Who are the greatest guitarists of all time? - Page 2

Hadn't heard Derek Trucks mentioned. Surely he makes the list.

Cary

While not a great soloist he does provide the signature sound for one of the most popular bands of our time, does that make him a great technical musician, probably not and he certainly is not one of my favorites. However my post referred to guitarists who's rhythmic dynamics are the definitive sounds of their highly respected bands. His he really any different than the other 3 i mentioned( Keith Richards. Peter Townsend, Malcolm Young) who also are not among my favorites but they are among the best at what they do in terms of creating the definitive sounds for each of their respective bands, who happen to be 3 of the most popular and respected bands in the history of Rock and Roll. The mistake i made was putting him on top of the list instead of the bottom, whereas you would say why even bother putting him on the list at all. We agree to disagree on this one and that is what drives these forums.

For the record my favorites are, in no particular order:

Duane Allman
Johnny Winter (when sober and semi drug free---maybe 68 thru 71)
Al De Meola
Warren Haynes

I am really surprised to see Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel only mentioned once. If I had to pick one, it would be Atkins.

Twice, actually. Atkins was a true virtuoso both in front of and behind the mike. He pioneered many recording techniques and his skills as a producer are legendary. The fact that he was a genius on the guitar just makes his accomplishments even more amazing. Plus nobody who worked with him ever had anything bad to say about him.

In no particular order - Page, Beck, Clapton, and Hendrix, as far as R'N'R goes. Every guitarist in R'N'R since them has been influenced by them.

I absolutely second Django Reinhardt, the Gypsy guitarist. Try some of his amazing jazz stuff with Stephane Grapelli (great jazz violinist) from the mid-'30s when they were with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. "Hot" is right!

I believe you left off Blackmore (as far as R&R goes).

One question----do you think all the great guitarists from the southern rock bands were influenced by the above. I dont know the answer but in my opinion they represent some of our generations greatest guitar duo's 1st represented by Allman and Betts.

Duane Allman, Dickey Betts---Allman Bros.(Whipping Post)
Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones--Outlaws(Green Grass and High Tides)
Allen Collins,Gary Rossington--Skynyrd (Free Bird)

No one has yet mentioned Peter Green.

Ah yes----Green Manalishi

GARY MOORE?

Just 2 words----WOLFGANG'S VAULT------enjoy

I'm sure that they were to some degree. It's not the case that influences are always manifest in the form of direct emulation. When someone is influenced but they themselves live within a very different mileau, that influence gets run through their own personal blender and comes out not necessarily obviously recognizeable. But it would have been hard to be in any form of rock or blues based guitarist in and after the 60s/70s (and those folks were all very heavily blues based with some country tinges), and not be influenced by Hendrix, Clapton and Page. Though, all those people would have also been very aware of the same underlying influences that Hendrix, Clapton and Page came from as well.

Great thread! You folks are a wealth of information.

My own picks would be closest to those posted by John_R_in_LA.

I forgot one....Terry Kath, Chicago (Transit Authority). I heard that Jimi Hendrix saw him live once and stated that there was no way he could conceive what that guy was playing.

Tommy gets my vote. Absolutely incredible. Clapton has said he's the best ever.

I would also check out Adrian Legg.

Hendrix and Clapton 4ever! Currently. reverend William "ZZ Top" Gibbons

Two not mentioned: Roy Buchanan and Steve Hackett

I agree! Super Session (with Al Kooper and Steven Stills) is a great album. MB was a great blues guitarist. I was listening to MB when I was in junior high school - while everyone else was listening to Tommy James and the Shondells. Unfortunately, MB like so many others, died young - from drugs. I often wonder what Hendrix, etc. would sound like if they were alive today, and if they would have continued to revolutionize the music scene.
JEFF

Allman was definitely influenced by Clapton, but he developed his own style especially with his slide work. I should have included him in the original list because of his influence on those that followed him. My bad.

Let me add that Clapton played with Beck in the Yardbirds, and Beck played with Page also in the Yardbirds, pre-dating your great guitar duo's. Allman and Clapton were together in Derek and the Domino's - "Layla and other great love songs".

Both of those guys are unbelievable and when you think who could play what they play among the top rock guitarists, you won't find many. However, Joe Bonamassa can do some really nice stuff on an acoustic guitar.

Jerry Donahue, Will Ray, John Jorgensen, "The Hellecasters"

Has Robben Ford been mentioned?

I am not sure I would consider Jerry Donahue a blues rock guitarist and I know that Emmanuel would not be considered that. Of course, let's throw in the obvious-Montoya, Sergovia, Parkening, Reinhardt.

good info----keep on forgetting about those pre 1969 years. Since we are both from the Detroit area you can appreciate what to many trips to the Grande Ballroom did to the brain cells

John Mayer?

I think he is serious. And as a long-time player, I might just agree.

Edge is no chops-monster, for sure. And what he has done w/ effects has been done before (the rhythmic echo stuff? David Gilmour was doing that before Dave Evans ever got a guitar, echo pedal & new stage name).

That said, Edge has taken that "trick" and created a truly signature, instantly recognizable sound. And, esp. with the more recent U2 material, many times you think you are hearing a keyboard/synth? Nope, that's Edge running thru god knows what pedals/rack gear to make a power trio + singer sound 100 times more massive.

I'd say that his role in U2 is very much like Andy Summers in the Police. Not just the "guitar player', but provider of often numerous layers of sound. Sometimes very subtle, sometimes in your face.

I'd say making a noise that most anyone can spot instantly deserves some credit for being somewhat "revolutionary".

Edge is definitely a highly tasteful guitartist. He's not a highly technical guitarist, but being highly technical has never been a prerequisite to making great rock and roll. Soulful, simple guitar with immaculate vintage tones go a long way. And Edge has that by the bucketful.

I would tend to also add Alex Lifeson (Rush) as an ex. much like Andy Summers. Good stuff!

Keith Richards