Best Guitarist

[PantherPaul]

Since best artist was mentioned and alot of commentary spawned up from it about different guitarist I felt they needed their own thread. For me Eric Clapton is everything. From his Cream days, to his solo days he flat out kicked ass. Stevie Ray Vaughn is also sitting right beside Clapton. I wish I had gotten into him before his death. Others that I admire alot are BB King, George Benson, Robert Cray, Eddie Van Halen, Buddy Guy, Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana. That new kid whos first album Ledbetter Blues rocks as well:cool:

[smashmouth5]

Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Nuno Bettencourt

[Piper]

In no particular order

Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
Frank Zappa
Derek Trucks
Duane Allman
David Gilmour
Syd Barrett
David Gilmour
Randy Rhodes
Billy Corgan
Son Seals
BB King
Robert Fripp
Trey Anastasio

Speed just isn't that impressive of a trait to me.

[mathmajors]

Originally posted by smashmouth5
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Nuno Bettencourt

Satch is the man, no doubt about it.

I like Piper's list, but I'll add Rick Emmett of Triumph (even though he's Canadian), and Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls.

[Savio]

Hendrix
Santana

[Freakshow]

Yngwie Malmsteen
Joe Satriani
Kirk Hammett
Dave Mustaine

I agree with Rik Emmett from Triumph. I own one of his solo CD's.

[jazzredcat]

John Scofield
John Abercrombie
Pat Metheny
Jim Hall
Joe Pass

[Ice Man]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Eric Johnson. This guy rules!!!
In no particular order

Eric Johnson
Eddie Van Halen
Slash
Joe Satriani

[jazzredcat]

paraphrased: "One guitar, six strings, five fingers, one asshole"-
Keith Richards
:hatpimp2:

[BigMark]

Originally posted by PantherPaul
That new kid whos first album Ledbetter Blues rocks as well:cool:

Kenny Wayne Sheppard, and it's Ledbetter Hieghts.

[lex]

"In no particular order

Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
Frank Zappa
Derek Trucks
Duane Allman
David Gilmour
Syd Barrett
David Gilmour
Randy Rhodes
Billy Corgan
Son Seals
BB King
Robert Fripp
Trey Anastasio "

but jimmy page will be first on list.

[TW1GGY]

Kerry King (slayer) He does things to solo's that I don't think are legal

Eddie Van Halen - Classic guitar god

Slash

Zack Wylde

Dave Mustane

Kirk Hammett

[gutter]

I like Stone Gossard. Surely not the best but it's all about style to me. Being fast doesn't impress me much either. Also, gotta go with Dimebag from Pantera. He knows the art of shredding.

[wossa]

Steve Morse.

from the Dixie Dregs and The Dregs.

Played for Kansas a few years.

Currently plays for Deep Purple.

Lots of solo work.

He was the first guitar player permanently retired from Guitar Players "Best Guitar Player" readers polls.

He won in every category so many years running back in the 80's they just took him off the list.

Lots of other great ones too - but I noticed Morse was not on the list.


Satriani
Santana
Jeff Beck
Al DiMeola
Chet Atkins
Les Paul
Clapton
Van Halen
Page
Hendrix
SRV
Eric Johnson
Malmsteen
Segovia

Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Kirk Hammett
Dave Mustaine

[Puttingood]

Thank you Wossa:)

I figured these guts thought Les Paul was just a guitar.

[Freakshow]

Agree with Morse. I have an old Triumph CD...can't remember the name. There is a dual solo between Morse and Rik Emmet. It smokes.

I'd have to disagree with Billy Corgan. He doesn't impress me at all.

[magnus]

agree on Corgan. I'm sure he's okay but that's like putting Kurt Cobain on here. That's not why they were there.

[Superfluous_Nut]

To appreciate billy corgan, you really need to listen to their first album "Gish". The later stuff isn't as guitar oriented. Maybe it's a style thing, but I love it.

