Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee (Bass) "RUSH" enough said |
My favorite overall guitarist would have to be Eric Johnson. However, if you are looking for someone who is the most technically proficient and has the most complete mastery of the fretboard, I would have to go with Allan Holdsworth. His mastery of the fretboard is beyond comprehension of most mortals.
Kelvin |
Brian Setzer can really rip it up. And I second Johnny Marr! I think seeing the guitarist perform can influence who you might choose as your favorite.
Jeff |
How can Robert Johnson not be mentioned here???? |
Peter Green historically and Bruce Cockburn contemporarily. If you haven't heard Bruce live, keep an eye on your local papers for this guy if he comes to your town. Thoroughly enjoyable troubadour with vast guitar technique and terrific writing skills.
REL2 |
Brian May of Queen. Queen played so many styles of music so convincingly, and much was down to his incredible musicianship. |
Perhaps it is Chris Spedding |
Gotta plug Otis Rush. He always seems to have great phrasing. |
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Tony F**king Rice, Clarence White, Django Reinhart!!!! |
Jim Hall for jazz.
Jimi Hendrix when playing with Mitch Mitchell and
Mick Taylor when playing in the Stones for rock.
Richard Thompson for folk-rock.
Elmore James for blues.
Otis Spann overall even though he didn't play gtr because he WOULD have played better gtr than anyone, and
the flying nun because i really really like her. |
Kevin Eubanks, but only his first album on Electra Musician. This is some fresh sounding jazz, especially Monk's "Evidence"--very slick arrangement. I think that you can only get this on vinyl . . . |
CLAPTON - his albums are great, but after seeing him 4 times live, there is no question |
Can't pick just one. Too many styles appeal....
Gilmour, SRV, Hendryx, Ronnie Earl, Knopfler, Hedges, Santana, Buckethead, Ritenour, Tibbetts, B.B.King, Buck Dharma Roeser, Michael Brook, The Edge, Fripp, McLaughlin....
CD |
SRV- Just listen to Voodo Chile once. |
Buddy Guy. Sorry, he's it! What? |
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Bo Ramsey, he plays with Greg Brown and lately with Lucinda Williams. |
Me. Well, only if no one else existed . . . Ha, ha! |
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Yngwie Malmsteen (will blow them all away), Johnny Winter, and of course, Jimi Hendrix. In that order also...I was searching for a good rock guitar cd when I ran across him by accident. |
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I am absolutely amazed. Just about every great guitarist (Hendrix is my favorite, btw) has been mentioned except the late Chet Atkins. How can this great talent be forgotten? I'll bet if you asked the guitarists'listed above who the best is this man would be on the short list of most of them. |
lots of great choices. One of my favorites I did not see mentioned was Larry Coryell. Well worth a listen
gary |
Here, Here tubgroover. From a Tennessean, the guitarist guitarist deseves a shout. |
I haven't listened to them all but but I have seen Clapton live many times and have most of his televised interviews and recordings. Even most people who think he was overrated give him his due and those who believe him to be the best hands down are fervent in their passion. I always believed Clapton would be the hardest to imitate because of his vibrato, his short,quick, evenly spaced notes , and his ability to pick with such dexterity and precision.[even throughout the lower notes on the neck ]which in fact many other guitar players ignore because these notes are apt to blur[at top speed] if not properly executed I just analyze what I see and hear[only my opinion] Most people don't like to jump on a bandwagon because so many others are on it! That's why Clapton gets the varied opinions he does. SRV Hendrix Trower etc. all are similar in how they play and sound. Does anybody play like Clapton and get the same resulting type style and clarity with accuracy of sound? |
Clapton is the "cleanest" guitarist I've ever heard. But one thing he doesn't get enough credit for is the fact that he is a great singer. His guitar playing is versatile and he always plays the kind of music I like. Two examples are Derick and the Dominoes and 461 Ocean Blvd.. His give and take with Duane Allmond is a hard core, toe tappin, fusion of rock and blues that just makes you feel good. 461 Ocean Blvd., whether you like it or not, made reggae internationally popular. And who doesn't like reggea? I'm sorry Joz25 that I'm not being very technical. I'm not a musician but I love Clapton's music. |
He doesn't play a whole lot of guitar anymore, but Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead amazes me with what he can do. |
Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew on the same stage!
