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.

**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.....

Brock · 03-15-2006, 09:30 AM

There are classical guitar players most people have never heard of that put all of those guys to shame as far as the ability to play.

**Nzoner** · 03-15-2006, 09:34 AM

I'm no expert either but I have to give a shout out for Billy Gibbons.

Nubian Nut · 03-15-2006, 10:51 AM

Eddie Hazel
Prince
Mike Hampton

**Reaper16** · 03-15-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nzoner 338

I'm no expert either but I have to give a shout out for Billy Gibbons.

03-14-2006, 06:34 AM
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: $1957236	a list without Segovia or Atkins is shit!!!!!
Posts: 18,392

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..
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03-14-2006, 07:11 PM	#7
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	Jack White =) __________________
Posts: 11,847

03-14-2006, 07:37 PM	#8
SCTrojan Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Across the park Casino cash: $6229719	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	#9
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
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03-14-2006, 08:09 PM	#10
Dinny Bossa Nova MVP Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $9990442	Freddie King. Dinny
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03-15-2006, 07:27 AM	#11
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	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.
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03-15-2006, 09:30 AM	#12
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	There are classical guitar players most people have never heard of that put all of those guys to shame as far as the ability to play.
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03-15-2006, 09:34 AM	#13
Nzoner a haw haw haw Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MIZZOU Casino cash: $26365802	I'm no expert either but I have to give a shout out for Billy Gibbons. __________________ *Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.*
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03-15-2006, 10:51 AM	#14
Nubian Nut Make my Funk the P-Funk..... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Casino cash: $5025191	Eddie Hazel Prince Mike Hampton
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