Trystan Casey
Elvis Presley is often remembered with a guitar in hand, and he played a variety of instruments throughout his career. Presley received his first guitar at age 11, and as he grew older, he began to collect them, with many becoming a part of pop culture history. Presley used guitars as a key component of his rock and roll image, and while he was not a technically accomplished musician, he had a great sense of rhythm and timing. The exact number of electric guitars owned by Presley is unclear, but he played and collected many different models, including Gibson, Hagstrom, and Martin.
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What You'll Learn
Elvis's first guitar
Elvis Presley is synonymous with the guitar—from his first album cover to his many movies, he always had a guitar nearby and was always ready to play.
Elvis received his first guitar when he was just 11 years old, and for many years, that was his only guitar. As he grew older, he started collecting guitars, and many of them have become part of pop culture history.
While there is little information about his first guitar, we do know that Elvis was not a skilled musician, but he had an incredible sense of timing and rhythm, according to his first lead guitarist, Scotty Moore. Moore also noted that as Elvis learned to move on stage and work the audience, his guitar became more of a "prop".
One of the most famous photos of Elvis with a guitar is from his first album, "Elvis Presley", which was released on March 23, 1956. Known as the "tonsil photo", it was cropped from a larger photograph taken during a performance on July 31, 1955, in Tampa, Florida. The guitar in the photo is a 1955 Martin D-28, which he purchased soon after. This guitar was featured in many of his 1957 concerts and appearances, and it even appeared on the cover of his first album.
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Electric guitars borrowed for the '68 Special
Elvis Presley was known for his guitar-playing, and his guitars have become part of pop culture history. During the filming of the '68 Comeback Special, Elvis borrowed a 1963 Gibson Super 400 CES from his guitarist, Scotty Moore. Moore had used the guitar on his 1964 solo album, The Guitar That Changed the World.
Presley's own guitar was a 1960 Gibson J200 acoustic, which he had received in 1960 when his 1956 model was being refurbished. Presley's 1960 Gibson J200 was also a favourite of his, and he used it in the ''68 Special and many live performances.
During the show, Presley asked to borrow Moore's guitar, saying, "Let's swap axes", because his own guitar was "not loud enough". The borrowed Gibson Super 400 CES was a much louder electric guitar, and it allowed Presley to tear into Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" with gusto. The performance was rough around the edges but tough and exciting, and it reminded people of Presley's rock'n'roll roots.
The 1963 Gibson Super 400 CES was sold by Moore in 1985 to a private collector, Paul Dragon, for $10,000. It was then sold to Frank Lucido of California Guitar in Ojai, California, and eventually to the Hard Rock Cafe for $30,000.
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Gibson Ebony Dove
It is hard to imagine Elvis Presley without a guitar in his hand. From his album covers to his movies, Elvis always had a guitar nearby, and he was always ready to play. He played both the guitar and the bass guitar.
Presley received his first guitar at the age of 11, and for many years, that was his only guitar. However, as he grew older and became the King of Rock 'n' Roll, he started collecting guitars, and many of them became part of pop culture history. According to his first lead guitarist, Scotty Moore, Presley was not "an accomplished musician", but he possessed "an uncanny and amazing sense of timing and rhythm".
One of the most famous guitars owned by Elvis Presley was the Gibson Ebony Dove. This guitar was used in Presley's groundbreaking "Aloha from Hawaii" special. The Gibson Ebony Dove is a square-shoulder, flame maple-backed guitar introduced in the early 1960s. Its maple back and sides, and long scale, produce a crisp, clear tone and projection, while the square-shoulder body adds balance and warmth. The Gibson Ebony Dove features classic Dove™ details, including a bone nut and saddle, double antiqued multi-ply binding, nickel Grover® Keystone tuners, a traditional Dove truss rod cover, and a cherished pickguard featuring an inlaid mother-of-pearl Dove with hand-engraved and painted detailing.
