I think Hendrix. (No suprise there really.)

dola

I know lots of people will complain that their favourite is not on the poll, but hey, there are only 12 selections and I didn't want to waste one on an Other choice. I think I chose a pretty good selection though (barring any as of yet unrealised brain-fart causing me to leave off someone obvious).

dola

I know lots of people will complain that their favourite is not on the poll, but hey, there are only 12 selections and I didn't want to waste one on an Other choice. I think I chose a pretty good selection though (barring any as of yet unrealised brain-fart causing me to leave off someone obvious).
Omar Rodriguez. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

Doc Watson?

Interesting...

You tended to choose musicians who are guitarists.

For pure guitarists - electric guitar - Joe Satriani kicks ass.

kind of weird seeing Prince on there.

anyone who knows me knows my answer is Edward Van Halen. There are a lot of guitarists on the list I like (Hendrix, SRV and Gilmour especially) and a few that aren't (Tom Morello, Billy Gibbons, Vernon Reid, James Hetfield). But, I don't think any of them come anywhere close to Eddie. As I've said before, for all his accolades, I think he's a very UNDERrated guitarist - especially for his rythm playing.

Frampton, baby!!!

Dickey Betts and Duane Allman?

Ty Tabor!

I think you came up with a pretty good list. All of those guys are great guitarists, but I'm gonna have to go with Kirk Hammet. I remembering when I was a kid listening to the solos he used to pull on the early Metallica albums (Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and And Justice For All) and just thinking how amazing they were.

Where's Phil Keggy?

Who was the Queen guitarist? He had some "riffs" (if I'm using that word right) that I liked.

Who was the Queen guitarist? He had some "riffs" (if I'm using that word right) that I liked.

Brian May

kind of weird seeing Prince on there.
Prince is actually a fantastic guitarist. I think the musice he creates is awful and a gaint waste of talent, but he is a great guitar player.

Am I the only person in the world who thinks that, although Hendrix was great in his day, he's only an average player by todays standards. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a lot of his music, but his guitar work has never impressed me.

David Gilmour.

criminally absent is Richard Thompson

Joe Satriani

Am I the only person in the world who thinks that, although Hendrix was great in his day, he's only an average player by todays standards. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a lot of his music, but his guitar work has never impressed me.

David Gilmour.
I more or less agree with you. Hendrix is one of the greats, but I don't think he is the greatest ever. Hendrix was a great great performer, but in terms of his actual playing I would put both Clapton and SRV in front of him.

Joe Satriani
He should be on there instead of Slash.

Prince is actually a fantastic guitarist. I think the musice he creates is awful and a gaint waste of talent, but he is a great guitar player.

oh, I agree that he's good. vastly underrated.
just not a guy I normally associate among the top guitarists.

How 'bout Robert Fripp of King Crimson?

The problem with guys like Hammet, Slash, and other speed metal guitarists is that while their solos sound cool and complicated they are for the most part really simple. They are just played really fast and with lots of effects and distortion.

I am not saying they aren't good guitarists, but I don't think they are anywhere near as good as some of the other guys on the list.

Mark Knopfler is also missing

I dont see how Slash can be on this list. Im not that impressed by his recent effort on Contraband from Velvet Revolver. Although it is nice that they sound and feel more like STP than GnR.

Steve Howe.

Leo Kottke or Brian May.

Charo.

Charo.

wow :D

or Kermit the Frog, for that matter

I agree with Joe Satriani. I would also include Steve Vai, for purely technical wizardry.

Also, it's a little known fact that Slash tried out for Poison, and was beat out by C.C. Deville...it's a toss-up as to who got the better end of the deal.

Doc Watson?


There are a number of times I have thought "well, if McSweeny andI were ever stranded somewhere together at least we could tollerate each other's music."

Earlier this year I drove right by Merlefest without knowing what it was. This will not happen again next year.

Mark Knopfler is also missing


Kurt and I have long known that we could live on an island with only Cds (and a player), a brazillian hooker named Katrina, and a herd of wild free range tofu.

I offer up the following for consideration:

John Lee Hooker
Joey Santiago
Jonny Marr

I would probably go with Knopfler of the add ons and either Clapton or King from the list.

