Top 100 Guitarists of All Time

Subject: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Mark Clark
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:24 AM

According to Rolling Stone, these are the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. I'm guessing some choices on this list will surprise more than a few people. Espically those who have any knowledge of guitar and guitarists.

I've reproduced the list here because the Rolling Stone site is plagued with really annoying pop-ups.

      - Mark

1. Jimi Hendrix (The Greatest of All Time)
2. Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
3. B.B. King
4. Eric Clapton
5. Robert Johnson
6. Chuck Berry
7. Stevie Ray Vaughan
8. Ry Cooder
9. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
11. Kirk Hammett of Metallica
12. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13. Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14. Jeff Beck
15. Carlos Santana
16. Johnny Ramone of the Ramones
17. Jack White of the White Stripes
18. John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
19. Richard Thompson
20. James Burton
21. George Harrison
22. Mike Bloomfield
23. Warren Haynes
24. The Edge of U2
25. Freddy King
26. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave
27. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
28. Stephen Stills
29. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
30. Buddy Guy
31. Dick Dale
32. John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service
33. Lee Ranaldo and
34. Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
35. John Fahey
36. Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's
37. Bod Diddley
38. Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
39. Brian May of Qeen
40. John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival
41. Clarence White of the Byrds
42. Robert Fripp of King Crimson
43. Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
44. Scotty Moore
45. Frank Zappa
46. Les Paul
47. T-Bone Walker
48. Joe Perry of Aerosmith
49. John McLaughlin
50. Pete Townshend
51. Paul Kossoff of Free
52. Lou Reed
53. Mickey Baker
54. Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
55. Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple
56. Tom Verlaine of Television
57. Roy Buchanan
58. Dickey Betts
59. Jonny Greenwood and
60. Ed O'Brien of Radiohead
61. Ike Turner
62. Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band
63. Danny Gatton
64. Mick Ronson
65. Hubert Sumlin
66. Vernon Reid of Living Colour
67. Link Wray
68. Jerry Miller of Moby Grape
69. Steve Howe of Yes
70. Eddie Van Halen
71. Lightnin' Hopkins
72. Joni Mitchell
73. Trey Anastasio of Phish
74. Johnny Winter
75. Adam Jones of Tool
76. Ali Farka Toure
77. Henry Vestine of Canned Heat
78. Robbie Robertson of the Band
79. Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps (1997)
80. Robert Quine of the Voidoids
81. Derek Trucks
82. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
83. Neil Young
84. Eddie Cochran
85. Randy Rhoads
86. Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath
87. Joan Jett
88. Dave Davies of the Kinks
89. D. Boon of the Minutemen
90. Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper
91. Robby Krieger of the Doors
92. Fred "Sonic" Smith and
93. Wayne Kramer of the MC5
94. Bert Jansch
95. Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
96. Angus Young of AC/DC
97. Robert Randolph
98. Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer
99. Greg Ginn of Black Flag
100. Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: musicmick
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:52 AM

Well, the list is more expository of Rolling Stone than of the history of guitar technique. I mean, they include non guitarists, like Joni Mitchell, and disregard those geniuses who played in the jazz, classical, flamenco and folk genres. What a joke. I suppose that each of us might come up with a list of our 100 best and, I suppose that every list would be different. I would hope, however, that Mudcatters, who profess a fondness for folk music (or, at leat, for accoustic music) would not emulate the good folk of Rolling Stone and their veiled suggestion that music was invented in the early 1950's by Sun Records.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:53 AM

They missed Rick Fielding and Justa Picker.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: DonMeixner
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 01:11 AM

Where do:

Chet Atkins
Merle Travis
Tommy Emmanuel
Ike Everly
Jerry Reed
Doc Watson

Belong????


Easily half the people on that list fall in the "Come on! Are fuckin' Nuts!?" bin.

Don

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Benjamin
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 01:14 AM

Gee, that's about the worst list I've seen. In addition to the things musicmic pointed out, almost all of them are either from and/or live(d) in America or Europe. Great guitarists don't just come from the "western" world.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 01:18 AM

Another worthless "Top" list.........Ya' gotta' love these things doncha'?   Thanks for the laughs Mark!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: mooman
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:18 AM

Tosh! As are all such lists!

And Joni Mitchell is actually a very fine guitarist...

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Jim Clark..London.England
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:46 AM

Charlie Byrd (Bossa nova guitar genius)
Big Joe Williams (Mississippi delta bluesman genius)
Django Reinhardt (Gypsy jazz genius)
Leo Kotke (6 & 12 string fingerstyle genius)
John Hammond (the greatest living exponent of Robert Johnson's music)

Thats 5 that spring to mind.....Charlie Byrd was in my humble opinion the greatest ever acoustic guitarist...Big Joe was the greatest of all the bluesmen...The sheer depth of rhythm in his music raised country blues guitar to the levels of Flamenco..

