Who is the best guitarist of all-time?

**Panic** · 02-16-09, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by tland22

get the hell out of here dude... OF ALL TIME?!?

JIMI HENDRIX no doubt about it...go get one of his music dvd's and be amazed. The guy was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of his time. Revolutionary musican.

modern day best guitarist... i;d have to say that John Mayer and John Frusciante are top 3....

Most influential guitar player: Hendrix or Van Halen?

**BobHarvey** · 02-16-09, 09:44 PM

Joe Walsh/Don Felder

Honorable mention:Brian May/Joe Perry

**pavyracer** · 02-16-09, 09:45 PM

**mmike032** · 02-16-09, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

Damn, I didnt know Meatloaf could play like that

**Mudcat** · 02-16-09, 11:09 PM

I'll say David Gilmore. It's not about technical ability. It is about composition. His guitar lines are like lyrics. The lead from Shine on You Crazy Diamond is more memorable and moving than most sung melodies (just one of many examples - although probably the greatest one).

It's the style. Where some technical guitarists will play a hundred rapidfire notes, Gilmore will sustain on just the right one - and bring a tear to the eye.

He's my favorite of all-time.

**RogueScholar** · 02-16-09, 11:13 PM

Gotta give Joe Perry major props for being the most well-known Portuguese guitarist of all-time. Long live Aerosmith.

**reno cool** · 02-17-09, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by Mudcat

I'll say David Gilmore. It's not about technical ability. It is about composition. His guitar lines are like lyrics. The lead from Shine on You Crazy Diamond is more memorable and moving than most sung melodies (just one of many examples - although probably the greatest one).

It's the style. Where some technical guitarists will play a hundred rapidfire notes, Gilmore will sustain on just the right one - and bring a tear to the eye.

He's my favorite of all-time.

right on man. Pink Floyd is untouchable.
There's really too many to mention. And it is subjective.
I appreciate the Randy Rhoads mention and I'll throw in Tony Iommi.

**smitch124** · 02-17-09, 12:33 AM

Love Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath never gets credit for the ground they broke.

**PureGuava** · 02-17-09, 12:35 AM

very well said about David Gilmour. It's about feeling and he had it.

besides him some of my favorite guitarists:

Jimi Hendrix
Jerry Garcia
Eric Clapton
Frank Zappa
Trey Anastasio

**PureGuava** · 02-17-09, 12:39 AM

all you guitar players and fans check out the clip I posted, just a glimpse of what's there

**Willie Bee** · 02-17-09, 07:43 AM

Too bad we can't get 50 names mentioned in this thread together for one show. Another guy I'd throw in there is Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, someone that isn't that well known though bazillions have listened to him over the years. Couple of him sitting in with Knopfler and Eric Johnson.

**hhsilver** · 02-17-09, 09:19 AM

Django Reinhardt - please listen and also enjoy his great violin partner, Stephanne Grappelle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnkdUPsAles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhwCgsnjqw

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 09:25 AM

Originally posted by hhsilver

Django Reinhardt - please listen and also enjoy his great violin partner, Stephanne Grappelle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnkdUPsAles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhwCgsnjqw

Django rocked long before rock came along. Grappelli was also an immensely gifted musician.

**AMBlai01** · 02-17-09, 09:33 AM

A lot of great names mentioned in this thread. I would have to say Slash is up there maybe not the top guy but definitely in the discussion.

I see Hendrix mentioned a couple times, yes he was good but I don't know that he was the best by any means. Can't disagree with the fact that he was definitely probably the most influential though.

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by AMBlai01

I see Hendrix mentioned a couple times, yes he was good but I don't know that he was the best by any means. Can't disagree with the fact that he was definitely probably the most influential though.

Agreed. To me, Hendrix is more of a complete artist than a mere guitarist, and this thread was about guitarists.

Jimi Hendrix: Blues is one of my Top 5 Deserted Island picks. His volume-swell opening on "Born Under a Bad Sign" gives me goosebumps.

**fiveteamer** · 02-17-09, 10:02 AM

Stevie Ray Vaughn was good.

**awhitejackson** · 02-17-09, 10:03 AM

Technical ability??? gotta say Buckethead, even though dude is freakshow....Otherwise: love the Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler, and David Gilmore....

**smitch124** · 02-17-09, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by hhsilver

Django Reinhardt - please listen and also enjoy his great violin partner, Stephanne Grappelle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnkdUPsAles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfhwCgsnjqw

Good stuff!! Thanks for the link...

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 10:10 AM

Originally posted by awhitejackson

Buckethead, even though dude is freakshow....

Dude is the jjgold of the rock guitar world.

Amazing technical ability but kind of a cold, robotic phrasing.

**chikenkiwi2** · 02-17-09, 10:12 AM

Too many greats to just choose one. I'll go with Dimebag Darrell. He deserves a mention. RIP

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 10:16 AM

There should be a mandatory-Youtube rule when mentioning musicians.

Love Dimebag.

**Willie Bee** · 02-17-09, 10:18 AM

Any guitar lover who has never seen David Lindley live should rectify that oversight in their lives. Give the man anything with strings on it and watch him go.

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 10:39 AM

Good stuff, Willie.

In the genre, I also get a kick out of Junior Brown. Funny dude and great chops:

**Mudcat** · 02-17-09, 10:58 AM

I already cast my vote for David Gilmour (and spelled his name wrong to boot). But, for the sake of discussion, I don't believe anyone has mentioned Steve Howe. His name should be brought up in a thread like this.

Amazing combination of technical magnificence and inspired composition.

**Willie Bee** · 02-17-09, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by Matt Rain

Good stuff, Willie.

In the genre, I also get a kick out of Junior Brown. Funny dude and great chops

Excellent addition Matt. I thought about him early on but figured everyone would pooh-pooh the notion if it came from me on account of me being a hick and living in a shaq and all that rot

Junior is a fun act to catch.

**mmike032** · 02-17-09, 11:09 AM

anyone ever seen this guy?

**Bread** · 02-17-09, 11:12 AM

No votes for Eddie Van Halen?

**fiveteamer** · 02-17-09, 11:13 AM

Also, I vote for the Green Day guy. Billy Joe or whatever his name is. Awesome.

**buztah** · 02-17-09, 11:15 AM

Ted Theodore Logan. No contest. Well, maybe Chet Atkins a distant 2nd.

**smarmy** · 02-17-09, 11:15 AM

Bob Saget and Jack Black.

**Matt Rain** · 02-17-09, 11:18 AM

Originally posted by mmike032

anyone ever seen this guy?

Awesome. That reminds me of Erik Mongrain, a local guy who used to play in the subway. He has since made it big(ger) - went to his place to buy his Chapman Stick a bunch of years ago and he played me a couple of his songs with his Guild resting on his lap. Really unique playing style.

**tland22** · 02-17-09, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by Panic

Most influential guitar player: Hendrix or Van Halen?

hmmmm great question! Im not too sure how to measure influence, so I'd have to give a slight edge to jimi because he way so ahead of his time - i feel like he invented the game almost ya know...he was a break through himself.

**PureGuava** · 02-18-09, 12:28 AM

anybody check out the clip i posted above?

**BobHarvey** · 02-18-09, 12:33 AM

Junior Brown is the best.

**BobHarvey** · 02-18-09, 12:35 AM

Willie,

A Junior Brown fan. Love it. "My Wife Thinks Your Dead" is a classic.