Topic: Best Guitarist

[Rocking-M]

Hey, winter is here and we're iced in so here is a topic to ponder,

I know everyone has there favorite styles etc....

But as a pure guitarist perhaps at least one of the best....
I used to always think of Jimi Hendrix for this title till
Jimi said it was

Stephen Stills

Listen to "Black Queen" sometime if you can find it.

[eldar]

I would have to say vinnie moore. he plays both elec and acoustic guitars. He uses effects very well yet can play natural with the best. PLus he can blend different styles together very well.  Check out "vinmans brew" if you ever get a chance!

[Uncle Ernie]

2 that come instantly to mind I'm afraid will never record anything.  Too bad. A lot of great stuff is done by "pickers and grinners"- living rooms and front porches. 
The best I've seen in person may be Roy Rogers. He can play bottle neck on a 12 string.  That guy plays the blues like nobody's business.  Unfortunately, his albums include everything but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  His producer needs some serious pain.  If you ever get a chance to see him live- tell me about it.

[Serenity]

Oh Joe Satriani...now hes a guitarist.....

[JP]

First to mind is the guitarist for Billy Idol.  Don't laugh.  I have a copy of their performance on MTV unplugged and he was playing an accoustic and it is on of the very best I've ever heard.

Another is like the guys Ernie was talking about.  It was an old man in Henrietta Texas and he was playing an oooollllllldddddd guitar that he kept saying was hand made and tuned to a banjo.  I tried to play a few licks on it but it was so out of tune that my ears almost bled, but he made it sound awesome.  Bluegrass.

The next is a toss up between either John Mayer or Dave Matthews.  To me, when you are so good that you need to make up your own cords for your personal unique sound, well- you're good.
JP

[Chris Schneiter]

Man...that's a tough one...I agree with Jimi, John Mayer...I always thought John Lennon could cut steel with his guitar..and George Harrison....MMM Buddy Guy...then there was this Aussie on L.A. Sound stage last week...Robert Fripp...California guitar Trio....Robert Randolf (Pedal Steel)....Oh! Yeah...of course! Jerry Garcia!...and Eddie Van Halen..And, Oh My God...ZAPPA....I think my all time favorite is Adrian Belew...he's a blast (and was discovered by ZAPPA...god, I miss Frank!)...I'm waaay too eclectic!

[Rocking-M]

Guess I better add Rory Gallagher in the mix too!

I also like JJ Hale, surprised no one has thrown in Stevie Ray, though I always
felt he lost a bit on the soul end of the picking.

I really agree with Ernie,

It's sorta like all these world champion Coon Hounds I've heard about and
even hunted with a few.
Probably the best is tied out behind some ole Farmers barn and never been
to an official night hunt in his life.

So yea, probably the best pickin is going on a porch some where right now.

[markmc]

First to mind is the guitarist for Billy Idol. 

Steve Stevens.  He's legit.

For the contemporaries, I'd have to give a nod to Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Adam Jones (Tool).   

[Rocking-M]

Here is a copy of Black Queen from Stephen Stills,
the one I heard that is done on the 12 string is the best
I'm not real sure about this one.

And here is one for our resident flyers

[fmulharin]

Don't forget to include Clapton

[kettlesd]

IMHO, the "less is more" category takes it every time. Mark Knopfler is most definitely up there. The emotion he gets out of playing only a few notes is amazing - and hes a finger player too - no picking. Check out "Lady Writer". Awesome.

[upperlake04]

IMHO, the "less is more" category takes it every time. Mark Knopfler is most definitely up there. The emotion he gets out of playing only a few notes is amazing - and hes a finger player too - no picking. Check out "Lady Writer". Awesome.

I heartily second that   Go Dire Straights!

[DammitDan]

Steve Vai of Dream Theater.  Or Yngwie Malmsteen.  Doc Watson is the best flat picker of all time.

And all the thousands of guitarists working in Nashville, LA and New York.  All of them are better than me 

[Rocking-M]

Yea, Dan! Doc can pick for sure! I've seen him live twice in a small setting and he needs no
studio. Top teer for sure.

If we're going to blue grass...Merl Travis has got to be in there, and Merl Watson before he died
played a heck of a slide and straight up guitar work too!

[Jv550]

Questions like this get my head spinning - where do you start? I'll go with a list of my faves, in more or less chronological order: Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Robert Johnson, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochrane, Billy Gibbons, Pete Townsend, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Greg Allman (I'd list Dickie Betts too but he lost it sometime in the 70s),  tom Fogarty, Peter Tosh, Brian May, Tony Iomi, Greg Ginn, Johnny Thunders, Robert Quine, Johnny Ramone, Stan Lee, Helios Creed, Prince, David Rawlings and about a hundred others I'm forgetting right now...  (EDIT/ Pat Smear and Billy Zoom)!