Regards.

Jim Clark.
http://groups.msn.com/acousticmusiciansandpoetssoundarchive

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:48 AM

Agree with mooman on both counts.
Joni Mitchell definitely deserves to be there, as do quite a few other females, e.g.another great innovator Ellen McIlwaine (Jimi Hendrix was so impressed with Ellen he used to perform with her, for free!)
Bit light on with the African wizards also, e.g. Jean Bosco Mwende, Sekou "Diamond Fingers' Diabate, Kante Manfila, etc....

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: songs2play
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:52 AM

Where's Blind Blake?
A Rolling Stone gathers no moss - just worthless lists.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Jim Clark..London.England
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:00 AM

All those Jonah's out there....surely this is just a bit of fun,and gives us all a chance to nominate guitarists we admire..

Of course there can be no definitive list...Music isnt the Olympics..there is nobody to cross the metaphorical line first..just guitar players who in our opinions we think are good at whey do or did...

So come on stop whinging and give us your lists ha ha.

Regards.

Jim Clark
(Incidently no relation to the Mark Clark that started this discussion,though I do have a brother called Mark ha ha)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: kendall
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:00 AM

What a crock! What do they mean by "Top" anyway?
The greatest guitarist of all time, Andres' Segovia, is not even mentioned.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:27 AM

No Lonnie Johnson or Joe Pass?

RtS

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Ghirotondo at work
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:27 AM

Bah!
Where are John Rembourn and Stefan Grossman?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 04:10 AM

I know MTed would be disappointed if I didn't point out their omission of Tony McManus (who, incidentally is described by none other than John Renbourn as the best Celtic guitarist in the world)

Does the list purport to be in any sort of order of merit? Because if so, to rank Keith Richards and Kurt Cobain in front of a genius like Roy Buchanan is simply laughable.

Murray

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 04:22 AM

Also, Jerry Douglas, Libba Cotten, and those Don mentioned, too! As well as John Williams and Gustavo Santaollala...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: alanabit
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 04:35 AM

Rolling Stone is a magazine for rock and rollers. The list here reflects no more than the tastes of their readership. Of course you can't take it seriously. Even fans of the Rolling Stones (band) like me will be baffled why Keith Richard is on the list and Mick Taylor is not. However we try to measure the achievement of our favourite musicians, at the end of the day it all comes down to whether we like noise they make. Even in a field of music which I like, I can't say that one guitarist is better than another once they have reached a certain level of technique and musicality. I would rather hear Peter Green playing, "Man of the World", Eric Clapton playing, "Crossroads" and Mick Taylor playing, "Stray Cat Blues". None of them is the "best" guitarist. So how can we measure the achievement of Segovia against that of Bert Jansch or Charlie Christian?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 04:57 AM

But surely in even a rock and roll magazine list Buddy Holly should get a mention. It just shows how little regard he has in his own country compared to, for example, how we see him in the UK.

I have only seen numbers 6, 14, 19, 64, 88 and 94 play live so I can't comment on the others.

Roger

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 05:22 AM

Well, I cant be bothered with any list that hasnt got Eddie Lang on it.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 06:21 AM

Or Martin Simpson!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Clint
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 07:40 AM

Or Rory Gallagher!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 07:51 AM

Buddy Holly was a great songwriter, but no great shakes on guitar.
Taylor vs Richards? The only people I'd put in Keith's league for writing licks and guitar hooks would be muddy waters and Jimmy Page. He'd be near the top of the list for me. Gimmie Shelter is far and away my favourite guitar song. Was Keith and Micvk or Keith and Brian? Its only Rock & Roll baby.

I think that "The Mudcat's top 100 guitar players of all time" would be a far different list than Rolling Stone's and yes, I'd expect to see both Joni Mitchell and Rick Fielding near the top of that list. Its probably a list worth compiling.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:06 AM

What about a chap who I knew at achool - Albert Lee.
Albert has backed and played with many big names (Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Glen Campbell, Chris Farlowe, Dave Edmonds, Dolly Parton, Bobby Bare, Joan Armatrading, The Crickets, Ricky Scaggs, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Rodney Crowell and Many many more) but has never really gone for the limelight preferring to enjoy just playing, and more recently, teaching guitar.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:32 AM

No Rock guitarist's list should be complete without Gary Moore and you're right on the money Clint one of the most underestimated, under recognized guitarist's in rock, the late great Rory Gallagher.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:34 AM

Forgot to mention Billy Gibbons, that guy can make two notes sound great.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,John Hardly
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:14 AM

It's in print. It must be true.

Thanks, Mark, for the enlightenment. I must go now and work on my Neil Young licks.....

....eeeeeeew. Is it just me, or does the juxtaposition of "Neil Young" with "licks" cause immediate revultion?

