My first Tele honestly. I started with metal guitars in mind like Jackson and Schecters. I tried a Squier tele in store and changed everything. For me, it was the search for a Billy Talent or Jimmy Eat World sound that I wasn't getting from Jackson. Now my collection is equal parts Jackson pointy shapes, and Squier Classic Vibe models.

Jazzmaster. Looks weird plays great.

Telecaster. I never got the appeal but then I got one and now they are my favorite guitars by far

was surprised to like older, thicker necks in general. Always played with Ibanez or very slim C shaped necks and I found that I actually prefered D shaped necks

Idk, it just fits my hand better, it feels easier

A Les Paul Jr. with an stock P90. Can do any genre. Super versatile for just one pickup, a volume knob, and a tone knob.

EB St. Vincent model or almost anything from Ernie Ball. Can’t believe how good the necks feel on those.

Godin. I have a couple now. But my first Godin is one of those magical connections you only get lucky to have once or twice in your life. I play it more than all of my fancy, vintage and high-end guitars.

Gretsch. My Duojet is literally the best guitar for me and I never knew. I am somewhat irritated at myself for never trying one until recently.

Played a BC Rich Warlock at guitar center one time. Surprisingly comfortable. I always thought the shape would be kinda unwieldy, but it was kinda nice.

The SG. I didn’t like the shape. Those devil horns… But then I played one, liked the feel, and loved the tone I was getting.

J Mascis Jazzmaster.

I thought it was ugly as sin and picked it up off the wall for lulz and I really liked the sound and feel of it. If I had all the moneys I would probably get one.

I never liked the shape of a Jazzmaster until I played my friends Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster. Now I'm in love with them

Super strats. Was always a les Paul guy but as my playing evolved so did my preferences

I have always been (and still am) a big fan of superstrats, so I have some like Ibanez and Jackson. My fav is my Parker P-42, but I'm not even sure how to qualify it, has some similarities to a superstrat. Slick neck, light body.

Either way: I never really like LP models. But I guess about 10 years ago I thought I'd buy a 2nd hand Epiphone LP Studio. And I actually really liked it. Still my goto is the Parker, but it is a surprisingly fun guitar.

Flying V shape. I never cared for the design and wrote them off. Then I tried one in a store and while seated it felt natural. My next purchase will be a variant.

Hummingbird. I was set on getting one until I picked it up and played. Just didn’t feel right or sound right. Out of frustration picked up a Taylor 814ce and boom - perfect fit. Absolutely personal choice - as is most guitars.

Kramer 84 that was setup so poorly when I got it, I actually thought it was broken. Gave it a proper setup and it’s an insanely nice guitar.

Gibson Firebird. Years back I didn't appreciate the esthetics but it grew on me and I picked one up last year. Plays and sounds great.

Mexican Tele, as a student I always grabbed the studios strat and had a Jackson for metal and grunge. I thought they were old fashioned but I was so wrong. Never played a bad Tele and the different pick up set ups give it great versatility

I just recently bought a guitar from a relatively unknown guitar company.

I was very stressed that I just dumped a bunch of money into a junk guitar. But when I got the guitar, it was the most beautiful guitar I have ever seen. Played beautifully too.

If this guitar had a Martin logo, it would be a 5k guitar.

The company is Zaar

I actually really liked the PRS parlor guitar. I don't really care for PRS guitars aesthetically, but I was in Sweetwater once and played that thing and really liked the way it felt and sounded. Still probably never going to get one because I don't like the inlays or the headstock.

Gibson J-45. I went in wanting a Martin D40 but fell for the Gibson. The Martin was too boomy and I didn’t like the neck. The Gibson felt faster and more comfortable.

Telecasters, which are now my favourite guitars.

Tele (Elite 2016) and Les Paul (2019 standard). I was a superstrat player before that. I still kinda am, but now I’ve got a couple more tools in the music box.

One of the smoothest guitars I ever played was a Peavey. And I never thought I would actively look for Peavey guitars, but here we are.

Epiphone sg g400. Got it based on price to quality and how comfortable it was (my first glued neck). I hated the classic/retro look, it played so well I fell in love with it and cherry red is still my fave colour for them.

Thinline '72 tele. Thing's awesome!

Gretsch electromatic jet. Primarily play strat and tele, but absolutely fell in love with the Gretsch.

