best guitarist ever?

[Redballjets88]

i would say
1. stevie ray vaugh
2. Ed Van Halen
3. Steve Vai

with much bias

[vanzilla]

Depends on if we're talking technique or feel...

I like your list, but would shift the order, maybe add a few...

1. Jimmy Hendrix
2. Steve Vai
3. Eddie Van Halen
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn
5. John Frusciante

Considering 1 and 4 are dead - 2 is playing weird bullshit now, and 3 is brain dead...in my opinion, there aren't many good guitarists out there these days....or I should say "groundbreaking" guitarists out there. If there are any - they're not getting any play.

Just a candyman's opinion.

[scorpioboy33]

hendrix
vaughn
van halen

[TOM_5150]

1.Van Halen
1.Van Halen
1. Van Halen

EDDIE RULES FOOLS!!

[UGS]

It's hard to see Ed even ruling over a fool, seeing how he is a fool and all. . .besides, he's ruled by Alex Van Halen, the twat.

[Mr. G]

Of all that has been mentioned Steve Vai has the largest musical vocabulary. Does he play blues as well as Stevie Ray? no, but Stevie Ray could never play Vai's stuff. It really comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.

[ASDF125250]

Your kidding? Yngwie Malmsteen not in the top 5?

Mine would be

1. Hendrix
2. EVH
3. SRV
4. Yngwie
5. Steve Vai

I could be talked into replacing vai with Randy Rhoads too.

[rustoffa]

Roy Clark

Pick and grin further in house of music.

[Matt White]

JIMMY PAGE

JAMES HETFIELD

EVH

SRV

CLARENCE WHITE

[Roguesgirl]

Originally posted by scorpioboy33
hendrix
vaughn
van halen

yup:)

[DaveTheSoulOfVH]

JimiHendrix&EddieVanHalen

[ASDF125250]

I can see James Hetfield as being influential, but the best? I don't think so. The only memorable solo he has is the unforgivin solo, which isn't that technical. He is one hell of a rhythm guitarist, but still, the best? I know malmsteen could make him look like shit if you got both of them on stage, and told them to play as fast as possible. I think Hetfield should be on a top 10 influential guitarist list, but not anywhere near the top ten best guitarists. His chops dont cut it.

[Pope Must Die]

1. eddie
2. jeff beck
3. joe satriani
4. brian may
5. eric clapton / jimmy page / jimi hendrix

i've always thought of vai as extremely limited , he's just a whammy bar wanker really

satriani is vastly more musical whilst not suffering from vai's ott ego

vai seems to think he's the next hendrix , well , he fucking ain't

[Pope Must Die]

since the dross that is van hagar , eddie's star has waned cuntsiderably , look at that poll last year where he came in at no. 74 of the top 100 guitarists

disgraceful

another thing you can lay at hagar's synth ridden lovey dovey drivel door , the destruction of evh as a rock god

[Panamark]

Randy Rhodes !!

[Warham]

Hendrix is rock's best.

Eddie is probably number five or so, maybe after Clapton, Beck and Page.

I heard Strange Brew by Cream the other day. Classic stuff.

[flappo]

i've always found page amazing on record ( achilles last stand ) but pretty weak live ( live aid )

hendrix was amazing for his time , but the best ever ?

things have moved on a lot since then , edward van halen revolutionised electric guitar and since then nobody had done anything to advance it very much imo

vai and satriani whilst excellent players don't bring anything new to the table , they're too similar to evh

i'd still maintain that jeff beck is arguably the greatest living rock guitarist

[nosuchluck]

1. Django Reinhardt
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. John McLaughlin
4. Shawn Lane

[flappo]

yeah , holdsworth is an amazing player too , really unique sound and underrated by the gen pub

i also rate dave gilmour , he's an amazing fucking geetarist

[Last_Child]

Me? :lol:

nah...

Ed..Jeff...Hendrix...Randy...

[Hardrock69]

My favorites...


1. Jimi (Greatest Rock guitarist who ever lived, for all the right reasons, not just my opinion)
2. Jeff Beck
3. Michael Schenker
3. Ed
4. Yngwie
5. Randy
6. SRV
7. Eric Johnson
8. Jimmy Page
9. Ritchie Blackmore
10. Zakk Wylde

[Big Troubles]

Originally posted by rustoffa
Roy Clark

Pick and grin further in house of music.

LOL who's that fucker that played guitar with his toes. Id say he is the best. ;)

[Panamark]

Originally posted by Hardrock69
My favorites...