Quick! Somebody give me something good to think about!!!!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:15 AM

yeah, Dave, Albert Lee is still doing great things with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

RtS

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:17 AM

Albert Lee, absolutely, right up there with the best (incidentally James Burton who is a similar style to Lee should be much higher on the list).

Dave , was Albert Lee a youthful prodigy on the guitar while he was in school, or did he develop later on ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:24 AM

But the title isn't "The Top 100 Pop/Rock Guitarists of All Time." It's just "The Top 100 Guitarists..."

So the omission of Andres and Doc and Django, just to begin with, entitles it to the award for "The Stupidest Top 100 List of All Time."

Peter.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Nerd
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:39 AM

How about:

Paul Brady
Martin Carthy
Txomin Artola
Pierre Bensusan
Pat Metheny

etc, etc, etc....



You could even put Lonnie Donegan on as one of the most INFLUENTIAL, if not technically greatest, guitarists....

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Willie-O
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:42 AM

What annoys me is that there is no explanation on the website (www.rollingstone.com of how the list was compiled, by whom, and what kind of criteria and methodology was used. Why don't they just say it's a rock guitarist popularity poll, with a few representatives of other genres thrown in if they have name recognition?

#1 spot was a foregone conclusion; I was glad to see Duane Allman in #2, however he got there. You like to see your heroes get recognized. In fact, I think the Allman Brothers is the only band with three entries on the list (Duane, Warren Haynes, and Dickie Betts).

W-O

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: ced2
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:51 AM

What a list of old bollocks... No Segovia... John Williams.... Django etc. etc. Just goes to show how self serving such lists are, having buggar all to do with music... BS threads seem a more suitable place... come to think of it there is more merit in a decent game of Mornington Cresent. No doubt North Wales's most famous resident would agree... What say you Mrs T?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:54 AM

that stupid list is 99% rock/pop..but it DOES mention Danny Gatton, who, according to many other guitarists, ought to be #1 in the electric/rock category.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,nancyjo
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:30 AM

Am I the only one who thinks George Harrison deserves a mention? If "influence" on the field is a factor in "great", I would think so.

nancyjo

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:34 AM

George is mentioned #21.

Gosh folks, It is Rolling Stone Magazine. It is not so much self serving as serving their readers. They're just doing their jobs.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Amos
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:40 AM

Fred Hellerman should be on it as well -- they missed so many boats it's ridiculous!

A

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: The O'Meara
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:44 AM

Duane Eddy.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Candyman(inactive)
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:58 AM

How about Lester Flatt? After all, flatt picking is named after him.

Seriously, though, folks. When a list like this comes out, you have to consider where it's coming from. Rolling Stone is a narrow rock and pop magazine. Most of the great guitarists left-off their list, Doc Watson, Martin Carthy, Segovia, Joe Pass, and about a thousand more, aren't even, or are barely, on their radar.

You gotta realize that a list like that in Rolling Stone is no more relevant than the many Best Folksinger, Best Female Voice, etc. lists that we see on Mudcat. It's all a very subjective relection of who is compiling the list. In Rolling Stone, most of the choices will reflect the major record labels that advertoise heavily in the magazine.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:59 AM

Y'all need to make your own list.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Candyman(inactive)
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:00 AM

relection

Somebody stole the f from reflection.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:11 AM

Any list of guitarists which limits itself to 100 is bound to be incomplete. I agree that those on the list are good players and in some way deserve to be there, but of course there are many other great players missing, my additions would include:-

Hank Marvin
Wes Montgomery
Tal Farlow
Freddy Green
etc, etc,

Maybe there should be a Top 10,000 list so we could make most of us happy.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:27 AM

One of my favorite guitarists was Burl Ives because he never let his guitar get in the way of a good song.

Josh White because he integrated his playing so well that you couldn't separate his singing from his playing.




Eddie Lang who was the most influential accoustic jazz guitarist. Django built much of his style on his (Django-Grapelli) (Lang-Venuti)

For jazz accoustic style: Oscar Aleman needs a mention.

Tal Farlow...electric jazz needs a mention.
Jim Hall, Barney Kessel, Joe Pass


Frank Vignola for accoustic jazz never made the list.   


Did Julian Bream make the list?

As for electric jazz buffs, you don't have to look much forward to a an unknown (xcept in elec. jazz circles) Ted Greene.

Did Hank Garland or Eldon Shamblin make the list?

For all of these there must be a hundred more who didn't make the list.

Rolling Stone is concerned with rock and popularity in that genre.
THe whole idea of 100 best is a "straw man".

Frank Hamilton










Did Pierre Bensusan get mentioned for DADGAD?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:33 PM

Eldon Shamblin was probably the best rhythm guitarist ever, and played in a style invented by Karl Kress, a true genuis. Genuis also applies to Lonnie Johnson.

A list of Rock players without Randy California???