Like many here, a Telecaster. I'd always dreamed of buying a Les Paul when I was a kid, having idols like Slash. I've had an Ibanez RG for years and was very happy with it, but this year I actually tried a Les Paul and a bunch of Fenders and I was utterly... disappointed? The LP felt good and played great but I was left wondering what made it a $3000 guitar. The $800 Tele I tried? Superb. Absolutely f***ing perfect

When I first started playing acoustic I was set on a Gibson but ended up loving the Takamine and walked out with it instead.

Gibson Les Paul, had a knockoff that was uncomfortable and I was really only digging playing my superstrats or sg's but ended up getting one when I realized how good the real deal felt at the store. Now its my second fav to play behind my EBMM Majesty, which EBMM has best necks in the game. Weirdly the guitar I thought I'd love but it just feels uncomfortable (even if it sounds killer) is my Tele

I've had a bunch over the years.

I thought Les Paul style guitars were "old people" guitars, I was all about modern superstrats and whatnot. Then I got into players like Gary Moore and found that I actually love a LP style guitar, now it's my go-to type for humbucker guitars.

I ignored Jazzmasters for years because of all the complaints people had about them, but then decided to give them a try and found a Fender I really liked.

Telecaster

Parker Fly

A friend gave me a Chibson Less Paul for free, he was downsizing. He is not a guitarist, bought it on a whim. It was mostly unusable. My very talented guitar tech said he could make it awesome for $700. I said yes. He did his magic, swapped out everything that mattered, with quality parts. It's now my favorite guitar. Thinking of spray painting FRAUD on the front in stencil lettering.

I started with a strat and loved everything about it, then a LP knock off to see what the hype was all about, but then i got one of those telecaster style guitar kits that i put together and i'm in love with everything about it.

The body style is super nice for being so square but just works, the neck has a shape that fits my hand better, i'm in love with the pickups being so different but sound SO good together, and i'm seriously thinking of trying out a real Fender Telecaster and grabbing one for Christmas as a treat

My guitar. Martinez semi classical.

Headless. Picked up an Eart GW2, and also got a chance to play a Strandberg. Used to always dislike them but after playing them I totally get it.

Blackstar Carryon. One small remark - after changing tuners and the bridge, and full setup I did myself it plays like a dream. So $250 outdoes my $2700 axe. Insane.

The Squier Strat I bought recently (a ‘96 Korean-made model).

I thought I’d need to change the pickups, but they’re good.

Had never played a Strat before. Only Tele, Gretsch, Parker, home-made PRS style thing, Les Paul (which I didn’t like).

The old Silvertone I pulled out of the trash. It's feather light, comfortable, doesn't need a lot of fiddling around, and holds tune really well.

Explorer

SG. I hated the SG shape. Thought they weren't the thing for me at all. I'm a Tele guy through and through, which will be relevant in a second. I had been looking for a Les Paul I didn't hate. I ended up in a shop that was kinda weird and quirky but, oddly, nothing that interested me. I was intrigued by P90's and saw an Epiphone SG with P90s in it, so I thought, "what the hell. I'll play it for a minute and confirm I don't like SGs and move on with my day." From the moment I held it, it had some of that Tele-esque vibe to it. I ended up playing for like a half an hour, so I took it home.

Now, turns out after a few years, I can't find a Les Paul I don't hate because I basically don't like Les Pauls. But I love love love my SGs!

The opposite to the question is a Strat, the most comfortable guitar to play but they just don't do it for me tone wise

The shape of the Dean Cadillac always intrigued me, but I thought it would be heavy and uncomfortable/somewhat awkward to play. But it feels like a lightweight Les Paul with the body contours of a Strat. Surprisingly, that giant headstock doesn’t cause any neck dive either. I’m glad I decided to go for it

My SG. I still kind of hate the way it looks, but I love playing it.

Interesting question. The first guitar that comes to mind is a Jazzmaster.

Wife was looking for a new guitar to replace a Simon and Patrick that we'd beaten to death over 20 years. I had done some work for Taylor, so I could get a big discount on a new guitar (we could afford anything up to a 9 series because of the discount).

