Best Guitar players

[HammerDown]

I have to say, I am shocked SRV is leading this poll. I dig SRV, don't get me wrong...just a little surprised.

My sentiments exactly. I love SRV. Still remember where I was that Sunday night I heard about his death. But he doesn't belong on a poll of the greatest guitar players.

BTW, I mentioned Pat Metheny. At the risk of sounding like a melodramatic fool, I will just say that when I discovered The Pat Metheny Group recordings, it was the most life-changing music I have ever heard. Over and above even Metallica's old stuff back when I was a teenager. If anyone's interested, listen to the track "To the End of the World" on "We Live Here." It's 10:00. Listen to the whole thing using good headphones and then tell me it's not mindblowing. I've listened to every track he's ever produce under the Group and that one still covers me in goosebumps every fucking time.

 

[HammerDown]

Jimi redefined confidence. Not only would he not back down from that challenge, he would try to fuck your lady in front of you while doing it.

I totally understand. He was ahead of his time and there's allot to be said for originality and I'm not discounting that. But in my opinion, I wouldn't list him in the top 100 most proficient guitar players. I took lessons in Nashville from a guy who would humiliate Hendrix. Hell, I played lead on Foxy Lady in my HS talent show when I was in 11th grade. Hendrix overwhelmed people at the time but in 2013 he wouldn't make it past club musician.

 

[fknhippie]

For me John Bonamassa is climbing the list. he and Alvin lee are better than a couple on the original list.

 

[HammerDown]

You have obviously missed Hendrix's "Hear My Train a Coming" on acoustic. It is available on the soundtrack from the movie about him, and on the DVD release of said movie.

Wasn't outstanding at the time or now. We're talking the greatest guitar players of all time here, not impressive guitar players. There are guys on every street corner in Nashville who could play the shit out of that tune with an afternoon's practice.

(And I meant to say without hallucinogenic drugs, not with)

 

[KansasSooner]

For me John Bonamassa is climbing the list. he and Alvin lee are better than a couple on the original list.

http://alvinlee.com/tributes.htm

A lot of the guitarists being discussed in this thread had high praise for Alvin.

 

[beardown07]

I totally understand. He was ahead of his time and there's allot to be said for originality and I'm not discounting that. But in my opinion, I wouldn't list him in the top 100 most proficient guitar players. I took lessons in Nashville from a guy who would humiliate Hendrix. Hell, I played lead on Foxy Lady in my HS talent show when I was in 11th grade. Hendrix overwhelmed people at the time but in 2013 he wouldn't make it past club musician.

see Bill Burr video posted earlier. I agree with him completely.



Evolution and time account for much of the disparity between today and yesteryear's players. Just as in sports. Better equipment, attainable resources and knowledge. Pretty silly argument to compare something from today to something from 1965 and ask which is better.


Unless we're talking about the space shuttle, in which case we could debate for days, cuz it looks the exact same??

 

[KansasSooner]

Unless we're talking about the space shuttle, in which case we could debate for days, cuz it looks the exact same??

Right after the Challenger explosion I interviewed with Lockheed for a job. The technology in the shuttle was 15 years old then. All the code was 4-bit FORTRAN on 4-bit HP processors! My TRS-80 at home had a faster and better processor.

 

[beardown07]

 

[HammerDown]

see Bill Burr video posted earlier. I agree with him completely.



Evolution and time account for much of the disparity between today and yesteryear's players. Just as in sports. Better equipment, attainable resources and knowledge. Pretty silly argument to compare something from today to something from 1965 and ask which is better.


Unless we're talking about the space shuttle, in which case we could debate for days, cuz it looks the exact same??

That's not what you're doing?

 

[HammerDown]

Comparing to Clapton to Randy Rhodes is beyond insanity.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM]Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymmEAIZWp4w]Randy Rhoads live - After Hours HD [Crazy Train ? Mr Crowley solos] - YouTube[/ame]

 

[beardown07]

That's not what you're doing?

touche

 

[beardown07]

again tho...I feel the GOAT includes more criteria than just technical skill set.




Kobe is as skilled as MJ, probably more athletic. Does that make him better than MJ? You'll have a tough time making that argument.

 

[HammerDown]

again tho...I feel the GOAT includes more criteria than just technical skill set.




Kobe is as skilled as MJ, probably more athletic. Does that make him better than MJ? You'll have a tough time making that argument.

I understand. Of course, in basketball we have the luxury of MJ who left no doubt. We can debate guitar players all day long. If you toss in pure entertainment value, Eddie drops way off my list and Stevie Ray is near the top. But based on pure skill, I would have a very, very tough time with many of those in this list. Clapton, Page, BB King, etc.

If you put Eddie or Randy Rhodes on a stage with BB King, who would grin sheepishly after the first song and meekly shake hands and walk off? Randy Rhodes was un-fucking-real.

 

[beardown07]

word

 

[SaintGibbs]

Jimi Hendrix 4:1 over Eddie? Puhlease. I'd like to see those two sit down without hallucinogenic drugs on an acoustic. Jimi would politely decline and slip out the back door.

And then these guys showed up and vaporized the entire audience

 

[HammerDown]

I was stuck on Charlie Byrd was about 18 months. Listened to him night and day.

 

[MrMoJoRisin63]

My sentiments exactly. I love SRV. Still remember where I was that Sunday night I heard about his death. But he doesn't belong on a poll of the greatest guitar players.

BTW, I mentioned Pat Metheny. At the risk of sounding like a melodramatic fool, I will just say that when I discovered The Pat Metheny Group recordings, it was the most life-changing music I have ever heard. Over and above even Metallica's old stuff back when I was a teenager. If anyone's interested, listen to the track "To the End of the World" on "We Live Here." It's 10:00. Listen to the whole thing using good headphones and then tell me it's not mindblowing. I've listened to every track he's ever produce under the Group and that one still covers me in goosebumps every fucking time.

He obviously does if he is leading the poll. I mean that alone say's he at least needs to or deserves to be mentioned with the best.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

So wait, you guys have done this for 8+ pages and no one has even mentioned Buckethead? There is no right and wrong in a best guitarist discussion - but when he's not even in the conversation that is *wrong*. Arguably the best, most inventive, most technically excellent player ever.

Others that have to be in the conversation - Tony McAlpine (combined with his piano playing one of the best all-around musicians ever), Kazuhito Yamashita (no, you've never heard of him, THE most amazing player ever, unparalled and entirely unique), and Charlie Hunter (8-string jazz legend).

 

[MrMoJoRisin63]

Another I am fond of that did not appear to be mentioned, and I could have missed it.

Mr. Ry Cooder

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

Pat Metheny I almost put into another category, not the *most* impressive guitar player ever (don't get me wrong, he's awesome) but his songwriting and overall musical performances are just so great. Produces magic more often than most others are capable of. Take a song like "Message to a Friend", it doesn't stick to any sort of conventional song structure, but creates the most fascinating and appropriate atmosphere, it really does sound like a letter to an old friend, with the huge variety of subtle emotions that can cover.