The Gibson Ebony Dove was put up for auction at Graceland, along with many other items, including another guitar that Elvis gave to a fan during a concert in Asheville, North Carolina. This guitar features a Kenpo Karate decal and Elvis' name inlaid in the fingerboard.
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Kenpo Karate Decal guitar
Elvis Presley was often seen with a guitar in his hand, and the instrument became a major component of his rock-and-roll image. In addition to his iconic guitar-playing, Presley's energetic performances and unique style also contributed to his enduring legacy.
One of Presley's guitars, which featured a Kenpo Karate decal and his name inlaid in the fingerboard, was given to a fan during a concert in Asheville, North Carolina. This guitar was later consigned to the Auction at Graceland, where many of Presley's guitars and other items were displayed and sold.
The Kenpo Karate Decal guitar is a testament to Presley's love for martial arts, specifically Kenpo Karate, which is a Chinese-influenced style of martial arts that focuses on fast hand techniques and quick footwork. It is a popular style of karate that has influenced many other martial arts styles worldwide.
The guitar itself is a powerful symbol of Presley's musical career and influence on popular culture. The fact that it was given to a fan demonstrates Presley's generosity and connection with his audience. The subsequent auction and display of the guitar at Graceland further highlight its significance and the enduring fascination with Presley's life and career.
While the exact number of electric guitars owned by Elvis Presley is unknown, the Kenpo Karate Decal guitar stands out as a unique and memorable instrument associated with his performances and enduring cultural impact.
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Martin D-28
It is hard to say exactly how many electric guitars Elvis Presley owned, but it is clear that he played and collected many guitars over the course of his career. The guitar was an integral part of the rock and roll image that Elvis cultivated in the 1950s and 1960s, both onstage and in his films.
One of the guitars that Elvis played was the Martin D-28, which is widely regarded as one of the most iconic acoustic guitars in the world. The D-28 has been played by music legends like Hank Williams, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. It is crafted with East Indian rosewood, which offers a deep bass and rich overtones. The larger dreadnought body size and scalloped bracing deliver a bold, projective tone with strong bass, clear trebles, and rich overtones. The D-28 is also known for its crisp sound and smooth playability, with a satin neck and a high-performance taper. The guitar blends timeless craftsmanship with modern playability, featuring antique white binding, an ebony fingerboard, an ebony bridge, and nickel open gear tuners.
The Martin D-28 has been praised by musicians such as Lewis Capaldi, who became a Martin Guitar Ambassador due to his love for the brand. Capaldi describes the quality and sound of Martin guitars as "a standard I grew up appreciating and loving to play on all my albums and all of my tours." Another musician, Brett Dennen, also attributes his musical career to the Martin D-28, as he found inspiration while playing the guitar in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The D-28 is available in a variety of gloss and satin options, with the 2025 Standard Series enhancing tone, comfort, and style. The updated neck profile, thinner fingerboard, and refined bridge and heel improve playability and aesthetics. The D-28 typically includes a hardshell case, and prices can range from $3,000 to $9,000.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear exactly how many electric guitars Elvis owned, but he was known to play the electric guitar and was often photographed with one. He owned several guitars throughout his career, and many of them have become iconic, such as the Gibson J-200.
Elvis received his first guitar when he was 11 years old. It is unclear what model it was, but it was his only guitar for many years.
Elvis Presley was officially credited with playing the guitar at almost all of his recording sessions from 1956 to 1958. However, there are conflicting accounts of his guitar-playing ability. Some sources claim he was not "an accomplished musician", while others suggest he had a "limited ability". It is said that his guitar work was a key component of his first recording, and he played guitar on all eight of The Blue Moon Boys' Sun recording sessions in 1954-55.
During his 1968 Comeback Special, Elvis borrowed a 1968 Hagstrom Viking electric guitar from session player Al Casey. He also played a Gibson Super 400 and a Gibson J-200 during the special.
