Were you to ask the casual rock fan to name three things that Slash is famous for, the replies would inevitably include his hat and flowing locks, his epic guitar solos and his large collection of guitars, which numbered in excess of 100 when last counted. Slash himself has stated his preferred make is the Gibson Les Paul, and he has created 13 signature models with Gibson. Indeed, his most famous work on record has been achieved using Gibson's finest.

Slash used a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard during the recording of Guns 'N' Roses seminal "Appetite For Destruction." The curly-haired ax-man becoming so enamored that he used it on every GNR and Velvet Revolver record afterward. He usually, but not always, switched to the 1988 model during live shows, declaring it to be "the guitar (he) was always drawn back to." He was also especially fond of the 1991 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop in later shows, having Gibson customize a model for him that allowed him to "tone down while maintaining peak volume and presence."

Slash has always been a keen experimentalist in the studio and tried out many different types of pickup, from DiMarzios to Bill Lawrence. When recording "Appetite For Destruction," he used the Seymour Duncan Alnico II model, stating that "they have a nice crystal clear sound, but they also have just enough output so I can play the really heavy stuff without being overly saturated."

In his choice of amps, Slash is a dedicated user of Marshall products. At one point during the Guns 'N' Roses era, he attempted to steal a rented '70s-edition Marshall 1959 after falling in love with it. The failure of such a cheeky move didn't sour his love affair with Marshall, given that he used Vox AC30, Fender tube amps and the Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 amp during the recording of the two Velvet Revolver records. The love affair continued into his solo career, where he used the Marshall JCM 800 and his favorite Marshall AFD100 amp on his world tour.

As one of the most talented and instantly recognizable guitarists of all time, Slash built his career on a bedrock of consistency. This is perfectly illustrated by his dedication to the choices he made in guitar and amp manufacturers and is a lesson to any wannabes looking to match his career. To create such intricate, bombastic solos, you first need to be able to trust your gear.