Some guitars aren’t just tools—they’re thrones. These masterpieces are carved for kings and queens of music. With their rich tones, regal finishes, and legendary specs, here are 8 musicians who play the most royal guitars in modern music history. 💎🎵
1. Prince – Cloud Guitar ☁️💜
🎸 Guitar Model: Custom Cloud Guitar (Schecter-built)
⚙️ Specs:
- Maple body and neck
- EMG 81 humbucker pickups
- Scalloped fretboard (some models)
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 1 volume, 1 tone
- 3-way toggle switch
Why it’s royal:
Custom-built for the Purple One himself, this elegant white and gold guitar with a cloud-shaped body is as iconic as Prince’s falsetto.
“It wasn’t just fashion—it was a symbol of sound royalty.”
2. Brian May – Red Special ❤️👑
🎸 Guitar Model: The Red Special (Homemade by Brian May & his dad)
⚙️ Specs:
- Handcrafted mahogany body
- Tri-Sonic pickups with series/phase wiring
- Roller bridge with custom tremolo
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 3 pickup switches
- Phase switches for each pickup
- 1 master volume, 1 tone
Why it’s royal:
Built from an old fireplace, yet it helped define Queen’s majestic tone. Regal in tone and origin.
“The crown jewel of rock tone.”
3. Steve Vai – Ibanez JEM 77P “Blue Floral” 🌸🌌
🎸 Guitar Model: Ibanez JEM77P-BFP
⚙️ Specs:
- Basswood body with maple top
- DiMarzio Gravity Storm pickups
- Edge-Zero II tremolo
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 1 volume, 1 tone
- 5-way pickup selector
Why it’s royal:
Vai’s guitars are visually stunning and technically elite. This one’s blue floral burst is nothing short of divine.
“Shred like a prince, sound like a god.”
4. Carlos Santana – PRS Santana II 🌞🌹
🎸 Guitar Model: Paul Reed Smith Santana II
⚙️ Specs:
- Mahogany body with maple top
- PRS Santana humbuckers
- 24.5” scale length
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 2 volume knobs, 2 tone
- 3-way toggle
Why it’s royal:
Santana’s smooth, singing leads come alive with PRS elegance—every note sounds golden.
“A royal feast of Latin-rock tones.”
5. Eric Clapton – Fender “Blackie” 🖤🎩
🎸 Guitar Model: Fender Stratocaster (custom “Blackie”)
⚙️ Specs:
- Ash body with maple neck
- Vintage single-coil pickups
- Block saddles
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 1 volume, 2 tone
- 5-way switch
Why it’s royal:
“Blackie” was Clapton’s go-to for decades, and it practically sings the blues on command.
“Royal blues delivered on six strings.”
6. Jimmy Page – Gibson EDS-1275 Double Neck 🧵⚡
🎸 Guitar Model: Gibson EDS-1275
⚙️ Specs:
- Mahogany body, 12-string & 6-string necks
- Dual humbuckers for each neck
- Mahogany necks
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 4 volume, 4 tone (2 per neck)
- 3-way selector for neck switching
Why it’s royal:
Used live for “Stairway to Heaven,” this is a king’s weapon—double the neck, double the glory.
“Two necks. One legend.”
7. Joan Jett – Gibson Melody Maker 🖤👸
🎸 Guitar Model: Gibson Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker
⚙️ Specs:
- Mahogany slab body
- Burstbucker 3 pickup
- Slim-taper neck
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - Single volume (no tone)
- Kill switch
Why it’s royal:
Simple, fierce, and unapologetically punk royalty. It doesn’t need sparkle—it rules through sound.
“Punk rock’s royal decree.”
8. Tosin Abasi – Abasi Larada 8 🌌🧬
🎸 Guitar Model: Abasi Concepts Larada 8
⚙️ Specs:
- Chambered body (alder or mahogany)
- Fishman Fluence Modern pickups
- Multi-scale fanned frets
🎚️ Volume/Tone Controls: - 1 volume, 1 tone
- 3-way switch
- Coil-split & voice toggles
Why it’s royal:
Modern royalty of progressive metal. Ergonomic, elegant, and technically supreme.
“If guitars evolved into royalty, this is where they landed.”
👑 Final Note: Sound Fit for a Throne
From majestic tones to show-stopping bodies, these guitars represent the highest class of musical craftsmanship. Whether you bow to classic blues or shred through metal realms, these royal axes wear the crown. 🎸👑