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,SJ
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:41 PM

Emily Slade is a very hot guitarist. you should hear her new album 'Fretless' listen to the title track. WWWWWWWWWWooooooWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 12:57 PM

I saw Freddie King live and he outplayed all the various Kings, ever B.B. Joan Jett but no Steve Morse?? The list as presented needs a mojor overhaul.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Candyman(inactive)
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 01:06 PM

In terms of rhythm and chording, three of the all-time best were/are Freddie Green, Ted Bogan and Jackie Washington (the JW in Canada, not the Boston folkie of the '60s).

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 01:46 PM

Pat Metheny? How about Pepe Romero, Eduardo Fernandez, Julian Bream, John Williams, Carlos Montoya, Mario Escudero, Sabicas? Maybelle Carter?

I think that the people who make up these lists don't get out much.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Benjamin
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:26 PM

If you want to bring up classical guitarists- David Russell, Roland Dyens, Ana Vidovic, Manuel Barrueco, Scott Tenant, Jorge Morel, Kaz. Yamashita and Fred Hand all deserve to be there. Many others including Martha Masters, Antonio Lopez, and Frederic Zigante at least deserve to be considered.
As for popular guitarists they missed- Phil Keaggy, Prince (shut up Raed!!!!)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 02:45 PM

Went over list again. No Tony Rice?

Actually, the best guitarist working now, in the US, is David Grier. That is one man's opinon.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: M.Ted
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 03:57 PM

Fred"Sonic" Smith and Wayne Kramer but no Dick Wagner? Hmmm.

Even if it was just rock guitarists, where is someone like T-Bone Walker, who is probably the most copied electric guitarist,with Bo Diddly right up close to him?

Mostly though, this list leaves off the studio guys like Tommy Tedesco and Steve Lukather who really created and played a lot of those memorable licks that we have been encouraged to believe came from some of the guys on this list--

And,thanks, Murray, where was Tony McManus?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Benjamin
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 04:45 PM

M.Ted, T-Bone Walker is at number 47 on that list.
And no one's mentioned Norman Blake yet!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 06:27 PM

Interesting endorsements of Lukather and Tedesco there, Ted. I used to read Tommy Tedesco's diary in "Guitar Player" every month, fascinating stuff.

I must try to hear some more of Steve Lukather. My ex's daughter was Toto-obsessed, and used to fixate on "Luke" as she called him. It kind of spooked me, but there is no question he is a huge talent.

One more name that should have been on the list, in the first five, is Blind Blake.

Murray

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: jaze
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 07:16 PM

Joni Mitchell a non-guitarist?? You can't be serious.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:51 PM

More people who should be on some guitar player list are country greats Sam McGee, "Slim" Bryant, "Zeke" Campbell, Don Reno, and Jimmy Bryant. Studio and Rock and folk great David Bromberg is conspicuouly missing, as is Clarence White!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:52 PM

Small correction to Willie-O's post: The Allman Brothers Band doesn't have three guitarists on the list, it has four. Derek Trucks is #81.

Nice to see John Fahey ranked so highly on such a rock-heavy list, but that sorta makes Leo Kottke's absence even more peculiar.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 09:43 PM

Actually, Guest PDQ, Clarence White is on the list - #41. He's the only one of the great flatpickers who is. But they refer to him as "of the Byrds." I wonder if they even realized that he did fool around with an acoustic guitar once in a while.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: kendall
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:05 PM

Lenny Breau. Chet Atkins once said, "Lenny Breau has forgotten more about the guitar than I ever knew."

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:10 PM

Groucho Marx played the guitar. He didn't get nominated.

Luis Milan but he played the guitar before they called it a guitar. They called it a Viheula.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:55 PM

Rolling Stone makes a stupid subjective judgement from a narrow perspective.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: simon-pierre
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:37 PM

Gary Davis? Skip James? Big Bill Broonzy? Dave Van Ronk? Kelly joe Phelps?

Or Tim Sparks?

Now, it's just to mention some of my favorites, there's to many holes in this list. What a lack of musical culture, it's unbelievable.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: musicmick
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:46 PM

Frank, I'm glad that you liked Burl Ives's guitar playing because I did, too. But that wasn't himself at all. His usual accompanyist was Millard Lampbell, who later worked with Belafonte. Lampbell's guitar was best displayed on the Burl Ives recording of "Golden Vanity". Back in those days, many wonderful singers used professional accompanyists. Those unsung heros were some of the finest and most tasteful artists. I'm sure you remember Ray Bogislav (who worked with Theo Bikel), John Stauber (Leon Bibb), Dick Weissman (Judy Roderick), Paul Prestopino (Judy Collins and the Chad Mitchell Trio) and Dick Rosmini (who played for everyone else). Some backups achieved fame, of course.(David Bromberg comes to mind). Some were famous first. (Fred Hellerman was a Weaver long before he met Joan Baez). But so many great ones sat on the side of the stage in proportional obscurity.
I didn't mean to suggest that Joni Mitchell is less than superbly talented as a singer, composer and creative artist but unless she has gotten a hell of a lot better on her instrument recently, I find her inclusion on any list of great guitarists akin to adding Bill Clinton's name to the ranks of saxophone immortals.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:51 PM

