As a guitarist (a hack compared to many) I love so many players but for me the overall honours right now goes hands down to fusion guitarist Guthrie Govan. Not only does his technique push the physical boundaries (well past Vai...who I have much respect for) but he also possesses the capacity to play any style at the absolute highest level. Very scary to see one person with so much talent. |
One of the most right on the night I heard him was Gurf Morlix when he accompanied Lucinda Williams on tour about 8 years ago. His support of her phrasing was sublime, just impeccable taste that first and foremost always served the song. Never a wrong note, never an unnessary note. |
Anyone listen to the CD called Masterpiece Guitars by Martyn Taylor and Steve Howe...Simply tremendous...I just wish it was in vinyl. |
David Gilmour. To me, very emotional, very layered. |
ghost rider,nice to see another adrian belew fan,him & fripp were smokin hot,i saw belew play with frank zappa & he was amazing,i also saw steve via when he was with zappa & i thought belew did a much better job,via was too much flash & show for me.
anyhow,i gotta go with FZ for my alltime favorite guitarist,that guy really had the chops when he was young & did all his own guitar work. |
I saw Vai Twice,once with DLR and another time solo. I saw Belew with King Crimson that was a night to remember. I never had the luxury to see Frank. That would have been something. As amazing as he was as a guitarist he probably would have made a better president. |
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The late great Danny Gatton. |
John McLaughlin but I've got to add both Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp of Crimson fame are incredible. |
just about all my favorites have been mentioned - usually more than once. since fripp and belew have been mentioned as a pair and tom verlaine solo - how about verllaine and richard lloyd? on the one ocassion i saw the band, i thought lloyd stole the show.
in a similar context, the one name i'm surprised to find unmentioned is david hidalgo. whether playing a traditional electric solo, some bizarre acoustic mexican stringed device of indeterminate genus, or palying alongside other guitars when the fellow lobos join in, hidalgo is a riveting player. |
"08-25-05: Henryhk
there are simply too many....so let's turn this around. Who is the most over-rated? To start out a bit controversially...for me one is Steve Vai. Great technique, no soul nor character. It ain't music to me. Don't get me wrong I do like metal at times. Eddie Van Halen is kool when he is on (well in the early days)."
A late reponse to Henryhk's post: I agree. I wouldn't say Steve Vai is overatted since he has one of the best techniques of the top players. I agree that he is not the greatest composer, and frankly, I think his music sucks. He's like a watered down Frank Zappa - but the post didn't say best composer; would you fault Andre Segovia because he doesn't write the classical songs that he plays? I mean he just plays it with his technical ability - does that make him the most overrated?
For the most overrated, I would say Yngwei Malmsteen(sp?). He plays the same crap at the same speed, and it's repetitive even before 1 song is over. It's a torture session to listen to him. Nothing but Speed Speed Speed. He would do good in a 100 meter dash, but sucks as a musician. |
Lindsey Buckingham...I dunno I just like his finger work |
Right now I'd have to say a toss up between
Steve Vai & Buckethead. Steve Morse was my
favorite for awhile. Robert Fripp was a long
time favorite also.
I've seen Zappa w/Belew (77), Bigjoe you're
right Belew seemed better with Frank, I didn't
see Vai w/Zappa but I have a DVD of that show.
Vai didn't even seem to be very good back then.
I've seen Fripp & Belew w/Crimson (81,82,84,03)
Steve Morse (03), Steve Vai (05). I'm going to
see Buckethead this month. I've seen alot more
but those are my favorites.
Vinny |
Just thought Id mention if anyone is in Winnipeg Canada they can whitness some smoking hot guitar playing by seeing the Barry G Player band at the local bar. |
Where's Todd Rundgren?
I tripped across this thread again recently and thought - Three years, 265 amazingly diverse and interesting responses naming hundreds of players and -No Todd? Anyone else old enough to remember when he was the domestic alternative to imported guitar heroes? (See The Nazz).
Many people think of TR (if they think of him at all) as a songwriter first and may associate him with the piano. He hasn't played the part in many years, but once upon a time.... |
Impossible to pick just one due to so many different styles and originality: Jeff Beck, SRV, John Renbourn,Steve Hackett (not only with Genesis but solo and classical, listen to A Midsummer Night's Dream), John Mayer as an up and comer, Alex Lifeson (not just for solos but his chord comping),Joe Pass. |
PHIL KEAGGY!!! Phil is not my favorite but he is the best I have ever seen. I grew up in Youngstown, OH, where Phil came onto the scene with his band GLASS HARP. My then girlfriend's best friend's brother was the Glass Harp base player (John Sfarra). I have seen Phil play on stage (from Idora Park to a concert in NYC years later), in wonderful Millcreek Park in the woods and at the Flats, at parties. At age 14 I played harmonica along side him in the park (he does not know this). I have also seen and been with many, many other musicians [Joe Walsh and the James Gang at Kent State, with BB King on one of his prison tours while I was in grad school, learned even more about playing the harp from living next door to John Mayall in Laural Canyon (CA)in early 70's, Rick Derringer, Tom Petty, on tour with Todd Rundgren, on tour with the Outlaws (dual guitar band from Georgia}, and was priviliged to be helping (at age 17)on stage when Led Zeppelin introed their 3d lp at the Forum in LA (where I thought Jimmy Page was going to create a riot due to his extensive use of acoustic guitar --vs hardass rock electric-- during the show.)] Lots of bragging thank you, only to illustrate I have qualification for my choice of Phil.
