Who is your overall favorite guitarist?


At 44 years of age, I personally feel fortunate to have lived in an era along with some of the finest guitarists who have ever lived. I have always had an overwhelming love of music. As I look back to my earlier years of music appreciation (I took formal piano training for 17 years) I remember how my instructor would suggest exposing myself to the many different styles and disciplines of music.

These were such valuable words of wisdom. Considering the fact that this suggestion, more or less, forced me to be more open to musicians other than those that played in strictly rock and roll bands.

Wow, was I surprised to find that I could be as entertained by Chet Atkins and Les Paul as I could be by Ritchie Blackmore or Carlos Santana. Just think about some of the finest from our time. Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Steve Howe, Al DiMeola, the list could seem almost endless. All such incredible musicians.

Although it's very hard to pick one person or style in particular, let's remember the key words, "overall favorite".
I would probably have to say that my overall favorite would have to be Steve Morse (from Dixie Dregs fame).

Who is your favorite?
128x128buscis2
At age 55 I have Buscis2 beat for longevity in listening to guitarists and agree with his assessment that it's difficult to pick one musician. His choice of Steve Morse is certainly understandable, and Steve is #3 on my list. #2 is Mark Knopfler. I think I'm the only one on this forum to pick Martin Barre [Jethro Tull's guitarist as of the band's second album] as the best. Martin goes from the heavy handed playing of "Locomotive Breath" [still my favorite Tull tune] and "Steele Monkey" to the melodic work on "Budapest". He is not constrained by any one style or genre of music. The best thing about this forum is it makes us think about these things. Happy listening!
Andy Latimer of Camel. Like everyone else, I can't pick one single favorite. Of the names that would be on my top 10, Andy is the only one who I didn't see mentioned here (tho I may have missed him). Some of the others on my list would include Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Jimmi Page, Buckethead, Steve Hackett, John Abercrombie, George Benson, Robert Fripp, Neil Young.
My Favorite guitarist is robert fripp, hes a progressive rock guitar player (from king crimson).
The are many great guitarrists, but not that many that can trascend styles...I rather have a guy who can play classical, jazz, ragtime, blues and basicall fuse all the styles into a total that is greater than the sum of the parts...To, only Steve Howe and Richard Thompson fits that bill...Steve Hackett to some extent.

Its not about the style, its about which style these complete players wanna use to express the music...

Santana and Clapton? please!!
Believe it or not, there are more names that haven't mentioned. Oh, my top 10 list would include many of the names listed above: Jimi, Steve Howe, BB, Al Di Meola, Duane Allman, Pat Metheny, Clapton, Santana, the Edge, Pete T, etc. But here are three that haven't been mentioned: the underappreciated Robbie Krieger of Doors fame, progressive rock's Phil Manzanera, and Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.