1. Jimi (Greatest Rock guitarist who ever lived, for all the right reasons, not just my opinion)
2. Jeff Beck
3. Michael Schenker
3. Ed
4. Yngwie
5. Randy
6. SRV
7. Eric Johnson
8. Jimmy Page
9. Ritchie Blackmore
10. Zakk Wylde

Good list ! Not the order I would have, but a good selection..

[bueno bob]

It's without a doubt Steve Kuzer, because Alan told me so.

[Susie Q]

Yngwie Malmsteen is one hell of a showman, he has melody, he has spirit, grace, flair, style, mood, expression. All over very impressed with him.

Second would be Eddie, I suppose. I saw him last year, the same year I saw Yngwie. Eddie took a backseat for me. Very bummed.

Vai....Impressed with his style.

Hendrix

Page

[matt19]

im glad that only Panamark and my self recognize Randy Rhoads.... my favorite... if he hadnt died in that plain crash... no one knows where his music would have gone.. malmsteen is great.. based on classical modes and scales...... but Randy was the first to make that popular... and i think that if he were alive today he would have blown eddie away.. but only cause of his drinking ... if he would only quit drinking... no one could touch him

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by matt19
im glad that only Panamark and my self recognize Randy Rhoads.... my favorite... if he hadnt died in that plain crash... no one knows where his music would have gone.. malmsteen is great.. based on classical modes and scales...... but Randy was the first to make that popular... and i think that if he were alive today he would have blown eddie away.. but only cause of his drinking ... if he would only quit drinking... no one could touch him

Ed's drinking doesn't have much to do with his ability on guitar anymore. He gave up being a world leader in terms of ability the second Dave was gone and Sam said "Hey, let's just use the K.I.S.S. method - Keep it simple, silly! Just write whatever crap you want, Ed, it's OK! I'm just glad to have the paycheck!"

Ed was NEVER a driven guitarist or musician unless someone was kicking him in the ass to be so.

Thank Dave for small favors.

[DrMaddVibe]

Yngwie
Stevens
Page
Beck
Dale
SRV
Guy
Ronson
Rhodes
Fripp
Reid
Campbell(Think Heartbreakers)

I don't even rate Van Halen as being in a top 10 anymore. These other guys didn't sacrifice themselves for mediocrity and abysmal performances.

[Soul Reaper]

Maybe the greatest guitarist would have been better. No-one is the best becuase there are so many different styles and unique players.

My list, anyway:

Allan Holdsworth
John McClaughlin
Shawn Lane
Jeff Beck
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Danny Gatton
Randy Rhoads
EVH
SRV
Jimi Hendrix

[Soul Reaper]

Do acoustic guitarists count as well:

Michael Hedges, fuckin' genius.

[Dave's Bitch]

good question,id have to say my top five is

1.Slash
2.EVH
3.Dimebag Darrell
4.Dave "the snake" Sabo
5.Kerry King

not the usual top five but its just my opinion

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by Sammy's Bitch
good question,id have to say my top five is

1.Slash
2.EVH
3.Dimebag Darrell
4.Dave "the snake" Sabo
5.Kerry King

not the usual top five but its just my opinion

I wouldn't say Kerry King for his solos, but his riffs are awesome.

Who's Dave sabo, does he play for any band or is he a solo guitarist?

[nosuchluck]

dave sabo plays for Skid Row

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
dave sabo plays for Skid Row


OK

Jennifer Batten rules!!!

[tydhurst]

Jimmy Page (not better than Vai, i just like "Since i've been loving you")
Steve Vai (Better than Satriani, Yngwie and Hendrix)
Slash (The boy can play)
Joe Perry (Tought me the coolness that is "guitar")
Early EVH (who could out play him?)
Mark Knopfler (Little right wing for this thread, but fuck he's good, no plectrum either!)

[Soul Reaper]

Mark Knopfler, a legend.

Why does no-one mention him?!

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by tydhurst
Jimmy Page (not better than Vai, i just like "Since i've been loving you")
Steve Vai (Better than Satriani, Yngwie and Hendrix)


Controversial comments there, although I mostly agree with you.

[kentuckyklira]

Me!

But Steve Vai is a close second!

[Soul Reaper]

best acoustic guitarist is probably Michael Hedges or Paco De Lucia (if he counts as an acoustic guitarist, he's more classical)

[tydhurst]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Controversial comments there, although I mostly agree with you.

Thanks! And that's really how i feel, i'm not stirring stuff!

[Casemeister]

My favourite is easily Waylon Jennings but the best of all time has to be Chet Atkins. Mr Guitar. Utterly amazing.

[Soul Reaper]

mattias eklundh and ron thal are amazing

i've been on music forums where some people say Kurt Cobain and Head are one of the 'best'.