[muff_spelunker]

Ed Roland
Roy Clark
Mato Nanji
SRV

[magnus]

Bump - anyone see the new Rolling Stone list of 100?

[jazzbluescat]

Originally posted by magnus
Bump - anyone see the new Rolling Stone list of 100?

Yeah, I get the rag.
I think they should have quantified the title with, for instance, the best rock and/or blues guitarist, etc. I mean really: THE 100 GREATEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME. Gimmee a fucking break.....arrogant, self-centered fucking assholes.

OK, I'm through.

Hendrix was a hell of a fine player, for what he did. I sorta like what Townsend said about him.

[magnus]

true, they somewhat ignored a lot of good jazz and country artists, but they did get some of the necessaries, and ranked a lot of guys for what they brought to the music, not just skill.

[jazzbluescat]

Originally posted by magnus
true, they somewhat ignored a lot of good jazz and country artists, but they did get some of the necessaries, and ranked a lot of guys for what they brought to the music, not just skill.

...and classical, flamenco, etc.

Don't quite agree with you there, Mag; but, you know that.
Because, any moron can be an "artist," but, it takes hard work to make music; the skill part is what you develop to fully express and make music.

[Reznor]

I disagree, the ability to fully express and make music is what defines an "artist". There are plenty of guitarists who are extremely far from being an "artist".

[jazzbluescat]

Originally posted by Reznor
I disagree, the ability to fully express and make music is what defines an "artist". There are plenty of guitarists who are extremely far from being an "artist".

I totally agree. The world's full of technicians, and morons. However, it's the morons who are getting recognition for being great guitarists.
Personally, I'm into the players/artists who have the technique, forget about it; that have the vocabulary to draw upon for expression.
I'm into instrumental music that can stand on it's own, hold my interest for longer than the attention span of a gnat.

[El Bastardo]

You guys are missing the two best guitar players ever:

Pat Martino

and

Wayne Krantz

[jazzbluescat]

Originally posted by El Bastardo
You guys are missing the two best guitar players ever:
Pat Martino
and
Wayne Krantz

Not aware of Krantz; but, I gotta say Martino is one truly "bad mofo," definitely qualifies as an artist, with intelligence and soul. BTW: You don't happen to know the recording (live, I think) he did with Eric Alexander (ten. player) as a sideman, do you?

[WilliamJ]

that list is a joke


no one mentioned alex lifeson.

[reb]

Eric Clapton said the best he ever heard was Mark Knofler. Now there is a hell of a compliment.

[chipshot]

Originally posted by WilliamJ
that list is a joke


no one mentioned alex lifeson.

The real joke is the mention of Kirk Hammet.

The best gutarists are people you have never heard of.

[Shocker]

Jimi

[El Bastardo]

You don't happen to know the recording (live, I think) he did with Eric Alexander (ten. player) as a sideman, do you?

If it was recent, then it was called "First Milestone" with Eric, Pat, and Harold Mabern. Or, it could be "A Tribute to Charles Earland."

For those who don't know Pat Martino and Wayne Krantz, here's the lowdown:

Pat Martino is probably the greatest jazz guitarist ever. His style is fluid and technical, but with a great sense of musicality. His stuff in the early 70s was about as good as it gets. Try anything from the album Consciousness to see what I mean. Around 1977, Pat suffered a severe brain aneurysm that caused him to lose everything he'd ever learned. He didn't even know who his parents were. Long story short, he re-learned how to play and is still going strong as ever.

Wayne Krantz plays like nobody else. His style is somewhere between jazz, rock, blues, and prog, but he always manages to groove. His solo stuff is incredible. Must be heard to be appreciated. Try "Your Basic Live" and "2 Drink Minimum" to get the gist of Wayne's style. In his spare time, Wayne is the lead guitarist for Steely Dan.

www.patmartino.com

www.waynekrantz.com

[jazzbluescat]

I wasn't aware of his health problem; his recovery is both remarkable and testiment to his will. Wow!
I first heard him, live, with Brother Jack McDuff in Boston. Now, to me, that group is what I call real rhythm & blues.

