“The secret wasn’t a special effect, a particular amp, or studio trickery, but rather a very simple quirk”: Roy Buchanan inspired countless players, including Jeff Beck, to pick up Telecasters – his favorite Tele was defined by a fascinating tonal “flaw”

Roy Buchanan lights a cigar .

What happens to iconic guitars after a famous (or cult hero) guitarist dies? These days it’s common to see instruments sold at high-profile auctions and vanish into the clutches of anonymous collectors with deep pockets.

However, some guitars live on in museum collections, remain under close guard as family heirlooms, or pass along to famous player friends, where they continue to make history.