Every superhero needs a sidekick. Every wizard needs a wand. And every musician? They need an instrument with personality. Sometimes, that bond gets so strong, a name just… happens. From guitars with nicknames to pianos with identities, here are 10 artists who gave their instruments names—and made them part of the legend.
1. B.B. King – “Lucille”
The most famous guitar name in blues history. B.B. King named every one of his black Gibson ES-355s “Lucille” after a nightclub brawl over a woman of the same name caused a fire. He nearly died retrieving his guitar and decided never to forget it—or her. “Don’t run into any burning buildings to save your guitar,” he once said. “But if you do, name it Lucille.”
2. Willie Nelson – “Trigger”
Willie’s beat-up Martin N-20 classical guitar is named after Roy Rogers’ horse, and it’s seen more action than most rock stars. The soundhole is worn through. The surface is signed by over 100 musicians. And yet, it’s irreplaceable. “When Trigger goes, I’ll quit,” Nelson once told reporters. Trigger’s still going strong.
3. Brian May – “Red Special”
Queen guitarist Brian May built his guitar with his father using wood from an old fireplace. The “Red Special” became his main instrument and carries a unique tone that fits Queen’s dramatic sound. Brian still plays the original guitar today, more than 50 years later.
4. Yngwie Malmsteen – “The Duck”
Yngwie Malmsteen’s cream-colored 1971 Fender Stratocaster has a Donald Duck sticker on it. He affectionately calls it “The Duck.” This guitar helped him create some of the fastest and most powerful solos in rock and metal.
5. Neil Young – “Old Black”
Neil Young’s favorite electric guitar is a heavily modified 1953 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. He painted it black and nicknamed it “Old Black.” The guitar appears on nearly every one of his recordings since the late 1960s and has its own legacy in rock history.
6. Eddie Van Halen – “Frankenstrat”
Eddie Van Halen’s homemade guitar combined parts from several models to create something that suited his sound. He spray-painted it red, white, and black, and called it the “Frankenstrat.” It became one of the most recognizable guitars in rock.
7. Bo Diddley – “The Twang Machine”
Bo Diddley’s square guitar wasn’t just a visual statement—it was a custom-built sound machine. He called it “The Twang Machine,” and it matched his rhythm-heavy style perfectly. The boxy shape became a signature part of his live presence.
8. Eric Clapton – “Blackie”
Eric Clapton built “Blackie” from the best parts of three Fender Stratocasters. He played it throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It became his most famous guitar and was later auctioned for nearly $1 million to support his Crossroads Centre.
9. Prince – “Love Symbol”
Prince didn’t just give his guitar a name. He gave it a shape. His custom-designed instrument looked like the symbol he used as his name. It became a part of his performances and added a visual layer to his already powerful sound.
10. Keith Richards – “Micawber”
Keith Richards named his 1950s Fender Telecaster “Micawber” after a character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. The guitar has a brass bridge and humbucker pickup, giving it a gritty tone perfect for the Rolling Stones’ riffs.