Losers

[tydhurst]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
mattias eklundh and ron thal are amazing

i've been on music forums where some people say Kurt Cobain and Head are one of the 'best'.

Losers

If you go for soullful playing then Kurt's your man, but i always liked his singing/songwriting better.

Head can go take a long walk off a short pier for all i fucking care!

[DrMaddVibe]

Randy Rhodes
Dick Dale
SRV
Vernon Reid
Junior Brown
Ace Frehley
Joe Perry
Tipton/Downing

[Stillwell]

1. Ritchie Blackmore
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Tony Iommi
4. Slash

[flappo]

jeff beck rated john mclaughlin as the best ever

so i bought an album by him

i think beck must've been tone deaf that day

[DLRisGOD]

Must give Hendrix his due as Guitar Messiah...

Placed his stamp on an entire era and destroyed the limits previously placed on the electric geetar...

EVH in his prime also shattered the ceiling with "Eruption"...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Jeff Beck (panache)
Eric Clapton (touch)
Jimmy Page (composing)
Jimi Hendrix (everything)
Eddie Van Halen (panache)

No ranking.

[Soul Reaper]

One underated guitarist would be Tommy Emmanuel.

That guy really knows who to play acoustic!!

[HellsAngel]

Honorable mentions -

Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Steve Vai
Randy Rhoads
Zakk Wylde
Dimebag
Timo Tolkki

My personal favorites-

Eddie Van Halen
Dave Mustaine
Yngwie Malmsteen
Buckethead
Bumblefoot
Jerry Cantrell
Mark Tremonti
Slash
Kirk Hammett
Joe Perry
Alexi Laiho

[fe_lung]

Richard Thompson
Mick Ronson
Johnny Greenwood
Nils Lofgren

[Nitro Express]

I like Ted Nugent when he keeps his politics to himself and just plays guitar.

I got to see him in a fairly small venue and he played a lot of blues on his 58 Les Paul. Some of the best blues playing I have ever heard.

He did some unique things with his Gibson Byrdland feedback wise and really can make that guitar sing and growl.

He's an underated guitar player but his nutcase antics and vulgar manner isolates him from getting any credit.

[Nitro Express]

Let's not forget Henry Garza. There are some young guys out there who can play.

[LoungeMachine]

It's a tie.


Les Paul and Leo Fender.


Otherwise, all of the above aforementioned names would be selling cheeseburgers.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Nitro Express
I like Ted Nugent when he keeps his politics to himself and just plays guitar.



Are you fucking on crack?

Keeps his right wing fanatical politics to himself?

:rolleyes:

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by DrMaddVibe


Ace Frehley

Tipton/Downing


:rolleyes:

This explains so much......

[mako_kimura]

1. Vinnie Moore
2. Jason Becker
3. Tony MacAlpine
4. George Lynch
5. Paul Gilbert
6. Eric Johnson
7. Al DiMeola
8. Bruce Bouillet
9. Steve Morse
10. Frank Gambale

I'm a shredder, obviously

[Mr Badguy]

Why has noone mentioned STEVE HOWE?

The guy is a one man guitar concert.

And he doesn`t play the cliches.

In terms of originality, longevity and consistancy, he`s my all time No 1.

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
Why has noone mentioned STEVE HOWE?




Taste and a sense of Hearing? ;)

[perilousepete]

what about fuckin marty friedman or jeff loomis or jason becker? you guys ever listen to cacophany or nevermore?

[FORD]

Phil Keaggy

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[perilousepete]

that second one's pretty fuckin sick

[Tiki-Tom]

Brian Setzer !!!! If not the best he's still up there.

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[Cato]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
It's a tie.


Les Paul and Leo Fender.


Otherwise, all of the above aforementioned names would be selling cheeseburgers.
Leo was a guitarist?

[mako_kimura]

Originally posted by perilousepete
what about fuckin marty friedman or jeff loomis or jason becker? you guys ever listen to cacophany or nevermore?



Originally posted by mako_kimura
2. Jason Becker

I said Jason Becker. And I never really ranked Jeff Loomis as the best EVER. Also, I prefer Jason Becker over Marty Friedman in Cacophony

[hideyoursheep]

1)Dave on "ice cream man"
2)Neil Young
3)Buck Owens

[Gringo]

EVH, Johnny Winter, Jake E. Lee, Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoades, Steve Vai, Roy Buchanon, Tommy Bolin, John Sykes, Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert are just some of the guitarist i rank high on my list.

Everyone has their own style, and because of that there's no "best guitarist ever".