1980s Guitar Gear

1980s Guitar Gear tends to refer to the instruments and equipment used in the 1980s to make classic rock, pop and metal music. This was an era of hotter, more powerful guitar sounds, greater technical proficiency and a taste for flamboyant looking guitars. Bands like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses are often seen as the most significant 80s bands in terms of guitars, but in reality there are lots! Pop artists like Michael Jackson, Billy Idol and Duran Duran are also seen as influential.

In the 80s, the ideas of ‘shredding’ and ‘gunslinging’ took prominence in popular music, as rock bands took their cues from the Sunset Strip scene in Los Angeles. This means that there are strong associations with hot-rodded (modified) guitars and ‘Superstrats’, which were originally built in California around the late 70s and early 80s. These guitars had powerful humbuckers from brands like DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan, and locking Floyd Rose tremolos.

Although important alternative bands such as The Smiths, U2, R.E.M. and The Cure were popular in the 80s, for guitarists, this era was more about hard rock and hair metal. Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Phil Collen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Randy Rhoads and Steve Vai are frequently spoken of as significant 80s guitar players.

Why Should I Choose 1980s Guitar Gear?

• High performance guitar models, built specifically for playing fast ‘shred’ techniques
• Wild, outrageous graphic finishes and colours on the guitars
• Guitar amps with more gain and volume than ever before
• A direct link to a special era for guitar culture