Am I the only one that think Clapton's best work is on other people's albums? (Pros & Cons oif Hitchhiking - wow!)

How did Rick Neilson not make the list?

Or (seriously) Richard Thompson?

The problem with guys like Hammet, Slash, and other speed metal guitarists
I don't think GnR was quite speed metal. But I don't Slash was all that good, regardless.

or Kermit the Frog, for that matter


I beg to differ. Kermit played the banjo.
That green muppet with that funky LL Cool J hat played the guitar.

All time greatest would be Jimmy Hendrix, I think. I have to wonder what he would have done by now had he lived.

I would also make room for Carlos Santana, Yngwie Malmstein (UNLEASH THE FUCKING FURY!) and Randy Rhodes.

Maybe Kirk Hammett, also.

This one is hard!

Interesting that several people included on the list might say it was Robert Johnson. Clapton's recent tribute album of RJ music caused him to break down with awe at some of the licks that RJ played.

But, we couldn't even muster any short fiction about him... much less a vote or two.

Why isnt SkyDog on this list :D ?

But, we couldn't even muster any short fiction about him... much less a vote or two.

heh, I just saw and deleted my aborted attempt at that short story.

hmm as far as blues goes I would nominate:

T-Bone Walker
Blind Lemon Jefferson
Son House (amazing stuff, my personal favorite)
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
Robert Cray
Lightnin' Hopkins

I dunno if any of them are the best, but they are all amazing.

For more rockish:

Alex Lifeson
Am I the only one that think Clapton's best work is on other people's albums? (Pros & Cons oif Hitchhiking - wow!)

Roger Waters tends to get really good guitarists, hence my other pick:

Jeff Beck

Don't know if I would call him the best ever, but I'll throw out another vote for Steve Vai for the sake of variety. He can do some amazing things.

Satriani or Vai. Definately.

I don't think GnR was quite speed metal. But I don't Slash was all that good, regardless.
I agree GnR was not a speed metal group by any means, but he is that type of guitarist. Most of the things people general give him so much credit for are many of his solos which are similar in techinical ability to the solos Metallica has.

Although someone mentioned that Slash was beat out by C.C. DeVille with Poison. That is maybe a better comparioson for Slash. Again C.C. is a good guitarist, but the thing he is best at is playing his solos very fast and making them sound more complicated than they are.

Robert Cray
Jeff Beck
Those are two more great ones. Speaking of Beck The Yardbirds had a great run of guitarists there for awhile. They started with Clapton and replaced him with Beck when Clapton left. And added Jimmy Paige later on. That's a pretty amazing group of guitarists.

What makes a "great guitarist," in everyone's mind? The ability to be a virtuoso-type player? For an "individual" distinction like this, as opposed to bands, do we reward the technically proficient players at the expense of those who play to the band's strengths?

In other words, do we go gaga over gaudy guitarists (oooh, alliteration) the same way we do QBs, preferring Kurt Warner numbers over the guy who plays within the system, but is just as effective in terms of overall team achievement?

That's an interesting point. I think there is certainly something to be said for a guitarist who plays really well within the constraints of their band. However I think when you are discussing who is the greatest guitarist it has to be more than they just fit their band very well. They need to have a unique sound and style, they need to stand out within their band, and I do think their technical abilities should be judged. Although I concede that just being able to play something complicated doesn't mean it will sound good.

The thing that eliminates guys like Slash and Hammet for me is that they didn't have an original sound to them and they very likely could have been easily replaced without the bands suffering much. The same can't be said about Hendrix or Van Halen.

This guy

http://www.squizzle.com/movieview.asp?id=1091

you know he gets tons of chicks when he pulls the guitar out

Chet Atkins

Dola

the guy from Kids in the Hall who beat the devil in a guitar off by using his "woo woo" pedal

I don't know if I'd vote him for best ever, whatever that means, but Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction deserves some props.

Joan Jett gets no love

Surely Steve Clark and Phil Collen beat out Slash.

I voted for Eddie. He spawned an entire generation of imitators, and his work is instantly recognizable.

Surprised noone's mentioned Eric Johnson as being at least good enough to be on the list.

