Greatest guitar player ever? Open debate.

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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:31 am

I was waiting for one of our US members to nominate Ry Cooder. He waited until page three of this thread.

He catches the mood of the moment with this one. He's has a real easy style.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:58 am

I'd have to split my answer in three.

As far as technical ability goes, I'd have to say Michael Angelo Batio. I can't find one piece of his that highlights all of his talents on YouTube so I'll just leave it at that.

As far as an all-rounder - that is, the optimal balance of technical ability, composition/improvisation, and overall musicianship - I'd have to go with Piet Sielck. "Live in Atlanta" showcases his skills best but no one's uploaded it to YouTube so no link here either.

Finally, as far as innovation and originality goes, I would say - hands down - Stanley Jordan. Here's a link and here's another one. This man is a god, but I'll let the videos speak for themselves.

Klaasvaak wrote:

My vote goes to Iron Maiden.

I love how, now that Adrian's back, they've got those great 3-part harmonies in most of the new songs. Rock in Rio = best music DVD ever.

Master Baiter Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 236

After having gone home and spoken to the fount of all things guitar related (the hubby), I realised that the guitarists that I mentioned were techincally good. I was reminded about a few more guitarists. Rory Gallagher, Les Paul and BB King have already been mentioned, but what about Jeff Beck?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHaRAfxLd7g

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:21 am

SlapHappy wrote:

How about Paco DeLucia, Al Dimeola, and John McLaughlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEZrB_FDw4c

At last !!
I was surprised any of these three names did not come...
The Meeting of the Spirits DVD makes me cry all the time...
All of the J. McLaughlin trio CDs are Jewellery.

I'm a great fan of McLaughlin myself I may post some videos later...

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Santana, Hendrix
and Gordon Giltrap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tx8J5nBRck[/url]

Trophy Videos · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:26 pm

@Jerome - Here's a rare recording of Mahavishnu Orchestra, with John McLaughlin at Syracuse University in 1972. Not the best recording, probably done with microphones and not into the mixing board or something, but the music is great. Billy Cobham on drums goes nuts, but that's another thread. 56 minutes. Smile

http://www.4shared.com/file/90672134/ad479335/mahavishnu_orchestra_at_SU_1972_8db_bass.html

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:07 pm

Zeppelin

http://www.ledzeppelin.com/

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:17 pm

I don't think there can ever be a 'greatest'. each one is special and they also offer something different.

Frampton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyr1yNUIZg&feature=related

Randy Rhodes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrhV_7ap9Zw&feature=related

Zakk Wylde

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYMupc564zE

Angus Young

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icIygHdSGFc

Mr. BB King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ny5ajCn0xw

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:11 pm

I had to wait to today to register my post. I went to the Eric Clapton concert in Auckland, New Zealand, last night.

Slowhand may not technically be God, but he definitely walks on water!

Fantastic show, 2 hours of EC on stage, started with some electric lesser known numbers but including "I Shot the Sherrif" with an incredible 4 - 5 minute instrumental at the end, then did a set of acoustic bluesey numbers, then got back on the electric guitar for a hard rockin closing set of "Wonderful Tonight", "Before You Accuse Me", "Layla", "Cocaine" and "Crossroads".

Now, I've never liked "Crossroads" that much, but a hard rocking 14 minute version with a bitchin piano break made this one of my all time faves, and just brought the house down.

Yours truely,
Confirmed Clapton Fan.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:22 pm

I've been dancing! jump_4_joy

I Shot the Sheriff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qLYy6hiFQ

Wonderfull Tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3ntdzRMrzo

^^^I think they could have left out the fairies in that one. Razz

Cocaine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYS732zyYfU

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:24 pm

Most of my favorites have been mentioned above. But no one denominated Gary Moore yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWp-Mazmf88 or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18FgnFVm5k0

Or Richie Sambora?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_4BnLssFKo

Adrian Vandenberg
With his own band Vandenberg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR9prnwHkVY
This one is of his Whitesnake period: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDtL4lk2-yM

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:25 pm

Corona, Frank Zappa did a version of "Little Wing" which is also beautiful.

