Top guitarist(s) of all time, past and present

[nivtopotvin]

Off topic, I know, but i was having a talk wtih a few friends the other night about who we thought the greatest and most influential guitarists were.

Some obvious names were thrown out such as Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page.

Was wondering what all you fellow waka-goers opinions were. Top guiarist(s) of all time, based on talent, ability, and influence.

[clam_baker11]

Its not my pick of the top 5, but some of the best are:
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
David Gilmore
Ernest Anastasio III
Warren Haynes

[althea]

My vote goes to Mr. Garcia.

[sitdancer]

from a rock point of view for me the obvious (but not necessarily easy) choice is Jimmi Hendrix.

but some others to keep in mind:

john mclaughlin
grant green
john scofield

honorable mention: santana, can't forget about santana. just because nobody droped his name yet.[/b]

[JustBob]

SRV should never be forgotten!

Bob

[Mash]

Esteban... from QVC. he is magnifico!

[DoorsX316]

Frank Zappa
J Garcia
Stevie Ray
Hendrix
Marc Ribot or Scofield.... can't decide

[Missouri Mitch]

All those listed previously, plus:

Richard Thompson
Django Reinhardt
Robert Fripp
Duane Allman
Warren Haynes
Eric Clapton
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai

Oh man...the list is seemingly endless!

[nivtopotvin]

I think it'll be interesting to see where Trey falls in this category in 30, 40 years. I love his music and his playing, but I still have a hard time putting him up there with Garcia and Clapton, and many of the other names that have found their way onto the list.

[JodyN]

Everyone's choices above...especially Hendrix and Santana (of course!)and thanks for the McLaughlin, and Grant Green, plus:

Wes Montgomery
Al diMeola
Paco De Lucia

and contemporarily,

Steve Kimock
Derek Trucks

and more from the jazz world:
Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour and never forget the one and only Chet Atkins

and I personally LOVE Bobby Lee Rodgers....forever. Wish my husband would stop accompanying me to his shows!!!! :lol: He's a a smart man...


Jody

[PolyOntology]

Shawn Lane
Buckethead
Robert Fripp
Adrian Belew
Trey Spruance
Frank Zappa

[snax]

One guy that nobody ever recognizes is Mark Knopfler. Hes great.Also Pete Townshend, Wes, Grant Green,Pat Metheny,Kimock,Jerry,Jimi, Tony Rice,George Harrison,Keef Richards.

[Raw Shok Test]

My votes go to Jimi for all-time best, and Warren Haynes for the present.

[JodyN]

Yes, Mark Knopfler...in fact, my sister is a huge Clapton fan and the only reason I went with her to see Clapton in Dallas one year is because Knopfler was on rhythm guitar! Anybody else remember that show????

And of course, Mark Knopfler (what is WITH that last name??? Type it a few times and it starts getting wierd) and Chet ATkins were dear friends and recorded together. Good stuff...

[Dark Star]

Jerry Garcia
Steve Kimock

[PeartMoon]

My present favorites:

Marc \"****in\" Ford (The Black Crowes)
Derek Trucks

[bigdaddy650r]

Jimi H.
Carlos S.
Stevie Ray V.
Robin T.
Dicky B.
Pete T.
Jerry G.
Eric C.
Frank Z.
Warren H.



TED NUGENT!!! oops! sorry (WRONG LIST)got carried away!

[PANICED04]

i must go with Jerry. he is still tough to top

[PurpleProphet]

Mike Houser

[madison549]

So many, so little time!

Lowell George
Robert Fripp
Adrian Belew
Jerry Garcia
John Mcglaughlin
Tony Rice
Andrea Segovia
Charlie Byrd
Roy Buchannon
Kieth Richards

[Jackstraw]

I find it hard to believe that the master of soloing over chords (at the same time) has yet to be mentioned, if you have not already heard him do yourself a favor and buy a Chet Atkins album. There is an AWESOME duet of Imagine with Chet and Matt Knopler

All time guitarists


Jimi Hendrix
Les Paul (he invented 8 track recording from his home)
Chet Atkins
Django
Robert Fripp
Keller Williams

Those 6 if for no other reason then each of them recreating the guitar sound.