[BobbyR]

Richard Thompson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Pete Townsend, Prince

[bill440cars]

        jv, you beat me to:Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, & Eddie Cochrane. What about Duane Eddie? Ever heard of Rebel Rouser? If you were to include groups, I'd say the Ventures and the Safaris myself. I don't guess anybody here likes Chet Atkins, Roy Clark and Glenn Campbell?

                                                          Later on, Bill    

[emmaus777]

I would say Erik Mongrain
http://www.erikmongrain.com/indexeng.asp?Page=Music


and Andy Mckee
http://video-tabs.com/andy-mckee-drifting/

for now...

[TwoTired]

While I don't believe there can be a best guitarist.  There are quite a few superb ones.

Al Di Meola
John Mclaughlin
Daryl Stuermer
Allan Holdsworth
Roine Stolt
John Mitchell
Russ Freeman
Steve Howe
Robert Fripp
Steve Hackett
Larry Carlton
Pete Townsend
Craig Chaquico
Martin Barre
Ottmar Leibert
Eric Clapton
Peter White
Billy Gibbons
Eric Johnson
Greg Allman
Peter Green
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Andre Segovia
Charlie Byrd
Chet Atkins
Mark Knopfler
Robben Ford
Ritchie Blackmore
Steve Morse
Frank Zappa
Steve Lukather
Andres Segovia

Honorable mention:
Bonnie Raitt
Steve Stills
Jeff Healy
Carlos Santanna
Jimmy Page
Jeff Beck
Eddie Van Halen
Leo Kottke
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Keith Richards
Jimi Hendrix
David Gilmour
George Harrison

To name but a few...

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

Steve Vai of Dream Theater.  Or Yngwie Malmsteen.  Doc Watson is the best flat picker of all time.

And all the thousands of guitarists working in Nashville, LA and New York.  All of them are better than me 

John Petrucci is and has always been, the guitarist of dream theater.

    
I vote for IHSAHN of emperor, it's totally unrealistic, but what the hell I love everything he's done.

[tsp37]

I can readily agree with several already mentioned, but Ian Anderson has the acoustic guitar that I would most like to emulate.  As it stands, I can do a very credible Pete Townsend smash.

[eldar]

HEy I forgot to add  Jon Drenning, Les claypool( I know he is Bass but it is still a guitar and  I doubt there is a better bass player in the world) and Brian Tatler. 

[mrbreeze]

Scrolled through that real quick.....didn't see my all time fave.....Joe Walsh (Rocky Mt. Way baby!!!!!!) I seen lots of mention of some others that are awesome.....Jimmy Page ,Carlos Santana,Eric Clapton(GOD), Frank Zappa (fer sure!),how about Alvin Lee (Ten Years After),Hendrix,Stevie Ray,Satriani,Duane Allman,Joe Perry of Aerosmith,Michael Sheinker (UFO,Scorpions),Jeff Beck,Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath),Pat Travers,Eric Burdon,Ted Nugent,Rory Gallagher,Ronny Montrose,Slash,Peter Frampton,Eddie Van Halen,Keith Richards,Ron Wood, John Lennon, George Harrison,David Gillmour,Randy Rhoads,Zack Wylde,John Mayall,Allen Collins,Gary Rossington,,Ed King,BB King,Freddie King,Albert King,Neal Schon,Martin Barre(Jethro Tull),That Pete Townshend dude(WHO?),Johnny Winter,Robin Trower...........I'm gettin tired of typing and I know for sure I missed at least a hundred others .......this is a good thread....makin me think!!!!.....Come up with ones that were missed.

[CrisPDuk]

Well Mr Breeze you've achieved a first for me When ever these threads crop up on internet forums I'm always the first to mention Joe Walsh Obviously not this time though

A few of my favourites:

Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jeff Beck, Steve Cropper, John Lee Hooker, Mark Knopfler, Ry Cooder, George Benson, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Sambora, etc, etc,

The two best live performances I've ever seen were from Prince, and they were both on the same night.  The first one was at Wembley Arena, and the second one was an after show gig that a mate's sister got me into because she worked for Warner Bros at the time


TBH All of the Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwy Malmsteen types leave me cold Technically, yes they are brilliant, but to me playing any musical instrument well isn't about hitting all the right notes, in the right order, at the right time, over and over again. It's about making your own interpretation of the music and putting your soul into it, and if the odd bum note slips in there so what

This same thing is why to me, Aretha Franklin is a great singer, but someone like, say, Celine Dion is not.

[Uncle Ernie]

I'm a little surprised Leo Kotke or Tab Benoit haven't come up yet...

Sorry, but I don't think John Lee Hooker can even seriously play guitar can he?  I always bunched him up with the strummers and beaters like Lightnin Hopkins.