Blender Magazine selected a Top 28 of the Most Recognizable Guitars:
The Top 10:
01 Jimi Hendrix - Fender Stratocaster
02 Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) - Frankenstrat
03 Elvis Presley - Martin D-28 Acoustic
04 Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) - Gibson SG Double Neck
05 Paul McCartney - Hofner Violin Bass
06 Prince - Purple Glyph Symbol Guitar
07 Willie Nelson - Trigger
08 Bo Diddley - The Big B
09 Jack White - 1964 J.B. Hutto Montgomery Airline
10 B.B. King – Lucille (Gibson ES-355)
Blender magazine noted: Presley's primary guitar was a 1955 Martin D-28 acoustic featuring a mahogany neck and black and white panel inlays, lightweight for extra hip-swiveling.
Factoid:
Presley was known for strumming his guitar brutally hard during live shows. To combat this, his road crew brought multiple sets of strings to all gigs.
Shining Moment:
Looking to accommodate a "larger" sound (a guitarist's lament that persists to this day), Presley upgraded from the Martin D-18 to a D-28 just in time for his historic 1956 tour of American venues and popular prime-time television shows.
Source: Various / Updated: Dec 4, 2007