Jerry Hahn (who now plays every Friday at the Olive Tree in Wichita but was at one time in the 60's considered to be one of the best Jazz cats)
John Mclaughlin
Jerry Garcia (On the Pizza tapes someone makes the comment to Jerry \"we'll do an easy one like your used to\" he is so much more talented then just what you hear on the Dead albums)

[JodyN]

Excuse-ay-muwah Mr. Jackstraw....but yer OBVIOUSLY not reading MY posts very well!!!! Now, where are you camping at because I am gonna hunt you down and back hand ya for the oversight!!! :cry:

Signed,

A long time Chet fan!

[Jackstraw]

WEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME JudyNtheSky I do appologize :) Good to see someone thinking along the same lines as me (scarry also) :lol: Now I will be in the street team camping area sitting, waiting for my beating :)

[tigerpiper]

[quote:b50cc05b70=\"Mash\"]Esteban... from QVC. he is magnifico![/quote:b50cc05b70]

Especially after his \"major\" automobile accident.

You'd pay $1000 or more for a quality quitar like that.

[PolyOntology]

I'm the only one who's mentioned Buckethead so far? Surely you folks haven't seen his new dvd...

[nivtopotvin]

[quote:cd807dbd33=\"PolyOntology\"]I'm the only one who's mentioned Buckethead so far? Surely you folks haven't seen his new dvd...[/quote:cd807dbd33]

I haven't ! I'll definately check it out if i can get my hands on it

[JodyN]

Madison...right on...Roy Buchanan...world's most underrated , or so he was coined...tragic indeed...he was from Ozark, Arkansas which is about 15 miles from my house...down by the river...oh yeah.

Hey Jackstraw...I named my horse Django...and Les Paul actually autographed my Les Paul! At Fat Tuesday's in NYC several yrs ago.

Anybody going to Panic at the Starlight in KC next week?

Jody

[randall747]

http://www.terryway.com/assets/images/jerrygarcia.jpg

[PANICED04]

Nice!!!

[althea]

I like that picture of Jerry, it was before the smack controlled him; still pretty thin, just a little grey. You picked a lovely representation of him.

[PANICED04]

i would like to have that in a picture frame

[althea]

This is sort of on the same topic. I found this shirt for my son, and it says the same as the Grateful Dead album, which he is holding to prove my point. Pretty cute.http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/althea815/Picture172.jpg

[randall747]

You have a good looking and happy looking little boy! Great shirt! He is lucky to have a mum with such good taste in music. :)

[Kindbud03]

hey, what about Adam Jones!!! PolyOntology knows what I'm talking about. The man invents notes on the guitar!

[PANICED04]

that is awesome althea.

[PolyOntology]

Adam Jones is certainly a master of making some beautiful (and beautifully ugly) sounds with his guitar. I wouldn't call him a technical guitar genius in the same sense that a lot of the other people mentioned in this thread are (most guitarists I've met have no problem playing his stuff) but as far as creativity and ability to make up great riffs and strange tones that sound amazing, he's really great. Tool albums (especially Lateralus and Aenima) are beautiful flawless masterpieces to my ears, and part of that is obviously because of Adam Jones.

[Kindbud03]

Most definately Lateralus.....but Danny Carey molds it all together to make and define this beautiful album. In a recent list of top drumming albums of all time, Lateralus was number one.
I do agree with what you said about Adam though....his guitar skills are only mildly amazing but how and the way he goes about playing the guitar is utter genious. Yes, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia, Trey Anastasio, etc... are all more talented guitarists.

[nivtopotvin]

strongly looking forward to Tool's final album !

[Jackstraw]

Sterling Grey
Chris Owens


Local legendary Jazz Cats that far surpass any of the guitarists in rock and roll guitar (also college guitar instructors). I would not go as far as to put them up with Chet Atkins or Di Meola but these guys would blow your mind. An up and coming Local Gooding and I were bull****ing after one of his shows and turned out we had both taken lessons from Sterling Grey, the guys amazing.

