Who's guitar playing is the best?

Subject: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Tony 12-string
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:31 PM

Who's the folk singer who's guitar playing is the best? I vote for Bert Jansch.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:35 PM

leadbelly doc watson robert johnson

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:39 PM

Definately "Doc." Blues - - Keb 'Mo.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:41 PM

Best folk: Dave Van Ronk
Best blues: B.B. King
Best allround: John Williams

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:43 PM

My favourite ?    Martin Simpson..

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 08:44 PM

isn't this about the 37th time the question has been asked..*grin*

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: kendall
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 09:36 PM

way too subjective to respond to

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 09:40 PM

Hard enough deciding on whether someone is a folksinger or not, before getting into their guitar playing, which is all apples and oranges anyway.

Anyway, I've always liked Dick Gaughan's guitar work, though I'm not saying he's the best. It just appeals to me personally.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Midchuck
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 09:46 PM

I like Norman Blake's the best, but that doesn't mean he's the best in a technical sense. Styles vary so much, it's impossible to compare. And how do you decide who's a "folk singer" and who's a "bluegrass singer" and who's an "old timey singer" and....

Anyway, you get the idea, I hope.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,The Pedant King
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 09:46 PM

And whose spelling is the worst? LOL!!! Talk about Pavlov's dog! The responses on this forum are so immediate and predictable. Stop answering the guy seriously and take a look at my post on the thread "Whose the best looking folksinger?"

Then you will realize what this thread is really about.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 10:01 PM

Sorry the word BEST is not a reality in something like music. This is worth saying not as an attack for I understand the question but this gets at the center of finding great music. Anyone looking for the best banjo player or guitar player or whatever misses the point of becoming complete from a real place. Each songster who has found his or her "voice" with there instroment is a beauty unto themselves. There can be no best. There is alot of greats that can't be conpared. ( I beleave understanding this difference will make one a better musician ! )
                I am not trying to nit-pick but I have heard this phrase through a life in music and the above just came out .
               Martin Carthy Rye Cooder Robert Johnson Martin Simpson Blind Blake in no order are some musicians I consider "Voices Unto Themselves"

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,The Pedant King
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:01 PM

Oh, God...make it stop. LOL! Doesn't anyone listen any more?

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:05 PM

What do you mean "any more"?

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:43 PM

Yes, I should have said "favorite" guitarist.
Don't get so upset.

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: moocowpoo
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:46 PM

I can't say 'best' because it's only my personal taste (mabye you mean that), One of my favourites is Tony Mcmanus from Scotland His playing is technically excellent, and he's so sensitive and responsive to the tunes (if you know what I mean, and no nudges and winks either).

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:48 PM

Time, gentlemen, please!

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 01:32 AM

I think Pat Donahue from "Prairie Home Companion" is a great all-round guitarist. There are others who are better at specific styles, but Pat does 'em all well.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 02:22 AM

J.P Cormier, simply awesome! Good writer, great musician. Pick up his Primary Colours CD which is a tribute to Doc Watson. As for the best or not this guy was endorsed by Chet years ago and he's still only 36. Chet stated he would be one of the most important pickers of his era.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 05:03 AM

Tony 12 string started this thread off by naming Bert Jansch, and I agree. But there are so many who are so good. What about Jansch's callaborator John Renbourne? Then there is Davy Graham and Martin Carthy? Cluin suggested Dick Gaughan. I agree with that as well. I have always enjoyed the rhythmic and percussive guitar playing of Nic Jones.

As for the blues, well, where to start? Skip James, Tommy Johnson, Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, and on and on and on.

Let's not forget rock: Jimmy Page, Dave Davies, Townsend, Carlos Santana, Clapton, Duanne Allman.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 05:05 AM

I'd recommend:

Julie Ellison: http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Paul Buckley: http://www.e-hq.co.uk/PlazaPark/PaulBuckley/News.html

Woody Mann: http://www.woodymann.com

All three deserve to be better known.

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bobjack
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 07:46 AM

mine.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:13 AM

I agree with Bobjack.
eric

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Sooz(at work)
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:24 AM

3 Erics will do for me - Roche, Bibb and Clapton,
I think Julie Ellison is the best female guitarist I've ever seen.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Matt_R
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:35 AM

Steve Goodman

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bobert
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:40 AM

The late, Danny Gatton, was thought to be the "Greatist Unknown Guitar Player" and lots of stuff was written about him and guitar pickers from all over the world would come to see and/or attempt to play with him. He was absolutley great.