It took 60 posts to get to my all-time hero Dave Van Ronk! More conspicuous absentees are Dan Crary, Joe Maphis and Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith. Studio work by Glen Campbell deserves a mention, even if people question his Pop attitude in his personal music. Who did the guitar on Marty Robbins "El Paso"?
Great stuff. Anyone heard Rich O'Brien? Martin Taylor? Frank Vignola...................

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 01:57 AM

John Martyn
Bruce Langhorne, accompanist extraordinaire

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 01:59 AM

To treble the Australian content, add
Chris Finnen and
Bruce Mathiske

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: fat B****rd
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 04:12 AM

Scotty Moore, LEADBELLY, Chuck Berry, Elliot Randall if only for "Reelin' In The Years"..................

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 04:20 AM

If you are into guitarists, go out of your way to see/hear Woody Mann.

Best regards
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Greycap
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 09:20 AM

Norman Blake got missed out again,Bryan Sutton.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 12:05 PM

1.TONY RICE-My opinion the best Acoustic Guitarist ever. No Acoustic/ Electric crap. But straight ahead Acoustic. And Tone and Smoothness to die for.

2.Steve Vai- IM sorry, but Steve is so far ahead of Jimi Hendrix it is pathetic. Forget the hype and just listen to the solos and the speed and unbelievable technique.

3. Grady Martin-The guy who played guitar on Marty Robbins, "El Paso"

4.Paco De Lucia- Played on Bryan Adams- Have You ever really loved a woman?

5. George Benson- Simply Amazing

6.Bryan Sutton- Listen to his break on RawHide off of Ricky Skaggs CD "Bluegrass Rules" Even if You hate Bluegrass, just give it a listen.And be honest with Yourself about how great some of these hot shot players are, Sutton will bring them back to reality. Period!!!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 12:37 PM

I'd second John Martyn. I'd also like to mention Dick Gaughan's instrumental work on both electric and acoustic guitar. Also, for rock guitarists, Tim Renwick was very good. I suspect a lot of the guitarists that we folkies really respect are not on Rolling Stone's radar.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 12:48 PM

Uh . . . not to nit-pick, but I think you'll find that it was Millard Thomas, not Millard Lampbell who was Harry Belafonte's main guitar accompanist early on. Ray Boguslav also accompanied Belafonte for awhile.

Dick Rosmini and I crossed paths a couple of times, once when he was accompanying Bob Gibson and a few years later when he was accompanying Barbara Dane. He's one helluva guitarist. He and Gibson were in Seattle for a couple of weeks, and we had several chances to get together and jam. After the Barbara Dane concert, she, Rosmini, and a whole bunch of Seattle singers got together. She opened for Bob Newhart, and only sang about five songs, so she was rearing to go. Somebody offered their living room and we had a big songfest that went well into the wee small hours of the morning. The whole mob, Barbara, Dick, and all, went out for breakfast afterward. I learned a couple of songs from Barbara.   

Good times!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Benjamin
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 02:38 PM

Greycap, I caught Norman Blake earlier in this thread.
Brownie McGhee.
D'Gary, the Madagascarian Phenom.
I've always thought that Paul Simon was a very under rated guitarist.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 11:34 PM

Charlie Christian or Barney Kessell on list? Didn't see 'um. Steve Goodman probably out-played Paul Simon, but that type of guitatr work is not going to garner votes for "best ever", although composing a neat piece to accompany an individual song is a true art.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: musicmick
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 02:29 AM

Mr. Firth is correct. It was Millard Thomas.
May I add a lesser known name to the3 list. John Pilla was the lead guitarist for Eric Anderson and Arlo Guthrie. He was a favorite partner of Doc Watson's. (He was a dear friend who passed too soon).

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 05:46 AM

Murray - Albert Lee was interested in the guitar at school (The Roan School, Greenwich). I can remember that when we had to paint murals in the art class, he did an excellent one of Elvis with Guitar. He was playng lead guitar in a group at school and I can remember playing several gigs with him (I played electric bass) - a couple when he stood in for the lead of the band I usually played with, and one in a scratch band for a school charity event. He was brilliant then - could play anything straight off - he didn't need to copy records as we all did - his lead guitar parts were much better than the records !

I can remember one master at the school telling him to concentrate on his school work, because playing the guitar wouldn't earn him a living - how wrong can you get !