Trophy Videos · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:34 am

My son likes Guthrie Govan. Smile

Guthrie Govan plays: Who's Best?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXk2ZrgcQM

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:47 am

It is beautiful, dr stephen williams! Cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd2SHelr-lQ

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:25 am

Roy Clark. on an electric 12 string. Cool

ETA the below items of interest:

Roy Clark playing Orange Blossom Special on a fiddle

Chet Atkins playing Orange Blossom Special on his axe. The video can't keep up with the finger speed.

Chet Atkins and Les Paul because my earlier attempt at a link for Chet didn't work, two for one for free! Very Happy

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:16 am

Paranoid, is you new/old avatar a silent message for the incredibleness that was Frank Zappa? or some coincidence?

Edited to add: THANK YOU CORONA! THAT's what Im talking about!
Edited again to add: THAT VIDEO IS DISTURBING!

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:46 am

DSW, it was sub-lim-in-al. I think I am moving to Montana. Wink

If dial up didn't take so long, I would also post "Yellow Snow", it is worth the search though. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:33 am

I saw Zappa once, he never said a word, just played 3 straight hours then left.

Now I've found a Ronnie Wood avatar, I suddenly remembered Joe Walsh. I once listened to a 'best guitar solo' poll, and Hotel California won it (How about a 'best guitar riff' thread one day?).

Rocky Mountain Way

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:37 pm

^^^Good one! Wink

dr, that was disturbing. that's why it took me awhile, because I was looking for another one. Confused

ParaNoid, I do these things out of love. Smile

http://ckuik.com/yellow_snow,frank_zappa

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:41 pm

Eddie VanHalen, enough said.
Eric Clapton, enough said.
Jimmy Hendrix, enough said.
Santana DMX? That's my joint!

(If no one has seen the video for I'm on a boat, youtube that, quick.)

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:49 pm

Well, the ones I prefer have almost all been mentioned already,
like David Gilmour, Herman Li & Sam Totman (from Dragonforce),
Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Carlos
Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Zakk Wylde and many others.
I'll not repost links for these ones.

But I haven't seen yet:

Mohammed Suiçmez (from Necrophagist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60GizSziZQ0

Jeff Buckley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

Pat O'Brien (from Cannibal Corpse)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDSjTwusH5I

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:43 am

Lynyrd Skynyrd-Call Me The Breeze-1976 Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIqEq9OFxE

Charlie Daniels - Late 70's - Long Haired Country Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4y5si8DGs

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:07 am

This is a very wide subject, When you consider all the different styles.
One mans meat is another's poison, sort of thing.

Years ago I met this strange woman on the net that lived in the Pyrenees's, All the family were smugglers across the French / Italian /Spanish borders. so the story goes, anyway she collected stray cats. The bitch was mad BUT she used to send me Spanish Flamenco style Guitar, the likes of Laurence Jubar, Santos, Carlos Montoya, Armik, Paco De Lucia. Govi, Ottmar Liebert, Gypsy Kings, Dickson Martinez It's all classic style, you ether like it of hate it..

The other good classic stuff is John Williams, Jeff Beck, Julian Bream really the list is endless.

But a duo that has hit the scene over the last few years are Rodrigo y Gabriela There a mix of classic styles and heavy metal, info and links on there site, http://www.rodgab.com/ Four C.D's at present with a couple containing a short DVD, Everything recorded "live"

But there well worth the time to lesson too..

I've also got a small collection of Music DVD's on the subject.

If anyone's interested in the classic stuff, on a burned copy for copy swap system, I would be interested I probably have 60 or 70
I've also got Chet Akins, Tommy Emmanuel, Blind Willie McTell, There's even some Maybelle Carter

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:40 am

Not as popular as most previous mentioned, but Johnny Winter is worth nominating.

Baiting Guru Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 4012

Here are some guitarists I admire, and that (I think) haven't been mentioned yet:

Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic) -my favourite guitar solo ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3bleXWaCk

Ron Asheton (Stooges) - RIP, what a loss...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDo2w1MCDM

Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLY4v0Et8z0

Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) - here with Eno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yai4bier1oM

Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAn9aD6U9mY

And for something a bit more obscure, (and if you have the patience, it is a fairly long piece - around 20 minutes, and if you like improvised music)
Manuel Göttsching (Ash Ra Tempel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzUnGUtKl5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_qqfJQHk4&

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