I still have never seen anyone play like Phil except somewhat close was a friend and an unknown guitarist from Youngstown named Ron Rupp who was also into religion.
Phil truly can play it all and has a sound that is so unique that I only wish more people could hear it. Phil has stayed true to his beliefs. It's the only reason more people don't know more about him. Stardom seems not to be his thing.
Keep on Phil. Keep on. |
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Jimi, One of the very few Artists; Guitarist or otherwise, who profoundly changed the war any anyone who followed played, and I really like most of players listed, but for me it was Jimi Hendrix who got under everybody's skin...especially mine.
sing brother, play on drummer...
Happy New year!!! |
Lifeson, Earl Slick, Knopfler, and Chet Atkins -- all incredible. |
Robm321, Yngwei...yikes! Cannot agree more. Generally at least for me, I really don't appreciate those who are technically proficient or even brilliant but then insist on showing off with just fast runs on scales without real musical and emotional artistry. In a way though perhaps not a composer of the song itself per se, all do "compose" or construct their solos...I pick a well constructed solo over fast runs any day...not that the ability to play fast in a technically way is a good thing: u just need to when & how...eg. Alan Holdsworth.
Similiarly though different there are some well regarded guitarists that for some reason don't resonate with me. May just be a taste thing....Al Dimeola, Martin Taylor are two of the examples.
Some guitarists active today who find very different, interesting, and really like include
Charlie Hunter (TJ Kirk, his own group, all over the place, plays an 8 string guitar which allows to play base lines and at times imitate an organ)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Jazz, angular and intense...reminds the great John McCalughlin not sound wise but emotionally)
Jeff Parker (underground, Chicago, solo album out: tasteful and a thinking man's approach if you will but also great and interesting comping)
Rodney Jones (funk on!)
Anthony Wilson (perhaps more known for being in Diana Krall's band, but check out his solo albums!)
Eric Johnson (actually a fan for sometime, but noticed nobody seems to have mentioned him..new album Bloom is quite good though as usual a couple of duds too) |
let's not forget : paco de lucia, garry moore, stanley clark, stanley jordan, jonas hellborg, |
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SRV. Listening is one thing, but to have actually seen him do it(3x)was incredible. That man made a lot sound from one guitar. It literally sounded like 2 or 3 at once. |
A recent and drop my jaw discover for me..Bireli Lagrene...check out his Front Page album with Dennis Chambers or live trio Live in Marciac |
Alex Lifeson (because of guitar and fisticuffs), Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Clapton, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan - in no particuar order - what about Prince? What an innovator... |
What? No mention of Albert King! Genuine innovator on guitar. He's the man who started and perfected bending the strings. Also today, how about Jimmy d Lane. |
I'd say either Steve Cropper, Bob Mould or Marc Ribot if I'm judging in terms of how much influence they have on me. |
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joe satriani, terje rypdal, david gilmore |
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How about the late Terry Kath from Chicago? |
Jsujo,If you can honestly dismiss Carlos Santana from this list of opinions of who is a great guitarist,I can honestly dismiss your understanding of what the qualities of a great guitarist are at the outset. |
At the moment its Derek Trucks. |
Some suggestions: less well known, underappreciated yet fantastic guitairists...check these out
Jeff Parker: The Relatives
Kurt Rosenwinkel: The Next Step
Wayne Krantz: 2 Drink Minimum
Bireli Lagrene: Live in Marciac |
Scofield by a mile, for me. |
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Debbie Davies, a little known Blues performer. Varied style, lots of licks played with passion. |
Ry Cooder and David Lindley. I have always been a big fan of both, but especially these days. |
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duane allman. just typing his name gives me goose bumps |
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duane allman. just typing his name gives me goose bumps Now try writing it out longhand. You'll have to slip on a pair of Depends, but it's worth it. :-) |
I would have to say Johnny Marr (ex-Smiths) and Wes Montgomery. If I am feeling extra playful I like CC Deville (ex-Poison). |
Lonnie Mack!! Please take a listen to " The Wham of the Memphis Man " Also my favorite album. |
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Jonathan Butler - Phil Keaggy - Earl Klugh |