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Strollin' Johnny
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 08:26 AM

Has anyone mentioned James Burton? 'Hello Mary Lou' wouldn't be half the record without James' guitar. Also played with (amongst lots of others) Emmylou's Hot Band and, of course, Elvis in the '70s.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Li'l Aussie Bleeder.
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:33 AM

To Candyman
That's Dr Washington !!! Jackie Washington was awarded an honarary doctorate of letters from Hamiltons' Mc Master University, just this year.

I'd like to mention Amos Garrett for the list.
LAB

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Nerd
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 12:25 PM

Frank, we both mentioned Pierre Bensusan, but your post reminded me of Davy Graham, who really developed DADGAD in London in the 60s. Few guitarists in UK folk were as influential as he was, as an early influence on Renbourn, Jansch, Carthy et al.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:02 PM

I never like saying"This great guy blow that great guy away"--but I do think Steve Vai is an incredible guitarist--one of his less well known talents: notating music for Frank Zappa, who said that Steve was the best of anyone ever at accurately notating those frenetic Zappa melodic/rhythmic phrases--

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: C-flat
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 03:44 PM

I think we could make a terrific "Top 100 list" from all these ommissions! I enjoy listening to, and playing(attempting) many different styles and to try and rate them into some sort of order is impossible.

I did intend to post a thread in memory of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the great bluesman, who died on August 27th, 13 years ago, but as that date coincided with my birthday I got sidetracked and forgot!
Maybe next year. (if it doesn't clash with my birthday)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:05 PM

The Rolling Stone List may have included a "who's who" of rock guitar but the compiler apparently knew very little or cared very little about other guitar styles. Merle Travis and Chet Atkins were very influential in country music and Travis also had some effect on guitarists in Great Britain as well as the United States. Travis' son, Thom Bresh, is an incredible guitarist by almost any standard. Travis, Atkins, and Bresh can bring almost any piece of music alive with a solo guitar. Nothing else is needed. Other fine guitar players deserving mention are Eddy Adcock, Jerry Reed, Comer Mullins, and Eddy Pennington. While Mullins and Pennington are not well known outside the Thumbpicker guitar circles, both are certainly masters of the instrument. Adcock is well known in bluegrass circles and Reed plays with a wreckless abandon in a style of his own.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:50 PM

As always, such lists are a compromise. I remember telling Nick Jones that I thought he was a great guitarists, but he wouldn't have it. " If you call me great," he said, " what are you going to call Django".I know where Nick was coming from, but could Django have created the great guitar acompanyingments that Nick produced? Take another case: Bert Jansch -v-Davy Graham. Now I love Bert and I think he was so good way back when, but he is not a complete guitarist like Davy. I guess it's horses for courses.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Herrington Corpustle
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 05:22 PM

Has anyone encountered Kaki King from (I think) New York city. I saw her at Winnipeg folk fest and she is well worth checking out. On technique at least she deserves to be in the top one hundred IMHO, despite being a far from well known name.

Other than that, Ian Carr and Ian Stephenson from England both deserve a placing representing 'our' music and Martin Carthy wouldn't have been a bad choice either.-

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: alanabit
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 05:38 PM

You are right Tunesmith. At the end of the day it all comes down to what you want the musician to do with the bleeding thing. Not a bad guitarist has been mentioned on this thread. It is not the inclusion ofnames that causes problems - but the exclusion.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,cheyenne medders
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:30 PM

derek trucks should be at least #2
django reinhardt should be in the top 10
jeff tweedy should be listed
chet atkins is top 5
duane should remain around the top
BB King and Eric Clapton don't belong on this list
Where is Trey Anastasio?
Neil Young belongs in the top third
Ry Cooder could move up a notch or four

The rolling stone list is a terrible list aimed to please everyone

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:53 PM

Where's Willie Nelson? Bob Dylan?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: wlisk
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 11:55 PM

Three of my favorites: David Bromberg, Pat Flynn (who will be at Winfield this year), and Maybell Carter who was and still is one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
Bill

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Mark Clark
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 12:13 AM

Since starting this thread I've been out of town. I assumed many Catters would have contrary opinions and I'm not disappointed. Many truly great guitarists have been proposed and it's hard to argue with people's suggestions.

I get the impression that when people are moved by a particular band, they automatically assume the musicians must be world class. My own opinion is that the most popular bands can have some of the poorest quality musicians if you're talking about any music outside of their particular niche. Kurt Cobain comes to mind. I'm not a fan of grunge—although my daughters were—so I just took the trouble to listen to some Nirvana clips. The guitar playing sounded sophomoric to me, both the electric and the unplugged. Even though I can enjoy music in which the guitar plays only a few throbing chords, I don't think of the technique as being a skillful use of the instrument.

