Best guitarist of all time?

[moonbeam]

Who do you think are the greatest giutarists of all time? My vote had to go to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix

[kahunabean]

this has been on before but who cares... it's a great subject to discuss... for me the guitar is such a versatile instrument you can't have just one. so....... for innovation Jimi Hendrix, for starting it all Robert Johnson, for blues feel George Thorogood, for technical ability Django Rheinhardt

[sft42]

Your right on both counts kahuna...sorry my list is so long but as a gigging guitarist i have a few influences.....anyways I'll opt for the following guys (and one gal!) Jennifer Batten, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Hendrix and Slowhand, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher, Ralph MacTell, Dave Hole, Buddy Guy, Gary Moore, Niles Rodgers, Keef Richards and Ronny Wood, Christy Moore, Roddy Frame god i'd better stop and i was just getting warmed up as well! How about Bass Guitarist's as well anyone? Mark King if we're starting that here.

[j2buttonsw]

Best is too subjective, favourite is easier: most of sft42's (except Slow, Ralph and Keef) plus Adrian Belew and Eddie van Halen. Basserists include Norman Watt-Roy, Bootsy Collins, Larry Graham and Victor Bailey. How about the worst guitarists? Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller (tune that thing can't you!) for me.

[woodpam]

all of the above plus Chet Atkins and dare I mention Hank Marvin without provoking squeals of laughter (so uncool)? No 1 must be Jimi.

[andy hughes]

It's Django for me - it all started there.

[Gef]

It all depends on your taste but Richard Thompson is up there with the best.

[mikewith]

All those superfast twiddly guitarists are just show-offs. Robbie Robertson of the Band can make you cry. Leo Nocentelli of the Meters can make you laugh and can certainly make you dance. They are individuals who have made the guitar do things no-one else can. I notice no-one has nominated Michael Schenker ;-)

[skelly]

I'm going to be controversial here and say that I don't think Hendrix is that great! Yes he was influentual and yes he changed the way music sounded and was performed but personally I don't think he was as great a guitarist as people like to make out. As a big Stones fan my personal favourites are Keith and Ronnie, I love the way they perform on stage together. Best guitarist of all time, I'd have to go for Clapton, or Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Gary Moore (playing his blues stuff), or Pete Townsend ( are you still allowed to admit liking Pete Townsend?).

[mad_for_it]

Boring.......heard it all before..............next question. P.S Jimmy Page

[evilswan]

i'd like to put my vote in for jonny greenwood from radiohead. listen to the solos in "paranoid android" from their 1997 album "ok computer". stunning.

[andyalfa]

Anybody heard of Carlos Santana? I love Stevie Ray, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Jimi and Eric and Gary Moore is getting quite good too. There is (was) always Paul Kossof from Free and Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green, who could have been the greatest of the all.

[kalel1975]

Like you all I have too many to list. One came to mind who no one has mentioned. It's George Lynch... Originally from Dokken, and Lynch Mob, and has his own solo albums. He sounds like no one else. I'm still looking for more of his albums myself. He's a cool geezer! his web site is: georgelynch.com.

[coggles]

As probably the most able English guitarist, Jeff Beck said, It's like what is the 'best' breakfast cereal!

[eggman]

Jimi Hendrix.  Who else?