Give John Mayer a few more albums and he will be on this list also. |
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Hendrix...God rest his soul..... |
Can't just name one. Love different guitarists for different reasons:
Bill Frissell
Derek Trucks
Barry Sless
Jerry Garcia (my 1st choice)
Trey Anastasio
Buddy Gage (one of the great peddle and lap steel players)
Toy Caldwell
Jaco Pastorius (Bass, I know, but he and Phil Lesh both qualify)
Duane Allman (my 2nd choice)
Dicky Betts
Robert Randolph (peddle steel again)
Mark Knofler
Ry Cooder
There are more, but I'll let someone else have a shot. |
Joe Pass, who was only mentioned maybe a couple of times in this thread, was probably the finest guitar virtuoso ever. Listen to his stuff and you will see. Other favorites include Robert Johnson(Real father of the blues) Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Paco DeLucia, Lee Ritenour, Johnny Lang, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, and the list goes on. Let's face it, these people are all master of their crafts and their are so many great ones. My hat's off to them all!!!! Thanks for all the great music. |
kenny burrell. or carlos montoya. of course les paul and chet could do it all. ever seen LP live? he PROVES it. |
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Jorma K
of Airplane and Hot Tuna fame pick up live at the sweetwater if you don't have it |
What About Micheal Hedges,Pat Metheny,Django Rheinhardt? |
Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, Ronnie Earl, Albert King. Sorry, can't zero in on only one. Fillmore East, in particular (ABB) Blues at Sunrise - Albert King, Ronnie Earls earlier recording with vocalists and Blues Guitarist Virtuoso Live. |
I once saw a guitarist named Randy Hansen perform all Hendrix
songs. I was very impressed with his abilities. |
Hey Rosstaman, that's my friend Steve's brother-in-law. He was invited and went to San Francisco from L.I. a number of years ago for a Jimi Hendrix concert bash. I don't know what his favour boutique amp and guitar of the month is today but if it has TONE he owns it. |
Although they aren't 'guitarists', but 'mondolinists', David Grisman & Chris Thile |
Al Dimeola, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrel, Steve Vai, Scott Henderson, Duane Allman, and if I may include, Jaco Pastorious (bass guitar) |
Pat Metheny. Magnificent. |
John McLaughlin. Larry Coryell. Sonny Sharrock. Pat Martino. Chops aren't everything, but Johnny M wins out. |
I have been going through a Ralph Towner (solo) phase lately. |
Are people still reading responses to this thread from January? If so:
Jorma
Richard Thompson
Bruce Cockburn
Steve Howe
Wes
Kenny Burrell
Tal Farlow
But most of all Django!
(I'm shocked that some included Clapton, Jeff Beck, Santana, Eddie Van Whatever, Stevie Ray Whatever; what a joke in comparison). |
I don't know if I could pick a favorite but, here's short list: Kirk Hammet (Metallica), Michael Einziger (Incubus), Frank Zappa (Frank Zappa), John Petrucci (Dream Theater). |
No BB King? Anyone who can say so much with ONE note has my vote. I mean, it's not how fast you play, it's what you say! It's the space between the notes that moves me, usually. |
Roy Buchanan. If you don't have the blues, you will after you hear him play. I don't believe that anyone played with more feeling or expression than he did. I've listened to all the great ones over the last 40 years, and I still love listening to them all. But Roy Buchanan was a cut above. You don't listen to him play, you feel the playing. |
Brimac, I mentioned BB King way back there on Jan 4, along with Jorma Kaukonen, who I'm glad to see others remember, and Doc Watson and Merle Travis. |