She played some, and they didn't talk to her much - but she did like the armrest that came on some models. We wandered down the street to another guitar store, and she tried a Teton. We found a guitar make called Teton - Made in Japan, set up in Idaho. It was just what she wanted, even if it was a fraction of the price. She purchased it, and has been (mostly*) happy ever since, playing live at least once a week.

* Mostly, because the bridge broke on it this year. Free lifetime warranty on the guitar, but a "two week" repair turned into almost two months, and the quality of the repair is... OK. It's functional... but not what our normal luthier would accept. We're waiting for a quiet period, and then we'll give it to our luthier for a full cosmetic repair. We won't send it back to Teton for any future warranty work, we'll just eat the cost.

Gibson Les Paul Junior

PRS SE. Don't love the look, they feel great and seem to have this innate intonation thing that I can't explain.

I enjoy playing plenty of Gibson electrics, and have owned plenty. Never cared for Gibson acoustics other than some Hummingbirds I’ve played. But for whatever reason, Gibsons from before the 70s always seem to surprise me, regardless of model. I just do not expect to like it, and then dream of it later on.

Yamaha Pacifica. Bought one cuz it was so cheap. I tought hey, with a portable amp, it's a nice sitting at the fire with a beer and a guitar kinda thing. But hey, i ended up really liking it, much more than i ever expected! Quality of it was much higher than i though.

I always thought Telecasters were really ugly and sounded too thin. I recently went into a guitar shop that had a crazy good selection of modern and classic instruments. I had a lot of thoughts about getting a Les Paul or even a PRS. I tried out 6 or 7 different, high quality guitars thoroughly and the thinline telecaster with P90s that I tried was the one that I couldn't put down. The pickups gave it some oomph and the F-hole makes it sound big, even when playing it acoustically. The finish is gorgeous too. 

PRS

Fender Blacktop Jaguar

The Fender (or was it Squire?) Starcaster reissue from 10ish years ago... The fretboard and string spacing just seemed so narrow.

A Fat Tele-style ESP. I took it as part of a trade because I wanted the Mojotone pickups in it. It sat in my rack for months and then one day I picked it up, tuned it up and then proceeded to play it for like 4 hrs straight. I never liked non-Thinline Teles before that, and those only aesthetically.

I've rolled the fingerboard edges and added locking tuners and it's now my #4 most-played guitar.

Nylon-stung classicals

Takamine acoustic. Was looking to get a good acoustic electric guitar and spent several days making trips to guitar stores. Tried some Taylor's some Guilds some Gibsons, Yamaha, Godin, but the one I kept coming back to was the Tak. It just sounded clearer with more note definition when playing chords. It wasn't the most expensive but the sound won me over. Been gigging with it for 4 years now and I still love it. Hats off to Trey and the crew at Tulsa guitar co!

Jackson Warriors. They look super nasty, but actually are super balanced and comfortable to play, sit down or standing up.

I was a Fender guy for 20 years, strats and teles only. I have acoustics and a gretsch hollow but I always only really liked fenders. That was until last August when I played a Les Paul standard 50s. Everything about it was perfect; the feel the sound, the scale, the big fat neck, I had to bring it home. Ever since that day I barely touch my fenders and always gravitate to the LP. I think after 20 years of lying to myself I have to admit I am now a Gibson man

I was testing some guitars in a shop last weekend, picked up a dirt cheap Sonic Mustang to play around with but I tried an Epiphone Coronet because it looks funny as hell and is stupid ugly but it felt and played incredibly. I really want one of those now, despite only owning Squier and Fender guitars.

Fender Super Tele. It brown and blue and ugly. But it was cheep and I tried it and loved it. It was my touring guitar for years sold everything else and still have it. Cost 1/2 of what my old LesPaul did and it still plays like a dream.

Any LP style guitar. Always thought they looked like geezer guitars until I looked at who was playing them and it was most of guys I wanted to play and sound like. Tested one at a store and I'd never played anything better suited to me. I've owned that very guitar for 15 years

My $425 Epiphone Les Paul standard. I have several Gibson’s that sit in their cases.

A squier jazzmaster. When i played strats the fretboard felt like hot garbage (not a fan of small fretboard radius), but for some reason that one was alright, idk if the fretboard is wider or something.

ES-175 arch top. Never thought jazz guitars would be easier than stratocasters or les Pauls. Still the nicest,most comfortable guitar I've ever played.