I could name 10 jazz guitarists who can play the doors off any of these guys. Some coming to mind include DiMeola, McLaughlin, and Metheny.

For Rock and Roll purposes Hendrix gets the nod. I know several folks pointed out he's rather average compared to today (I use italics because I think the concept of the guitar virtuoso has died and playing that style is discouraged now). Those folks don't understand that Hendrix created the genre of the guitar hero. He invented the style. Before then you had Clapton and Page, but they didn't play the loose solo style like Hendrix did, that was copied by every metalhead who came thereafter. Van Halen owes everything he did to Hendrix. Hendirx was the first to play the frets and the first to really use feedback (although Page was doing it too, but for a blues style as opposed to the acid rock style of Hendrix). Page really created the modern method used by folks like Van Halen, Malmsteen, Hammett, and Satriani. Granted, the others may be better, but Hendrix created the style and died before he even entered his prime.

[QUOTE=primelord] The thing that eliminates guys like Slash and Hammet for me is that they didn't have an original sound to them and they very likely could have been easily replaced without the bands suffering much.QUOTE]

I strongly dissagree with Slash. I think in most peoples eyes Guns N' Roses WAS Slash and Axl. Without either of those two the band wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as they did. On top of the fact that Slash wrote about 3/4 of the songs, I really don't see how Gn'R could have exsisted without the man in the top hat.

Surely Steve Clark and Phil Collen beat out Slash.

I'm not foolin' myself...

Ahh, f-f-foolin!

I saw Def Leppard last summer, and I have to say I was quite impressed by Collen. I've liked Def Leppard for years, but I didn't really appreciate his guitar work until I saw him live.

I see that the choice of guitar players doesn't include the worlds greatest guitarist ever,

Frank Zappa

(dis)Honorable mention:

Cobain

I can't believe I mentioned Zappa and Cobain in the same post.

There are a number of times I have thought "well, if McSweeny andI were ever stranded somewhere together at least we could tollerate each other's music."

Earlier this year I drove right by Merlefest without knowing what it was. This will not happen again next year.

i've always figured that if i pulled an album out of your collection at random i'd have a pretty damn good chance of finding something i'd like

John Petrucci would have to be on my list. And I would second the Ty Tabor recommendation as well. Pretty much at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of technical ability, but they are probably my two favorite guitarists.

FYI, I've heard pieces of Jelly Jam II (Tabor, Rod Morgenstern, and John Myung) and it kicks ass - even better than the first.

I strongly dissagree with Slash. I think in most peoples eyes Guns N' Roses WAS Slash and Axl. Without either of those two the band wouldn't have gotten nearly as far as they did. On top of the fact that Slash wrote about 3/4 of the songs, I really don't see how Gn'R could have exsisted without the man in the top hat.
Keep in mind I was talking only about replacing his guitar playing abilities. In other words I think there were several guitarists who could have replaced his playing ability. Certainly if he wrote 3/4 of the songs he was invaluable to GnR, but on his playing ability I don't think he belongs in a discussion of the greatest ever.

In my stupid opinion Slash is just an overhyped Ace Frehley.

Can I get some love for Django Reinhardt?

Where's Phil Keggy?

Always overlooked. Eric Clapton was once asked about Keggy, and his response was, "The second greatest guitarist in history. After Hendrix."

Always overlooked. Eric Clapton was once asked about Keggy, and his response was, "The second greatest guitarist in history. After Hendrix."
Hey... I thought you were on sabbatical to write a book or something... ;)

Gotta be Johnny Marr. Even on his own twenty years after his best work, when we saw him in concert last year, he was still amazing.

Always overlooked. Eric Clapton was once asked about Keggy, and his response was, "The second greatest guitarist in history. After Hendrix."
I have some doubts about that one. There is an urban legend that Hendrix used to say Keaggy was the greatest ever and looking on snopes it says that it is sometime credited to Clapton as saying that instead of Hendrix. Netither were true. This sounds awful close to that. I am not syaing he didn't say it, but I have never seen anything like that and I have read countless articles with Clapton discussing other guitarists.

A little voice came to me and said "Eugene Chadbourne."

So he is my guy.

