As one of rock’s most iconic guitarists, Jimmy Page is almost as legendary for his gear as he is for his riffs. But what’s truly remarkable is how many of his most famous guitars weren’t originally his—or even purchased at all.
Take his famous Fender Telecaster. When Jeff Beck left The Yardbirds, he left behind the guitar, which Page promptly adopted. He repainted it in psychedelic swirls and used it extensively on Led Zeppelin’s debut album. Years later, that same Telecaster made a defining return when Page used it to record the solo for “Stairway to Heaven.”
Then there’s the famed Gibson Les Paul that became Page’s go-to from Led Zeppelin II onward. It wasn’t a flashy purchase but a gift from fellow guitar hero Joe Walsh of James Gang and future Eagles fame. That Les Paul would go on to define Page’s signature live tone and studio presence.
Not everything fell into his lap, though. Page did buy the Danelectro 3021 himself—a guitar forever linked to epic Zeppelin tracks like “White Summer” and “Kashmir.” He also snagged a few extra Les Pauls as backups in case his main axe failed mid-show.
But when it came time to perform “Stairway to Heaven” live, Page hit a practical snag: the song required both a six-string and a twelve-string guitar. Swapping guitars mid-song wasn’t feasible on stage. The solution? A curious piece of gear that would soon become synonymous with Page: the Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck.
Before Page, the double-neck guitar was more of a novelty. Elvis Presley posed with one in Spinout, and jazz legend John McLaughlin used it for his wild Mahavishnu Orchestra arrangements. But it wasn’t until Page strapped it on for live renditions of “Stairway to Heaven” that the double-neck became a staple in rock mythology.
His use of the EDS-1275 inspired a generation. Players like Don Felder of the Eagles and Alex Lifeson of Rush took cues from Page’s dramatic stage presence and started incorporating the double-neck into their own performances.
Page didn’t stop at “Stairway,” either. The double-neck became a recurring fixture in Led Zeppelin’s live arsenal, featured on tracks like “The Song Remains the Same,” “The Rain Song,” “Celebration Day,” and “Sick Again.”
Even in 2007, when Led Zeppelin briefly reunited for one last epic show, Page reached for the double-neck once more. As he closed out “Stairway to Heaven,” the silhouette of that massive guitar against the stage lights was a reminder: Jimmy Page didn’t just play the double-neck—he made it immortal.