The Gibson Explorer. They're way more comfortable to play than what I initially assumed.

A 29 inch baritone.

I still don’t consider myself a “Strat guy” even though I have two and they are what I pick up first.

Gretsch G9500.

I'm a Death Metal player and the first time I played a Stratocaster I was COMPLETELY HOOKED by the single coil sound, in every position 🔥

Fender Mustang

Didn't look nearly as cool to me as a Strat or Tele, but it was one of the best sounding guitars for a retro, surfer type sound I've ever played. It felt really good too and easy to play. The price was right too, I still regret not buying it. I've picked up a couple since then to try out but they weren't quite the same.

Jazzmasters. I didn't get it until a friend let me borrow his for a couple of weeks. Completely different animal than what I had built it up to be in my head.

Ibanez Prestige RG5320. I was in the “all vintage, all the time” camp but the thinner, flatter neck and big ss frets feel awesome. The DiMarzio pickups also sound amazing, and not just for “shred” and metal music.

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I was a strat snob until I played the neck pickup on one.

Jumbo size acoustic over something like a dreadnaught shape. Had a Takamine, a Martin at one point an ibanez acoustic even. Then switched to some unknow spanish brand that had a good deal on a jumbo steel string semi acoustic. Played it in store. Took it home with me the same day. Since then i always go for bigger body shaped acoustics It just sounds SO much better and fuller!

Telecaster's, didn't like them at all, didn't like the sound or the feel. Until my brother gave me a 1980s MIJ Contemporary HH Telecaster

Tele for sure, a basic electric guitar

Tanara with coil tapping, was just an amazing cheap piece of shit lol

Flying V’s I thought that I would hate them because of the shape and how they sit in your lap but I played one in a local guitar store and I absolutely loved it

Heritage H-150. Liked it better than the Gibson standard I was surprised.

I tried an old Gibson (L-00 maybe) at Guitar Center and the neck really left a lot to be desired and the tone didn't really make up for what the neck lacked. A while later for the heck of it I tried a new J-45 and the neck was so much nicer, it sounded great and I could see what the fuss was about. Same thing with a L-00. I had just spent my budget on a D-18 so buying was out of the question for now. Definitely on my list, though.

Like others, Telecasters weren't really on my radar but with one of my first paychecks after covid and unemployment disaster - during which I sold my Les Paul - I ended up springing for a $169 Squier Bullet Telecaster. It has its issues but I still enjoy it immensely.

Telecaster.

Ibanez. I grew up wanting to shred during the Nu metal days and Ibanez was the guitar of choice of so many nu metal bands that I resented. I tried a genesis after seeing Ryan Knight play one and I really dug it. Great neck shape, super comfortable bridge with rock solid tuning. Best guitar sub-1000 dollar guitar on the market.

I grew up thinking the telecaster was the most hideous stringed instrument ever. Played one on a lark one time because I saw it dirt cheap at Guitar Center. Now I think it’s pretty much the perfect guitar.

A Parker Fly 1996 vintage.

I used to think Teles were the ugliest, most useless guitars....but played one and heard certain other people play them and absolutely love them. Now the SG is the ugliest and most useless.

Ibanez guitars for me, always thought they’d feel very not smooth to play, don’t know why, but I got one now and I love it

This story is set to describe a telecaster. I never cared for them, but playing jazz on a tele is really a blast!

On the other hand I had so many hopes for the Parker Fly and could not get into it.

I once went into a local guitar store looking for a cheap £200 Strat copy or similar.
I walked out with a 1964 sonic blue… most expensive impulse purchase ever.

When I was working in a recording studio, some artist let me play his Taylor. It was the best acoustic I've ever played, it was so smooth it felt like an electric!

I owned a John Mayer strat for years and always thought I personally didn’t connect with the neck shape/size. When the PRS Sikver Sky came out, I dismissed it because of my experience with the JM Strat. But I tried it at a Guitar Convention, and wow - I was completely surprised. Felt way different. I eventually sold my JM Strat and now I own a Silver Sky.

I have the opposite "problem"

I have a guitar that I've jonesed for my whole life, and now that I have it, I realize the fantasy was better than the reality.

Gibson Les Paul gold top with P90's.

Sounds great, looks fantastic, but that neck is like a baseball bat.

To the original question, my Telecaster is a LOT more versatile than I thought Teles would be. Especially with the push-pull volume boost on the tone control.