'Preciate the headsup.
[BTW: I have Eric Alexander's "the second milestone" and Pat Martino's "stone blue." Neither of those is the one I'm looking for. I'll check "first milestone" out.]

[El Bastardo]

Jazzbluescat, where would you rank Pat Martino? BTW, your selection of guitarists is preety damned strong too.

[jazzbluescat]

Originally posted by El Bastardo
Jazzbluescat, where would you rank Pat Martino? BTW, your selection of guitarists is preety damned strong too.

Tell you the truth, I've only recently gotten in tune to'em. When I first heard him [when I was a "kid"], I kinda just waited for him to finish so I could hear the organ or sax player play...Then, a few years ago, I noticed his name kept cropping up, but, I was engrossed with Metheny and Scofield, still didn't pay him no mind. But then recently, I heard Eric Alexander for the first time, and, coincidently the guitar player caught my attention; it was Martino. I was blown away! That particular cd is the one I'm looking for.

Anyhow, to answer your question, I'd put him right up there with Jim Hall, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell. [Man, I kinda hate this ranking stuff. You know, once they get at a certain level, it's hard to say who's better than such'n such; one guy may do one thing a bit stronger than the other, yet does something else strong to "make up for it."] I can say that Martino is the most enjoyable player that I've heard in quite some time, bar none. He has a technical flexibility that is phenomenal, also, IMHO.

[magnus]

Originally posted by jazzbluescat


...and classical, flamenco, etc.

Don't quite agree with you there, Mag; but, you know that.
Because, any moron can be an "artist," but, it takes hard work to make music; the skill part is what you develop to fully express and make music.

Certainly. I think they were going with skill, and style, moreso than artistic content. Eddie Van Halen, for instance, doesn't express. Jimi did. BB does. Jack White doesn't, and has no place this high on the list - I'd be very surprised if he's remembered as a top 20 guitarist in five years. And I like the guy.

Kirk Hammett doesn't deserve the list. These pairings of two guys in one band? That's a joke right? Two guitarists in unison just happening to be influential and important together because they're in one band? That's like saying John Paul Jones is a great bassist because he backed Jimmy Page.

It's hard to really say about these lists. I mean, Jimi is undoubtedly my greatest ever. But I wouldn't even want to list them in order - listing them at all is a daunting task. Plus, as you'd have said, classical and other styles of guitar get pushed out just because they're not "happening" right now, but they probably take more skill overall.

They don't get into the idea of improvisation - some of the best lines half of these guys played were written, and played throughout their careers the same way. They don't get into trailblazing but now and again. They don't even paint a good representation of what these guys did best.

But it's entertaining to read, and certainly sparks thought in my mind, all of which were things I was needing and still enjoy. So I take it for that.

[jazzbluescat]

Hey mag,
You remember a while back when we were speculating(or at least I was)on who did the bari solo on Lou Reed's WALK ON THE WILD SIDE? It was a cat named Ronnie Ross; according to David Bowie, who was producing Lou Reed at the time. Ross did it in one take. [They interview Bowie in the current ROLLING STONE rag.]

[magnus]

yeah, I caught that.
I also caught where DB wanted to play the bari and they made him play alto. It's where they went wrong :D

[mailman]

Originally posted by reb
Eric Clapton said the best he ever heard was Mark Knofler. Now there is a hell of a compliment.


It took until page 2 to see Mark Knopfler's name. :(

[wossa]

Joan freakin' Jett is on the list

that's all I need to see to know the list is a joke

[chuckrichey]

Originally posted by chipshot


The real joke is the mention of Kirk Hammet.

The best gutarists are people you have never heard of. :mad:

[chuckrichey]

Originally posted by wossa
Joan freakin' Jett is on the list

that's all I need to see to know the list is a joke true dat

[wreakhavoc90]

John Petrucci- Dream Theater

[chris]

Duane Allman or Warren Haynes. period.

[spud]

Phil Keaggy