Bobert

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 09:56 AM

Bert Weedon - just think of all those guitarists he taught to play in a day...;-)

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 09:58 AM

Derrick Harrison

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 10:38 AM

With regard to.....

'Let's not forget rock: Jimmy Page, Dave Davies, Townsend, Carlos Santana, Clapton, Duanne Allman.'

Dave Davies?????? You're having a larf aincha?!
At least you placed him next to Jimmy Page - the session guitarist that played instead of Dave on the early Kinks hits. HFA

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 11:02 AM

Stupid thread really - there are loads of fine players that have never achieved public (or folk) aclaim.
The best of all is the one who dosn't boast about it.
Try and hear a young lad from Basingstoke (Chris) if you really want to hear great guitar or banjo of all styles, plus a lot of self penned songs.

He learnt it from his Dad who was pretty good - its the pupil taking over from the master.
Keep on picking and just enjoy the music at whatever level.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,satchel
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 11:25 AM

Jerry Garcia. His playing encompassed all of the above mentioned styles from bluegrass and old-time to rock and beyond, and throughout them all he retained his own unique style. A true musician, not merely a guitarist.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: toadfrog
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 11:32 AM

No one has mentioned Tom Paley. What ignorance! What a disgrace!

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bobjack
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 12:17 PM

Nope. You are all wrong. It's definitely me.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 12:31 PM

I never thought I would see the day when Bert Weedon is mentioned next to Danny Gatton, but there you are.....

As for myself I have no idea who the best guitarist is, because I have not heard all of them yet.

Bob

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 12:43 PM

Andy Griffith

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 01:17 PM

Ray Charles without a doubt. And I won't listen to any arguments about it.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 02:25 PM

Ray Charles, why didn't I think of him?

But it did inspire me to think of Louis Armstrong.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,James
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 02:30 PM

Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, Martin Simmpson, Richard Thompson, Nick Jones, JP Cormier, Bruce Cockburn..are may favourites..as to who is best...?

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Mappa Mundi
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 02:30 PM

The one and only;- Tony Rice. His brother can wield a mean pick too!

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,A disillusioned Penguin Egg
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 03:21 PM

HipflaskAndy...Is that right? I thought that Dave Davies was an essential element of the Kinks sound...certainly Dave Davies thought so. If you are right, then living in the shadow of his brother is the right and proper place for him to be. However, it would explain why the sound of the Kinks changed quite fundementally on the formation of Led Zeppelin.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Benjamin
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 03:52 PM

Prince

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:12 PM

I forgot to mention Chris Jones - plays some amazing "fills" on a couple of Kieran Halpin albums.

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: harpmaker
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 08:24 PM

ted robinson

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Kaleea
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 12:33 AM

The answer is obvious! Just find any good ol' picker, & surely that person was the best there ever was in "their day."

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: HipflaskAndy
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 04:28 AM

Don't be disillusioned Penguin Egg! I wasnae tryin' tae destroy memories for ye. I thought it was common knowledge though, that Page was a well-used and respected session guitarist afore Zep ever saw light of day - and that his most famous session work was on the early Kinks recordings. I don't doubt Dave D could indeed play - but recordings can give a lie to many a lick. Did you never see him 'live'? Another example would be Osibisa's Wendell Richardson depping in the studio for an 'out of it' Kossoff on Wishing Well for Free (hope my spelling and recollection of the exact track are correct, I believe so... but I am gettin' on a bit!) We are , however, straying from the 'folk' thread here though. Your pen name suggests a penchant for Nic Jones - dare I suggest? I'm right with you there!!!! No need to speculate on who is 'best' - each to his own preference,eh? And dear Nic hits the spot for the kind of guitar playing I prefer. Cheers! Time for a wee nip - HipFlaskAndy

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: Sttaw Legend
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 04:36 AM

El Ted & Harpmaker when playing Penissimo s Go Go Gone

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: The DeanMeister
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 04:47 AM

Me.

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:00 AM

Subject: RE: Who's guitar playing is the best?
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 05:05 AM

Definitely Ken Nicol

I had the pleasure of playing a couple of tracks with him at a gig in November (difficult to do with my jaw on the floor).

Cheers
Sarah