My dad said it best when I was just an innocent young music fan

I asked \"Dad who is the best guitarist in the world\"

he told me \"The best guitarists are professors teaching guitar at college\"

I think he knew what he was talking about

[PeartMoon]

Marc Ford........oh wait, I already said that.

[jessica13]

there are way too many to name and most have already been posted. one of my favorites that hasn't is Tim Reynolds. he is crazy and amazing

[PolyOntology]

strongly looking forward to Tool's final album !

Eh? Final album? I'm thinking (and hoping) you'll be waiting at least another decade. Yeah they're old guys, but not as old as King Crimson. The NEXT (but not last) album will probably come out in the late summer. I've heard August 16th is the tentative release date. Based on interviews and their website, expect very heavy and very complex stuff, woohoo!




Local legendary Jazz Cats that far surpass any of the guitarists in rock and roll guitar (also college guitar instructors). I would not go as far as to put them up with Chet Atkins or Di Meola but these guys would blow your mind.

I don't really like that way of looking at things. Once a musician acquires a certain level of technical skill, arguing over who's \"best\" seems kind of pointless to me. You can be one of the greatest jazz guitarists who ever lived, but that doesn't mean you can (or want to) play what the greatest rock guitarists play (and vice versa of course). Same goes for individual musicians of any style. I've read too many arguments like \"Who's better, steve vai or buckethead?\" or \"mike portnoy or danny carey\"...I'd say music is more of an art than a sport.

[nivtopotvin]

i was pretty sure the rumor going around was that it was Frank Maynard's last album with Tool, but I could most certainly be very wrong. I sure hope so! I would love another decade of tool albums.

As far as the other point, a part of me definately does agree with you. But like you said, it's an art. I think calling somebody the greatest guitarist, or whatever their particular trade may be involves more than just ability. You need to look at the whole picture. Talent, ability, potential, passion, creativity, personality on and off the stage, influence... the list may go on forever. I think it's all those traits combined that create icons and role models, whether we realize it or not. So is it possible to narrow it down to who is the greatest of all time?...perhaps not. But it sure is interesting to take a stab at it.

[Kindbud03]

man nivtopotvin thanks for the laugh....tell me....who's Frank Maynard? I appreciate your enthusiasm towards the great ones (TooL) but if you don't know the lead singers name....I just don't know. Maybe that's how you got your info twisted around about this being their last album....the lead singers name for TooL is Maynard James Keenan. A short little hairless creature sent here from somewhere else to belt out screams that no one can hit for 35 seconds straight, all while twirlin', snakin', and floatin' to the music Danny Carey, Justin Chancelor, and Adam Jones provide. (-If you haven't seen a show you may not know what I'm talking about- but the man moves in mysterious ways/and yes he has no eyebrows either).

ohhh man, thanks again for the sigh of relief and a good chuckle.

[nivtopotvin]

good call...i deserve a slap in the face for the name mix up... my apologies ... but i do know their music quite extensively, and i have seen them in concert... but yes... i am a dumbass :shock: do we not all make mistakes?

[luckeestar]

I'm not sure if it counts as a greatest, but my personal favorite guitar player is the Reverend Horton Heat, I dig that fast pickin :D

[CPJSJohnny]

[quote:6d8bfee4c8=\"luckeestar\"]I'm not sure if it counts as a greatest, but my personal favorite guitar player is the Reverend Horton Heat, I dig that fast pickin :D[/quote:6d8bfee4c8]

If you dig fast pickin' then you should love Split Lip Rayfield.

Speaking of fast pickers guitar legends Roy Clark and Doc Watson are both some mighty fast pickers. And any Winfield folk could attest that Beppe Gambetta is probably one of the fastest pickers alive.
Johnny B

[madison549]

Not the best but one of the most influential players ever.

<img src=\"http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/madison549/lennon.bmp\" alt=\"Image hosted by Photobucket.com\">

[Adam K]

BUCKETHEAD

[soulacious]

Eric Krasno (soulive) he's young, but he's on his way.
Joe Satriani
Dave Matthews (I know, I know)
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Kris Gruda (another that is on his way-check out www.florganism.com)
Johnny Lange
Buddy Guy
Bebe King
Eric Clapton

Since we're going on personal preference...the king is still Jerry.
I like a lot of different styles. I could even throw out Eddie Van Halen and Slash. There's just been too many and will be too many more to name one as the best.

