Estranged guitar solo

Guns N' Roses, 1991, from Use Your Illusion II. Solo by Slash.

Estranged is one of Slash's most carefully composed performances, a long ballad with several solos that act as melodic themes. Rather than improvising freely, he writes lines that return and develop over the course of the song, giving the piece a sense of structure and narrative. His Les Paul tone is warm and singing, with long sustain and expressive vibrato that give the melodies a vocal quality. The solos move from gentle, lyrical passages to more intense, soaring sections, matching the song's emotional arc. It is a clear showcase of Slash's gift for melody. Listen for the recurring guitar theme, which appears in different forms throughout the song and ties its sprawling sections together.

Estranged by Guns N' Roses is ranked #252 in our consensus of 80 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Slash and the song was released in 1991. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #35 (Planet Rock).

In our lists

Best of Slash — #5
The Best Guns N' Roses Guitar Solos — #3
The Best Slash Guitar Solos — #4
Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1991 — #11
The Saddest Guitar Solos Ever Recorded — #15

Sources

Who played the guitar solo on Estranged?

Slash played the solo on Guns N' Roses's Estranged (1991).

What guitar was used on the Estranged solo?

A gibson les paul, according to widely reported accounts.

Where does Estranged rank among the greatest guitar solos?

#252 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 80 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.