonderful guitars. With a collection that would impress even the most avid collector, Jimmy used his many eccentric instruments to weave unique, hauntingly beautiful melodies for a band that would come to define what heavy music sounded like for decades. Now, let’s see some of his most
Danelectro 3021/DC59
Founded in 1947, Danelectro is one of the more idiosyncratic guitar manufacturers out there. As Gibson built its expensive and ornate electric guitars priced well above the budget of most players, some companies were trying to make these instruments accessible to the general public. By substituting hollow guitar bodies for solid ones and using bolt-on necks instead of dovetail joints, they were able to reduce costs substantially.
Another important development in the search for reduced consumer-end costs was the lipstick tube guitar pickup. In earlier models, Danelectro actually used lipstick canisters as a housing for their inexpensive, machine-wound pickups. These singular pickups lent the guitar a unique tone and beautiful, crystalline sustain.
Jimmy Page used this guitar on a number of recordings, but the most famous of these is undoubtedly Led Zeppelin’s 1975 track Kashmir. On this track, he used a tuning he widely popularized, known to most as DADGAD. This tuning played a central part in the smoldering, tension-filled central riffs of Kashmir, as did this humble but spirited instrument.
Vox Phantom XII
Another of the guitars featured in the legendary arsenal of Jimmy Page is a weird but wonderful instrument made by amp manufacturer Vox. Although the company specializes in amplifying guitars, they’ve also made a few forays into the world of guitar manufacturing. Among those forays was the Vox Phantom XII!
This guitar bears very little resemblance to the instruments you probably think of when you hear the word “electric guitar”. With a unique, trapezoidal shape and clumsy squarish headstock, it’s not exactly the most aesthetically pleasing of guitars, but what it lacks in appeal it more than makes up for in sound!
Although its unique shape and silhouette might cause some to mistake it for a banjo or mandolin, this is a guitar through and through. With three single coil pickups, a Bigsby tremolo and its unique look, this was Jimmy’s first choice when recording songs with one of the other groups he played with, the Yardbirds.
Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck SG
Even if you’re not a fan of Led Zeppelin, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the song Stairway to Heaven. This abstract but mesmerizing epic about materialism, love, beauty and the meaning of life is a testament to the technical skill of all the members of the band, from its hauntingly beautiful lyrics to its thunderous crescendo. If you’ve heard this song, then you’ve heard the guitar we’ll be talking about next!
To some, the Gibson EDS-1275 might seem a bit over the top. Why would any guitar need two necks, you might think; after all, you can only play one at a time! In Jimmy’s case, the two necks were not in fact identical. Instead, one was a twelve string electric, while the other was a standard six string setup with Jimmy’s customary .09 gauge super slinky strings.
By switching between these two necks, Jimmy was able to achieve a truly phenomenal level of textural flexibility without switching guitars. While someone without the experience or skill to use such an instrument might find it excessive, thai guitar is truly a wonder to behold in the hands of someone as talented as Jimmy Page!
1960 Gibson Les Paul Custom
While many of Jimmy Page’s instruments are weird and eccentric, he also plays guitars that match the popular idea of what a “normal” guitar looks like. Jimmy has always had a thing for Les Pauls, playing them across some of his most famous hits throughout his career. Among these, few are as lush and beautiful as his jet black 1960 Les Paul Custom.
Providing the lead tone on songs such as “Whole Lotta Love” and many of his other famous hits, this guitar was equipped with three now highly coveted PAF humbucking pickups and a Bigsby tremolo. With a double-bound body, rosewood fretboard and mahogany neck, this guitar is one of the most beautiful guitars to ever feel the touch of the legendary Jimmy Page!
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t remain in Jimmy’s possession forever. While on tour in the United States, this beautiful instrument was stolen. Jimmy humorously recalls how careful he was with this prized possession of his, and how he seldom even took it out of the house, only to have it stolen after he decided to take it out on tour.
Conclusion
For some musicians, the instruments are a means to an end. For others, the instruments are an integral part of their sound and musical identity. After taking a gander at the guitars of this mesmerizingly talented musician, we think it’s clear that Jimmy Page falls into the camp of the latter. With some searching and investment, maybe you too can home to own some of these fascinating instruments yourself some day!