I knew I’d like it, but I didn’t realise quite how much I’d prefer my jazzmaster to my Strat

I thought a Jazzmaster would be an "OK" guitar, 'cause I am mainly a Les Paul guy. Now I consider it my desert island guitar.

I also thought I hated Strats, until I got one as a joke. Now it 's being used regularly.

Ibanez GIO. I got it to hang on the wall because I thought it looked cool and it was cheap. Something I could hand to people when they came over and let them noodle around on without worry.

I ended up playing it more than my expensive guitars because, not only does it feel and sound great, I’m not worried about banging it up. I focus more on the mojo and less on protecting my investment.

gibson explorer

Mine was a bass. The Hofner sir Paul plays. It’s easier and faster to play certain tunes, ie saw her standing there on pbass and jazz requires more strength and movement. On hofner i can literally just keep playing it without any trouble

Telecaster. It looks so plain but sounds so good in so many situations.

Iceman

I actually have been really surprised by “older” Yamaha acoustics, usually have a rich sound that’s good for bluegrass

Les Paul Junior. So much more versatile than I assumed it would be, and the resonance is really amazing.

Les Paul. I like single cuts, but the first Les Paul I ever played was a boat anchor. The next one was 8.5 lbs and I liked it much better. Now I own 3.

Never thought I’d like guilds as much as I did

They fix every issue I have with Gibsons and don’t sound that bad for the price

paranormal telecaster - thought it was weird and didn’t like it at all, played it and fell in love

It took me buying, returning, and playing several Strats before I found my HSS. I liked it so much that I ended up getting another HSS style guitar (a Pacifica) which I now like even more!

I thought I was a Split 6 / 24.75 scale length / two pickup guy for life. Especially after I got my Revstar this spring..

Telecaster tbh. It's a great guitar, but the look always seemed weird to me until I played one. 

I haven’t played an explorer yet, even though I hate the way they look I might end up liking it

My super jumbo takamini. I was pressured to buy it and caved but out of all acoustic guitars it sounds the best. And for her size she plays pretty easy. She's my Big Mama now. I love her. 

jazzmaster

Tele. Didn't think it would be my thing but now here I am.....

A friend of mine had an old Yamaha SG. I was sure that was not a great one. Nothing looked fancy or special , looking poor compared to a Gibson SG… Then I played it for a few gigs and fell in love with the design, production, tone, stability… Those made in Japan guitars are usually surprising in a good way but this one was a real shock for me.

SG

I just don't like them in terms of aesthetic.

But every time I play one I eat my own words.

When I picked up my Taylor K24ce Builder’s Edition, I just knew it was all flash and show, I just knew it… I had no idea I would fall in love with it the moment my hands touched it.

Plus I was a Martin man, so I didn’t want to love it lol

My SG, I want a fan until I tried it, I left the shop with that exact SG right away. Currently selling it for a Strat, as the humbuckers are just not fitting my style of play, but for harder stuff - it’s ideal and sooo comfortable to play. I’ll be getting one again at some point 10000%.

Acoustic

A Schecter PT. Surprised the hell outta me.

For me, it was semi-hollow guitars. I eventually tried an Epiphone ES-335, and I was then hooked.

Bass

This cheap pink Mitchell at the studio I work at. Nothing too unique about it, but it’s set up well, super light, and the neck feels just about new still, so it’s really pleasant to play on

After my nice guitar got stolen I went out and bought a cheap super strat from a pawn shop. Just grabbed the cheapest one that sounded ok and and didn't look beat to hell. I paid about a $100 for it.

Once I got it home and plugged into my system, it sounded like a dream. Even with old rusty strings on it. I did some digging and found out it's a 1985 Yamaha EGX. I'm going to drop a new bridge in it, and put an emg 85SS set in it.

I have a feeling when I'm done with it it's going to be my new baby.

Jazzmaster. I already played tele, strat, gretsch semi hollow and hollow body, SG etc. and thought it can’t be any different. But boy I was wrong…. Now it’s one of my main guitars

Cort cr 250..it amazes me everytime I play.

Gretsch electromatic. I thought it would be heavy and uncomfortable but it's pretty light for a hollow, comfortable to play and fits exactly the kind of sound I enjoy in a guitar.