I have some doubts about that one. There is an urban legend that Hendrix used to say Keaggy was the greatest ever and looking on snopes it says that it is sometime credited to Clapton as saying that instead of Hendrix. Netither were true. This sounds awful close to that. I am not syaing he didn't say it, but I have never seen anything like that and I have read countless articles with Clapton discussing other guitarists.

My memory and my source is certainly suspect. So perhaps this only a variation of that legend. Thanks for setting me straight.

As for my sabbatical, franklin, I'm still on it. I just had a lunch break. Still hammering away at that book...

I see that the choice of guitar players doesn't include the worlds greatest guitarist ever,

Frank Zappa

(dis)Honorable mention:

Cobain

I can't believe I mentioned Zappa and Cobain in the same post.

Please, please tell me you are spoofing. For the love of God, please, do not tell me you are seriously comparing Cobain to Zappa. Oh, now I get the (dis) part. Sorry, I was just waiting for the inevitable "What about Cobain" post and mistook you for one of those. My sincerest apologies.

I mentioned this thread to my boss, and he said very quickly "Willie Nelson."

Here's a name I'll throw out, not because I necessarily think he's the greatest guitarist ever, but I'm fairly confident that no one here has ever heard of him, and he deserves some respect from the Eddie Van Halen-worshipping crowd - Mattias IA Eklundh. Eklundh is a Swede, a self-taught guitarist (who dropped out of school at 13 (!) to learn the craft), and he records under two separate monikers - Freak Kitchen, his metal band, and Freak Guitar, which is his instrumental recordings/guitar clinics name.

The guy is truly amazing - not just beause of his technical proficiency, but also because of his inventiveness. On his new instrumental CD, The Road Less Traveled, he does things like write a song based on the rhythms of a typewriter, and he's all over the place stylistically (jazz, flamenco, ethnic, etc.), not just heavy metal. He even did a kicked-up version of the Fletch theme, which makes him about as cool as anyone I've ever come across, in my book.

None of his stuff is available in the US, except by import, but here's some samples from his first instrumental CD.

http://home.swipnet.se/freakguitar/music.html


His band is phenomenal as well. Most of us who have heard it describe it as "Extreme on steroids" - it's essentially pop/rock with insane, inventive heavy metal riffs and solos. Truly one of a kind.

Check him out!

I saw Def Leppard last summer, and I have to say I was quite impressed by Collen. I've liked Def Leppard for years, but I didn't really appreciate his guitar work until I saw him live.

Wow. Somebody besides me still goes to Def Leppard shows. :eek:

Definitely Brian May for me.... could add Johnny Ramone on the mix :)

Well, my vote went for Jimmy Page

Definitely Brian May for me.... could add Johnny Ramone on the mix :)

Well, my vote went for Jimmy Page

i read the other day that Johnny Ramone is in the hospital battling cancer. Best wish go out to him of course. It would be nice if cancer left the Ramones alone

Just thought of another one completely overlooked, Steve Morse. The man can play any style, and play it damn well.

ONe of the best I ever saw live was Curt Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets. He did that unplugged thing with Nirvana, but really just as a side player. Live, in a club like the Sun Club in Tempe the man could really put on a show with his punk/country/metal fusion style. I once saw them do an improv set at the Mason Jar where he just rolled into these 20 minute solo/jam sessions. Their studio work never came close to depicting what these guys could do live.

I have to admit that one guitarist who ireally like who I failed to put up there is Pete Townshend. I think he is an awesome performer (Live At Leeds = best live album EVER) and I find some of his solos really great.

Wow. Somebody besides me still goes to Def Leppard shows. :eek:

not sure that the "still" part applies - it was the first one I've been too.

technically, it was for my wife. It was "Wife Appreciation Night" - and the whole thing was a surprise. I farmed out our son to her folks, picked her up at work in a limo, took her to dinner, and then to the Def Leppard concert. And it was a great show (and an even better night, if you catch my drift) - I was pleasantly surprised at their performance. For a band that was notorious for it's studio production (sometimes recording chords one string at a time, for example), they sounded superb live...and a big part of that was Phil Collen and, to a lesser extent, Vivian Campbell