Best Guitar Players Of All Time.....

Kraut · 03-14-2006, 06:34 AM

I always love to discuss this topic. Everyone's opinion is different, but I have always found that it makes for good beer drinking discussions. Top 5 is good or more if you can't fit them all in.

My top 5 :

1. Jimmy Paige
2. Jimmi Hendrix
3. Eric Clapton
4. David Gilmour
5. B.B. King

**Reaper16** · 03-14-2006, 08:27 AM

Wow. Such a difficult question... I'll have to think about it and get back to this thread later, though I like your short list, sans Paige.

**QuikSsurfer** · 03-14-2006, 04:26 PM

Josh Homme didn't make the cut?

**Reaper16** · 03-14-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Josh Homme didn't make the cut?

good joke

headsnap · 03-14-2006, 05:14 PM

a list without Segovia or Atkins is shit!!!!!

Nightwish · 03-14-2006, 06:09 PM

It depends on what you mean by "best." For instance, some of the guys mentioned in the OP were highly influential, highly stylistic, but pretty average when it comes to technical ability (most notably, Jimmy Paige and Jimi Hindrix). Other players in that category (lots of style and influence, average technical ability) would include Tony Iommi and Alex Lifeson.

It's impossible to answer a question about which guitarists are "best," because there are just too many different dimensions to compare -- unique and individual style or personality, influence, technical ability, etc.

Tons of individual style, but only average or slightly above-average technical ability

Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Alex Lifeson
Tony Iommi
B.B. King (and most other "great" pure blues players)

Tons of technical ability, but their style doesn't really stand out

Glen Tipton
Timo Tolkki
Warren Demartini
Arian Smith
Jake E. Lee
Adrian Vandenberg
a ton of thrash, speed and power metal guitarists

Distinctive style and lots of technical ability

Steve Vai
Yngwie Malmsteen
Akira Takasaki
Randy Rhoades
Dave Murray
John Petrucci
Joe Satriani
Eric Clapton
SRV
Al Di Meola
Eddie Van Halen
Kai Hansen
Andre Olbrich
Luca Turilli
many "great" jazz guitarists

Of course, those are merely my opinions, and those lists are by no means exhaustive. And I'm sure a lot of Maiden fans might take issue for me not putting Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in the same catagory, or not putting Janick Gers on the list. I didn't exclude Janick because I don't think he's good, but only because I haven't listened to enough of his work that closely to really know which category to put him in.

**Lzen** · 03-21-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwish

It depends on what you mean by "best." For instance, some of the guys mentioned in the OP were highly influential, highly stylistic, but pretty average when it comes to technical ability (most notably, Jimmy Paige and Jimi Hindrix). Other players in that category (lots of style and influence, average technical ability) would include Tony Iommi and Alex Lifeson.

It's impossible to answer a question about which guitarists are "best," because there are just too many different dimensions to compare -- unique and individual style or personality, influence, technical ability, etc.

Tons of individual style, but only average or slightly above-average technical ability

Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Alex Lifeson
Tony Iommi
B.B. King (and most other "great" pure blues players)

Tons of technical ability, but their style doesn't really stand out

Glen Tipton
Timo Tolkki
Warren Demartini
Arian Smith
Jake E. Lee
Adrian Vandenberg
a ton of thrash, speed and power metal guitarists

Distinctive style and lots of technical ability

Steve Vai
Yngwie Malmsteen
Akira Takasaki
Randy Rhoades
Dave Murray
John Petrucci
Joe Satriani
Eric Clapton
SRV
Al Di Meola
Eddie Van Halen
Kai Hansen
Andre Olbrich
Luca Turilli
many "great" jazz guitarists

Of course, those are merely my opinions, and those lists are by no means exhaustive. And I'm sure a lot of Maiden fans might take issue for me not putting Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in the same catagory, or not putting Janick Gers on the list. I didn't exclude Janick because I don't think he's good, but only because I haven't listened to enough of his work that closely to really know which category to put him in.

Very good post and I agree. I know most of this is rock-based music only, but that's what I know best. A couple of those names I don't know, though.

I suppose something else that I would add is that sometimes, it just boils down to what is your taste. Some people's idea of what makes a great guitar player is not the same as others'.

BTW, I would add George Lynch. His was/is a very distinctive style, but not highly technical. A lot of Lynch's stuff was played purely by feel. The guy couldn't properly teach someone how to play, but he was an incredible guitar player himself.

htismaqe · 03-21-2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

good joke

Actually, Josh Homme is a very, very good guitar player. One of the best of the current crop.

**Reaper16** · 03-21-2006, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Actually, Josh Homme is a very, very good guitar player. One of the best of the current crop.

