Last month the Japanese late-night tongue-in-cheek variety show Tamori Club had an episode with the theme "what do people play in music stores when testing instruments". Here are the rankings.

 

I've linked to customs when available.

 

Electric Guitar

 

1. Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing

2. Larry Carlton - Room 335

3. Derek and the Dominos (Eric Clapton) - Layla

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop

5. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

 

Bass Guitar

 

1. Jaco Pastorius - The Chicken

2. Marcus Miller (with David Sanborn) - Run for Cover

3. Stanley Clarke - School Days

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop

5. Graham Central Station (Larry Graham) - Pow

 

Acoustic Guitar

 

1. The Beatles - Blackbird

2. Simon & Garfunkel - Anji

3. Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven

 

Classical Guitar

 

1. Romance de España / Romance de Amor / Jeux interdits

2. Francisco Tárrega - Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of the Alhambra)

3. Francisco Tárrega - Lágrima (Tear)

 

Saxophone

 

1. Theme of Lupin III

2. Fly Me to the Moon

3. Main Theme from Detective Conan (Case Closed)

4. Winelight

5. Autumn Leaves

 

 

Thoughts? Other than...

I don't really play songs, or even bits of them, when trying out a new guitar. I mostly start off with cowboy chords, move into a I-V-IV 12 bar and change things up from that, depending on what i feel like. It's generally enough for me to tell if I like the guitar enough to keep going with it.