Greatest Guitarist

[PatrickHenry]

There have been many great guitarists, just in my lifetime. I think the instrument has reached a lot of new audiences since it was invented as a classical derivative of the lute. Lots of folks play nothing but electrics these days.

But who would you regard as the greatest instrumentalist on the stringed box? Maybe a top ten list would be worth arguing about. A lot of your preferences will undoubtedly be derived from your taste in music, but at least try to consider genres other than your own personal favorites.

Rolling Stone did a list a while back: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto...ion=6.0.12.857
I have to say ranking Frank Zappa down at # 45 has gotta be wrong :eek:

My list: Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, George Harrison, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Jorge Strunz, Ardeshir Farah

[Plasma Snake[D]]

Dont forget Dimebag Darrell from Pantera. Listen to his solo in "Floods".

[Chris the Chees]

Bah, people who put Hendix at the top of their list, even in their top 10 are deaply confused.

They miss out the like of Vai, Satriani, Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen, Fripp, Gilmour, etc.

[PatrickHenry]

Hendrix' extraodinarily innovative use of feedback, controlled distortion and the newly invented wah-wah pedal made him an influence on the other (certainly great) guitarists you mention, CtC.

He was also self-taught and had a unique style of playing a right-handed guitar with his left. Furthermore, he used his thumb extensively across the thin neck of his Stratocaster. I believe he was one of the primary influences of the movement of the rock world to the Strat, in fact. There is no doubt that Hendrix is top ten, but I note you didn't even find ten to list, Chris. Hmmph...teenage dilettante...

[gr8fuldaniel]

Joe Walsh is a personal friend of mine. But I dont think its biased to put him somewhere around 5 or 6 .

You didnt say it had to be "Rock" Guitar..... I dig the Flamenco Nouveau
style of Ottmar Liebert. And Jesse Cook. Lotta skill there.

My list is very flexible. It could change in 5 minutes. I could easily add or subtract or shuffle. Because its my list and nothing is carved in stone.

Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck
Santana
Joe Walsh
Vaughn
Clapton
George Harrison
Ottmar Liebert
Jesse Cook

[PatrickHenry]

Yeah, Daniel I like your choices, too. As to Flamenco, you may have noticed my mention of Strunz and Farah. These guys are a duo who play Latin and middle eastern influenced improvisational acoustic. I like them better than Liebert, though I like him very much also.
http://www.strunzandfarah.com/ Extended clips!

"Devastating acoustic duo considered by many to rank alongside the best guitar players in the world. They've become one of the most respected and copied acoustic guitar duos in the US, with admirers worldwide." - Guitarist

[underbear1]

Bonnie Raitt should be acknowleged as well. My choices would be between Clapton, and Santana.

[Aequo]

David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Page, &c.

[Jack]

I've had a love for 12-string acoustic guitars since I was 15 and my first girlfriend played one.
I'm in the Vai, Satriani, and Fripp camp. I have every one of their albums. On the jazz side, George Benson, Earl Klugh, Stanley Jordan, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, Les Paul, John Pizzarelli and Lee Ritenour rank among my favorites. I'm also a big fan of many of the flamenco artists recording today. Latin jazz is soul music. :)

[The Fyrdman]

David Gilmour.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Found this poll from Guitar World:

100 Greatest Guitar Solos

Pretty cool.

[Milton Bradley]

Hmmm, I have a tough time selecting oout a favorite, so I'll list a few off the top of my head. ( Though it won't be to far from a few of you.


At the very top of my list I place...

Eric Clapton
Jimmy Page
Gary Rossington
Allen Collins
Duane Allman
Joe Walsh
Billy Gibbons
Elliot Easton
Kirk Hammet
My friend Jim Nickles ( who would be famous if he was not a dedicated family guy slaving his life away for the man for that coveted secure, predictable paycheck. )