I could spend literal days listing very good guitar players. This thread asks for the very best. Of all time. To suggest that Homme is such might as well be a joke because it certainly is laughable.

htismaqe · 03-22-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I could spend literal days listing very good guitar players. This thread asks for the very best. Of all time. To suggest that Homme is such might as well be a joke because it certainly is laughable.

I don't see you laughing at the mention of Alex Lifeson, Adrian Vandenberg, or Gary Hoey.

Something tells me that you're not at all interested in an objective analysis.

**QuikSsurfer** · 03-14-2006, 07:11 PM

Jack White =)

SCTrojan · 03-14-2006, 07:37 PM

I admit that I'm no expert on these things, but I've always been partial to George Benson and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

BTAU · 03-14-2006, 07:38 PM

1) Jimi Hendrix
2) Eric Clapton
3) B.B. King
4) Jimmy Page
5) Stevie Ray Vaughan

Dinny Bossa Nova · 03-14-2006, 08:09 PM

Freddie King.

Dinny

Deberg_1990 · 03-15-2006, 07:27 AM

Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eddie Van Halen two of my personal faves.....

03-14-2006, 06:34 AM	Topic Starter
Kraut Don't Make Me Angry... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hells Kitchen, NY Casino cash: $9984925	Best Guitar Players Of All Time..... I always love to discuss this topic. Everyone's opinion is different, but I have always found that it makes for good beer drinking discussions. Top 5 is good or more if you can't fit them all in. My top 5 : 1. Jimmy Paige 2. Jimmi Hendrix 3. Eric Clapton 4. David Gilmour 5. B.B. King
Posts: 7,428

03-14-2006, 04:26 PM	#3
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	Josh Homme didn't make the cut? __________________
Posts: 11,847

03-14-2006, 05:14 PM	#5
headsnap "Think ZOOM!" Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Space Station #5 Casino cash: $1397236	a list without Segovia or Atkins is shit!!!!!
Posts: 18,409

03-14-2006, 06:09 PM	#6
Nightwish 2006 Snipe Hunting Champion Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: A van down by the river! Casino cash: $10004900	It depends on what you mean by "best." For instance, some of the guys mentioned in the OP were highly influential, highly stylistic, but pretty average when it comes to technical ability (most notably, Jimmy Paige and Jimi Hindrix). Other players in that category (lots of style and influence, average technical ability) would include Tony Iommi and Alex Lifeson. It's impossible to answer a question about which guitarists are "best," because there are just too many different dimensions to compare -- unique and individual style or personality, influence, technical ability, etc. Tons of individual style, but only average or slightly above-average technical ability Jimmy Page Jimi Hendrix Alex Lifeson Tony Iommi B.B. King (and most other "great" pure blues players) Tons of technical ability, but their style doesn't really stand out Glen Tipton Timo Tolkki Warren Demartini Arian Smith Jake E. Lee Adrian Vandenberg a ton of thrash, speed and power metal guitarists Distinctive style and lots of technical ability Steve Vai Yngwie Malmsteen Akira Takasaki Randy Rhoades Dave Murray John Petrucci Joe Satriani Eric Clapton SRV Al Di Meola Eddie Van Halen Kai Hansen Andre Olbrich Luca Turilli many "great" jazz guitarists Of course, those are merely my opinions, and those lists are by no means exhaustive. And I'm sure a lot of Maiden fans might take issue for me not putting Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in the same catagory, or not putting Janick Gers on the list. I didn't exclude Janick because I don't think he's good, but only because I haven't listened to enough of his work that closely to really know which category to put him in. __________________ "Human tales? But human don't have tails, they have big, big bottoms that they wear with bad shorts, and walk around going, 'Hi, Helen!'" -- Batty (Robin Williams), in Fern Gully Last edited by Nightwish; 03-14-2006 at 06:15 PM..
Posts: 7,013

03-14-2006, 07:11 PM	#11
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	Jack White =) __________________
Posts: 11,847

03-14-2006, 07:37 PM	#12
SCTrojan Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Across the park Casino cash: $6019719	I admit that I'm no expert on these things, but I've always been partial to George Benson and Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Posts: 2,193

03-14-2006, 07:38 PM	#13
BTAU Evil Monkey Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: My Closet Casino cash: $10010377	1) Jimi Hendrix 2) Eric Clapton 3) B.B. King 4) Jimmy Page 5) Stevie Ray Vaughan
Posts: 264

03-14-2006, 08:09 PM	#14
Dinny Bossa Nova MVP Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $9990442	Freddie King. Dinny
Posts: 5,050

03-15-2006, 07:27 AM	#15
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3454454	Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eddie Van Halen two of my personal faves..... __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 66,914