In addition to the names everyone has contributed (and many of my favorites have been listed), I think we should add

• Herb Ellis
  
• Paul Galbraith
  
• Steve Lynch
  

at a minimum. People on the Rolling Stone list who I think should be removed will just naturally fall off when we add all of our additions and improve the ordering.

The first guitarist to create and master an important style should have recognition but the myriad average players who couldn't possibly have invented it but can learn to immitate it don't get any special consideration from me. I may enjoy their music a great deal but they don't rank among the “greatest of all time.” They're just good competent journeymen making a living. Now if they add something important to the canon… that's different.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: BO in KY
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 01:17 AM

A few more to add to the mix:
I second the motion on the inclusion of Glen Campbell and Ledbelly - awesome 12-string stylists.

Mark Knopfler should be further up the list

Spider John Koerner and Mississippi John Hurt, who define acoustice blues.

Joe Satriani, in a class by himself in realizing the melodic potential of the electric guitar;

And finally, where is Phil Keagy? Saw him in concert about 15 years ago, blew me away with his virtuosity; he had more sounds coming out of that electric guitar than I thought possible. Of course, his religious stance may not have "fit" with whoever judges these things at Rolling Stone...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Mario
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 04:41 AM

Shame on Rolling Stone! They forgot (among many others) Tony Rice!
I like so much Scott Nygaard (who played with Tim O'Brien's O'Boys).
Do anybody know that guitar player?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,James
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 09:10 AM

Paco de Lucia, Martin Carthy, Dave MacIsaac, Martin Simpson, Leo Kottke,Carlos Montoya, Julian Breem, Doc Watson, Ellen MacIllwaine,Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Jimi Hendrix, Mississippi Fred Macdowell, Bukka White..tons more..but these are my favourites, in no particular order.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Dano
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 10:38 AM

Why is Lowell George not there???

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: simon-pierre
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 01:10 PM

And me? They forgot me??

(I'm just an average guitarist, but I'm far better than Kurt Cobain you know.)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Mario
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 04:48 AM

simon pierre, I know what you mean!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 06:59 PM

What about Ian Carr and Ed Boyd (Flook)????

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 08:46 PM

We have to keep this going to atleast 100 posts! No mention of jazz player Jim Hall, not to be confused with rocker John Hall, another fine player in his own right. Fingerpickers are in short supply. I nominate Dave Laibman for his outrageous tone, and his cousin Ricky Schoenberg or all-around mastery of the ragtime revival of the 1970's. Acoustic Disc just released a live concert ('65?) of George Barnes, whom I know only from a very old and very worn-out LP. Barnes should make top 10 on the list of anyone who hears his work.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Ely
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 09:13 PM

Third vote for Norman Blake . . .

Etta Baker
Paul Geramia
Memphis Minnie
Brownie McGhee
Bonnie Raitt (well, if you put Joni Mitchell and Joan Jett on there, you have to have her)

and I just saw Wayne Hancock in concert and the two electric guitarists he has in his band kick butt (Wayne himself is mostly limited to flailing away on the rhythm).

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Ely
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 09:20 PM

Which reminds me:

Cordell Jackson
Jean Shepard

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Midchuck
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 09:27 PM

Jack Lawrence
Chris Newman

P.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 09:49 PM

Memphis Minnie was one of the great blues singers of all time, but believe it or not, a very young George Barnes played the lead guitar on her best sessions.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: mooman
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 04:18 AM

Oh...OK then (to make it 100!)

(In no particular order) some of my favourites:

Pat Metheny
Paco Pena
Steve Tibbetts
Taj Mahal (simple but so tasteful
Eric Bibb
Ani DiFranco (highly original and underestimated a master of unusual tunings and dynamics)
Isaac Guillory (one of the best I saw live - brilliant bass runs and lead played together - very sadly R.I.P. not long ago)
Blind Blake

Re: the Keith Richard discussion above, not a showy guitarist but I personally rate him as a melodic genius!

Peace,

moo

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Ralphie
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 05:46 AM

So Mr Moo...Lets get to 101 with David Rawlins.. (Gillian Welch co- hort)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: mooman
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 05:56 AM

Hi Ralphie!

Anything in Ypres this year?

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 01:35 PM

Some south o'border folks need mention, especially the late Bola Sete, the long gone Oscar Aleman, and the current Enrique Coria. All these guys have their own style and don't just play "classical" or "flamenco".

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Stooball
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 06:00 PM

Absolutely George Barnes, also Dick McDonough, solo and for duets with Carl Kress, Buster B. Jones, said to be Jerry Reed's spiritual successor, almost impossible to get his recordings, he has one with Thom Bresh, Joe Pass for sure, the Argentine genius Barrios, who was so good that Segovia would not allow his students to speak his name and did his best to block his concert tours, George Van Eps, who invented 7-string guitar, Jimmy Raney, Ed Bickert who plays fabulous jazz on an ancient Telecaster, and on and on and on, each to his own taste.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 11:31 AM

There's a guy here in Canada
named Don Ross ......
He'll leave you speechless.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 02:01 PM

Don Ross is on Nirada, a label he shares with many of the finest players in World Music. Nirada also has several fine releases by Artie Traum. Have people heard him lately? Artie Traum is brilliant and controlled at the same time. A "thinking man's" musician.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:44 AM

There's a guy here in Canada
named Don Ross ......
He'll leave you speechless.

