Greatest Guitar Players Ever

**Walter Sobchak** · 06-07-2009, 06:41 AM

E S T E B A N

...haven't you guys seen the infomercials?

Very subjective question and hard to answer, really.

I'll say that one guitar player who measures up against any I've heard is Eddie Hazel of P-Funk. That dude was so good it's scary. He never got enough love.

If we're talking bass, I'd have to say Jaco. Maybe Vic Wooten or Stanley Clarke.

**Prince** · 06-07-2009, 06:44 AM

Eric Johnson and Satriani are two I really like.

Also Billy Gibbons is up there. Well, so is Hendrix.

**Bertilak** · 06-07-2009, 06:47 AM

I'm no expert (can't play a lick) but one of my favorites that hasn't been mentioned yet is Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

I see that Chet Atkins, who I also admire greatly, has been mentioned. If you haven't heard the Atkins-Knopfler collaboration album Neck and Neck, you owe it to yourself to do so ASAP.

As someone who "came of age" in the 1960's rock music was simply part of the culture, like water to a fish. Sometime in the early '70s it all seemed to go bad -- like stale brackish water. Music was either Bubble Gum junk for the "tweens" or slipping into -- well I don't know what, mediocrity at best.

Dire Straits' 1978 Sultans of Swing was a real wake up for me! I heard it on the radio sometime about 1980 and think I actually pulled the car off the road to hear it out.

**slcsteve** · 06-07-2009, 07:11 AM

Some that come to mind.

Steve Vai
Jimi Hendricks
Jose Feliciano
Laurindo Almeida

Segovia, of course.

**MrGuy** · 06-07-2009, 07:11 AM

Another guy I like that rarely seems to get any love from the "top guitar player" lists is Alvin Lee. I'm not sure why, maybe just because his big hit (I'd Love to Change the World) didn't have a lot of great guitar.

**Stubblefield** · 06-07-2009, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by strat1117

Oh my!

Here's a few that belong on the list and who haven't already mentioned:

Frank Zappa -- His scatological lyrics often disguised his virtuosic guitar playing.

I can't believe I forgot Zappa!

**rAZor** · 06-07-2009, 07:33 AM

Some others worthy of consideration:

Al Di Meola
Robert Cray
Roy Buchanan
Stevie Ray Vaughn

**tsmba** · 06-07-2009, 08:15 AM

Got a lot of good ones listed, but not:
Charlie Christian
Wes Montgomery
Lonnie Johnson
Robert Johnson
Blind Blake
Tal Farlow

There are SO many!

**TorzJohnson** · 06-07-2009, 08:23 AM

My favorite, since the mid-70s, has always been Bill Nelson, from Be Bop Deluxe.

Check out these cuts from 1975's Futurama. If you're a guitar player, you will probably be hooked in the first 30 seconds...

[YOUTUBE]Ykc7lHtRs6w[/YOUTUBE]

**kap49** · 06-07-2009, 08:48 AM

Another vote for Jeff Beck.

**strat1117** · 06-07-2009, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak

If we're talking bass, I'd have to say Jaco. Maybe Vic Wooten or Stanley Clarke.

Victor Wooten would get my vote, with Percy Jones (BrandX) a very close second. Jaco and Stanley would also be up there.

**The Knize** · 06-07-2009, 09:44 AM

Hendrix was almost certainly the best rock guitar player ever. Too good, too important, too influential, too original, too versatile, too outside the envelope not to be.

Otherwise those others named already deserve to be on the list. Rolling Stone's top 100 holds up decently. Famously, Lindsey Buckingham was left off, but is top 20 to me. +1 that Roy Clark has been underrated. Have not seen Mick Taylor's name on here yet.

James Jamerson was probably the greatest bass player ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI

Entwhistle is up there, too. To me Enwhistle is more playing lead guitar on a bass, but he made The Who, and that is one of my favorite groups ever.

And Jaco. Not my favorite bassist, but undeniably wonderful.

**JohnnyGringo** · 06-07-2009, 09:46 AM

Wes Montgomery

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Duane Allman

Brian Setzer

Scotty Moore

James Burton

**ouch** · 06-07-2009, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by wundergussy

Leo Kottke.

Funny you should mention that. I saw him at the Nassau Coliseum, and he was only the third best guitarist to hit the stage that night. The other two acts were John McLaughlin and Frank Zappa.

They don't have shows like that anymore.

**MrGuy** · 06-07-2009, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by cstrother

Entwhistle is up there, too. To me Enwhistle is more playing lead guitar on a bass, but he made The Who, and that is one of my favorite groups ever.

John made electric bass what it is, or should be, today! As for The Who... you could say I like 'em!

**cybrok** · 06-07-2009, 10:58 AM

Jimi Hendrix was a god in his time.
SRV was inspired by Hendrix, and was great too.
Randy Rhoads died too young :( I wonder how good he could've become
Jason Becker... unfortunately he can't really play (or move) anymore

Add to this about every guy who made G3:
-Steve Vai
-Joe Satriani
-John Petrucci
-Eric Johnson
-Yngwie Malmsteen (but I hate his attitude)
-Paul Gilbert

Maybe not the best, but I like the virsuosity of Michael Angelo Batio.

I consider the next guy to watch to be Alexi "Wrathchild" Laiho. Guitarist of Children of Bodom (and lead singer) and Sinergy.

**pmast** · 06-07-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by ClubmanRob

The following eleven men and one woman define "guitar hero" to me. That is, they possess a talent and a signature sound that I as a guitarist can attempt to replicate, but will always fall short. Without them, I would have never picked up a guitar.

Scotty Moore.
The Reverend Horton Heat.
Django Reinhardt.
Leadbelly.
Big Bill Broonzy.
Carl Perkins.
Les Paul.
Alvin Lee.
Robert Johnson.
Ivy Rorschach.
Josh White.
Hasil Adkins.

You forgot Blind Willy for slide guitar, Lindsey Buckingham is often under rated, and SRV.

**Gypsy shaver** · 06-07-2009, 11:16 AM

Check my avatar and repeat after me. Django Reinhardt!

**pmast** · 06-07-2009, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Robert Paulsen

I'm no expert (can't play a lick) but one of my favorites that hasn't been mentioned yet is Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits.

I see that Chet Atkins, who I also admire greatly, has been mentioned. If you haven't heard the Atkins-Knopfler collaboration album Neck and Neck, you owe it to yourself to do so ASAP.

As someone who "came of age" in the 1960's rock music was simply part of the culture, like water to a fish. Sometime in the early '70s it all seemed to go bad -- like stale brackish water. Music was either Bubble Gum junk for the "tweens" or slipping into -- well I don't know what, mediocrity at best.

Dire Straits' 1978 Sultans of Swing was a real wake up for me! I heard it on the radio sometime about 1980 and think I actually pulled the car off the road to hear it out.

Sorry, how could I forget Mark Knopfler? Thanks for the tip I will have to check it (Neck and Neck) out!

**strat1117** · 06-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by ouch

Funny you should mention that. I saw him at the Nassau Coliseum, and he was only the third best guitarist to hit the stage that night. The other two acts were John McLaughlin and Frank Zappa.

They don't have shows like that anymore.

How'd I miss THAT one!