Well I guess the MOST versatile guitarist would be someone who could play at a world class level with fingerstyle and flatpick. They'd be able to make a believer out of me when they played blues, REAL country, rock, REAL folk, polka, classical, flamenco, and any other form that they had heard. They'd have to have the chord knowledge of Joe Pass but be able to play a 3 chord song with sensitivity. Oh, and they'd have to be able to improvise brilliantly, and sight-read with skill. Pretty tall order what?

I can think of VERY few who would meet almost all those criteria. Some who would come close are:

1. George Barnes

2. Tony Quarrington

3. Danny Gatton

4. Roy Buchannan

A couple of folks come to mind who've proven they have the SKILL (speed, and investment in the various traditions) to be that greatest all-round guitarist.

1. David Bromberg could

2. Django Reinhardt could have

My guess is that there IS one player out there who currently does it ALL. My guess is he/she is not a pro, and only his/her friends have a clue how good that player is.

Remember, the world only heard of Danny Gatton by accident. Had a fan not INSISTED that someone from "Guitar Player" come down to the local dive to see him, he would have lived out his life (willingly) in total obscurity.

Rick