Guitars of the Hard Rock Café vault

Bo Diddley's Gretsch

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Glen Matlock's first acoustic

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Steve Vai's Doubleneck Ibanez Gem

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Bob Dylan's National Newport

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Dave Kushner's signature Fernandes Ravelle Elite

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

B.B. King's Gibson ES-355 Lucille

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

B.B. King's Gibson ES-355 Lucille headstock

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Black Crowe's Gibson Les Paul

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Jeff Beck's Fender Stratocaster

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Jeff Beck's 1957 Fender Esquire

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Jimi Hendrix's Gibson ES-345 with Bigsby vibrato

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Jimmy Page's Gibson Les Paul

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Joe Walsh's Fender Jazzmaster

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Keith Richards' Fender Stratocaster

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Kurt Cobain's Fender Jazzmaster

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Zakk Wylde's Signature Gibson Les Paul Custom

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Lenny Kravitz's broken Gibson Flying V

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Tom Petty's Danelectro 56

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Pete Townshend's Gibson Les Paul

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.

Pete Townsend's explanatory note

"Back in 1979 – when I was very, very drunk, I gave my black Les Paul to the Hard Rock Café in London. I couldn’t have known that this astonishingly generous donation (it was the best guitar I ever had!!) would transform a small American diner into a cultural icon, and help establish a collection that preserves the heritage of R ‘n’ R. Pete Townshend. P.S. Mine’s still as good as Eric C’s"

Hard Rock Café turned 40 recently and as part of the celebration they’re opening their memorabilia vault to the public. TG was invited down for an exclusive look at some of the many wondrous guitars donated by rock music’s most renowned alumni.

Check out Total Guitar issue 215 (on sale 13 May – 9 June) for more information on the Hard Rock Café vault and a look at some of the collection’s finest guitars.