[randall747]

I've said it once and I'll say it again:

http://www.terryway.com/assets/images/jerrygarcia.jpg

[K_Ride]

Het ya'll.....I Is back from Aruba and home until WAKA............Looking forward to chattin' it up with you freakies again.

Great pic.............I like JG too!

[AnnaAllyn]

I think that Col. Bruce Hampton should be mentioned. He's been playing for ages and inspiring lots of musicians.

Anybody seen the film that Mike Gordon made staring the Col.? Its call Outside Out. Really good kinda freaky, watch it and learn about the art of playing \"out\"

[K_Ride]

Love CBH, I'm on that..............................Thank's AA!



K- :)

[raulduke]

Top guitarists not in order (opinion):
Eric Clapton
Carlos Santana
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jimi Hendrix
B. B. King
Trey Anastasio
Steve Kimock
Johnny Cash

[rhumbatumba]

Alrighty...
I'll play this fun little game.

Hendrix
Pat Metheney
Steve Vai (I know he's cheezy but danm, the man is bad)

No particular order from here on in:

John Scofield
Jeff Beck
Trey (just because I love his playing so much, personally)
Bill Frisell
Leo K
SRV
Carlos Santana

[DoorsX316]

I don't mind Steve Vai.... I can't knock anybody that was able to perform in one of Frank Zappa's band.

[rhumbatumba]

[quote:37a0e344e5=\"DoorsX316\"]I don't mind Steve Vai.... I can't knock anybody that was able to perform in one of Frank Zappa's band.[/quote:37a0e344e5]

Oh yeah... Add Zappa to the list ;)

As for Vai... he is a bad mofo, more technical skills than just about anyone on my list... but his music style shreds my eardrums, and I dont mean that in a good way. Its like watching Marco Minniman go off on drums for 3 hours straight... at first your like \"HOLY #$%&\" and then your looking at your watch, and then your like \"is he done yet? He's been soloing for 1.5 hours now, I'm kind of hungry\"... and then it goes on for another 2 hours turning your brain onto cottage cheese so you forget how to count to 10 and your stomach is so abused by high frequency sonic vibrations that just thinking about the cheeseburger you were hungry for 2 hours ago makes you feel sick.

Anywa, that how I feel about Vai... He's bad, but danm... use that shizz in moderation for god sake.

[RevMasterDudeCrosby]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Henry Kaiser. Here's an idea. Go to www.archive.org and find your way to the Psychedelic Guitar Circus shows. There's one that's later in 1995(?), maybe August. The set opens with Dark Star. Kimock joins him, and plays much of the leads. Kaiser kicks in later in the jam, a raunchier sound. The show is varied and awesome, but so many guitarists you won't know Kaiser unless you know Kaiser. Anyway, find some - I think you'll be happy. David Lindley's been known to jam with him, too, and not too shabby himself.

[tellthetruth]

I think that Col. Bruce Hampton should be mentioned. He's been playing for ages and inspiring lots of musicians.

Anybody seen the film that Mike Gordon made staring the Col.? Its call Outside Out. Really good kinda freaky, watch it and learn about the art of playing \"out\"


Only problem is that the man can't even tune his own guitars. :roll: The techs do it for him. He really is probably the WORST guitarist who masquerades as some sort of cult hero. Back in college, I thought he was a genius, but once I started listening as an adult (i.e. w/o being stoned or something) I realized how terrible he really is.

But Bobby Lee Rodgers (and other far-better guitarists who've covered for CBH's excruciating lack of talent over the years, such as Jimmy Herring) is the man!

http://youtu.be/GF8TZk-7Xws

Not only did he teach at Berklee, but he's played with the best and been praised by the best.

[KB]

Thread dig of the year!

[oner]

I think maybe he had the threads sorted in ascending order :p

[Jayhonk]

Thread dig of the year!
Maybe the century.