Greatest Rock and Roll Guitarist of All Time?

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47612

Simple question, hard answer.

My tastes tend to change over the years, but if I had to choose the greatest Rock and Roll guitarist of all time, for me it is relatively easy.

Jerry Garcia

Who is yours?
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ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 54021

hard to argue against jimmy paige.
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Bergamotichek · Retired Number Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 16777206

Eddie Van Halen

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 54021

we should get some criteria here.

are we talking about skill or musical contribution? there's a big difference.
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LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47612

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 54021

i mean guitar skill you can go the van halen, joe satriani rout.

as far as contribution my list is (no order)

jimmy paige
jimmi hendrix
johnny greenwood
brian may
pete townsend
stevie ray vaughn
eric clapton
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mbloves L.A. · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:50 pm Post subject:

The two Jimmys.

Jimmy Page.
Jimmi Hendrix.

Jimmy page is probably the best "technical" guitarist, whereas Jimmi Hendrix was a more "passion" guitarist.
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Bergamotichek · Retired Number Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 16777206

While I love Jimmy Page... "technical" he was not. Technical implies tight... and Page was one of the sloppiest guitar gods around (up there with Hendrix). Though, musically... he is brilliant.

Charles · Star Player Joined: 22 Sep 2004 Posts: 4525

The Karate Kid could take em all

two guys not mentioned: Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen

Bergamotichek · Retired Number Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 16777206

Yngwie and his scalloped necks? Naw.

Vai is awesome though.

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 54021

JD- agreed on paige. he was an emotional guitarist. he was never about fluid technique but just sprawling sound.

the technical guys don't do it for me quite frankly. i've always liked the guitarists who played perfectly within the context of the song...not the guys who just wank all over the place.

that's why i put johnny greenwood on my list. he's not the best technical guitarist..not now or ever. but he's a musical genius and he knows how to elevate songs from great to masterpiece. he's also incredibly versatile. i'd rather listen to him than the best technical guitarist any day of the week.
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DuncanIdaho · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject:

David Gilmour has always been one of my favs

uberzev · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:33 am Post subject:

Hendrix
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XTN · Starting Rotation Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 925

There's so many great guitarist with different styles it really is impossible to deem one as the greatest imo.

Here's my short list of personal faves:
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Clapton
Hendrix
Joey Santiago

LarryCoon · Site Staff Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Posts: 11266

Hard to pass up Hendrix. I also think it's hard not to mention Clapton.

I agree about Page -- he's a talented guitarist, but if you've ever seen him live, he's not all that great. But give him six months in a studio with a supply of heroin, and he'll turn out some pure genius.

I agree also that it depends on what you mean by "great." There are guys who aren't technically brilliant, but put a lot into the notes they do play -- guys like Gilmour & Santata.

Steve Lukather (Toto) is a guy who's probably a little UNDERrated. I knew he was good, but last year I watched him play Little Wing from about three feet away, and I was blown away.

Other guys I don't think I've seen mentioned: Allan Holdsworth, John Petrucci, John McLaughlin, Doyle Dykes, Steve Howe, Steve Morse.

The Dagger · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:55 am Post subject:

Kirk Hammet is easily the best guitarist of all time.

Eddie Van Halen is a close second.

After those two there is a huge huge gap.

The most overrated is Eric Clapton. Don't no where he gets all this love from.

Mr.Tricky · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject:

Tiny Tim.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

I agree with Page, Hendrix. Garcia, Clapton, Van Halen, Kirk Hammet (student of Joe Satriani), and others. A lot depends on your taste as who's best.

Hard to beleive Carlos Santana isn't even mentioned on the thread though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Santana

If technique includes speed, knowone can compare with Alvin Lee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Lee

A the most underated guitaist of all time has to be Lindsey Buckingham imo. "I'm so Afraid" played live is one of the best guitar pieces ever.

LakerLanny · Retired Number Joined: 24 Oct 2001 Posts: 47612

Some interesting replies.

I always found Clapton's playing so clean and technically perfect. I saw him live several times and he is terrific live, it isn't like he is just a studio genius.

I also think Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is unique in his style, though he certainly isn't at the same level technically as some of the others here.

Mike Bloomfield is another name from the past. That guy could play. But he was more of a Blues guy and I did say Rock and Roll guitarist.

No love for Ronnie Wood or Keith Richards? Where is Alvin Lee? (<<Phil I need to read all the posts before posting!!)
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Tony Montana · Star Player Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 2962

Hard to quantify, but my two favorites are Hendrix and David Gilmour...

LarryCoon · Site Staff Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Posts: 11266

B_Rabbit1212 · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject:

A name no one else is going to say:
Thomas Erak.
He is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band The Fall of Troy. Some of the absolute fastest riffs I've ever heard. Download F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X. to see for yourself.

And of course greats like Paige, Hendrix, Santana.

Ali Farka Touré and Eric Johnson deserve accolade as well.
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LuxuryBrown · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:46 pm Post subject:

JH
EVH
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Thugnomoe · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:13 am Post subject:

Omar Little · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

Clapton (nobody has played more styles with more people, invented the guitar god category)
Gilmore (thinking man's virtuoso, perhaps the most underrated out there)
Santana (just quit cashing in with duets part 33!!!)
Hendrix (freak of nature, changed the way the instrument was perceived)
Townsend
Page
Berry (the pioneer)
Richards

With all due respect, I don't think guys like VH, Vai, etc., will stand the test of time. It has to be about more than technique, speed, etc. The guys on the above list changed the way the instrument is played and will be remembered for generations (longer for Richards, since he's apparently immune to death).
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