I watched Don Ross play for a couple of hours a few months back. He was on stage with Tony McManus, Beppe Gambetta, and Dan Crary.

I have to say that of the four , Don Ross was the one who left me least speechless. Maybe I was expecting too much, having seen him being hyped here on Mudcat so much. Still a decent player, just not as phenomenal as I had been led to expect.

Murray

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 05:03 AM

While on the subject of Canadian guitarists, one player who did leave me speechless (several times) is JP Cormier.

Murray

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 08:23 PM

One word: Ted Greene.

Musicmic: Burl did play his own guitar earlier and it sounded great.
It wasn't Lampell then. Millard couldn't sound that simple.

Frank

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 11:10 AM

Murray,
   What you say about J.P. Cormier is very true. He has to be one of the best.
We have a few others in Nova Scotia/ Cape Breton who ain't bad either.
J.P.Cormier , Dave MacIsaac , and Scott Macmillan will all be on stage together on Oct.16 at the Judique Guitar Summit for the Celtic Colours Festival.

                Sandy

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 07:20 PM

Mundell Lowe, Herb Ellis, Hank Garland, Bucky Pizzarelli, George Barnes, Jimmy Bruno, Taylor (from Scotland), Pierre Bensusan, Alirio Diaz (taught with Segovia in Sienna), Barry Galbraith, Grant Green,
John Pisano, Phil Upchurch, George Benson, Joe Diorio, Pat Donahue,
Guy Van Duser, Laureindo Almeda, Bob Bain (guitarist for the Tonight show), Dennis Budimer, Charlie Byrd, Steve Lukather, Glen Campbell,Wes Montgomery .....all these guys make the "list" look like lightweights. There is another guy who plays a Caravelle guitar and comes from England, Alan ? (avante guard fusion).

And there are probably so many more that we don't know about. The guitar has gone through an immense transformation...it defies any top 100.

Frank

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 07:30 PM

........"There is another guy who plays a Caravelle guitar and comes from England, Alan ? (avante guard fusion)......."

That would be Alan Holdsworth.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,BUTTERFLY
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:19 AM

What, John Fahey only No. 35 (I suppose I should be grateful he was in it at all!).

Of course comparisons are invidiuous; however he is one of the few musicians whose tunes you always get more and more out of no matter how many years you listen to them. He also could take a well-known almost twee song (he virtually never sung himself on record) and set it to instrumental guitar, often with a slightly uptempo rhythm, and give it a new lease of life (eg Camptown Races, Bicycle Built for Two, My Grandfather's Clock, etc; he also fid this with hymn and Christmas tunes). Such a pity he died in February 2 or 3 years back.

BUTTERFLY 9.9.2003 13.20 FROM AN INTERNET CAFE IN BALLYVAUGHAN, CO. CLARE, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Axis of Axes
Date: 27 Sep 03 - 11:59 PM

Partial list of guitar players who outplay Kurt Cobain and Joni Mitchell:

Dale Adkins
   Travis Alltop
   Jeff Autry
   Russ Barenberg
   Richard Bennett
   Dix Bruce
   Dix Bruce & Jim Nunally
   Norman Blake
   Norman & Nancy Blake
   Norman Blake & Tony Rice
   Gary Brewer
   Luke Bulla
   Mo Canada
   Joe Carr
   John Carlini
   John Carlini & Tony Rice
   John Chapman
   Jamie Clifton
   Gary Cook
   Mark Cosgrove
   Ray Craft
   Dan Crary
   Roy Curry
   Brad Davis
   Dan DeLancey
   Dan Edmonds
   Beppe Gambetta
   Adam Granger
   David Grier
   Jimmy Haley
   Slavek Hanzlik
   Bull Harman
   Jim Hurst
   Chris Jones
   Curtis Jones, Jr.
   Steve Kaufman
   Robin Kessinger
   Cody Kilby
   Steve Kilby
   Jack Lawrence
   John Lowell
   Tim May
   Mike Maddux
   John McGann
   Peter McLaughlin
   John Moore
   Jim Nunally
   Scott Nygaard
   Mark O'Connor
   Steve Palazzo
   Rob Pearcy
   Steve Pottier
   Don Reno
   Tony Rice
   Wyatt Rice
   Doug Rorrer
   Phil Rosenthal
   Charles Sawtelle
   Allen Shadd
   Robert Shafer
   James Alan Shelton
   Jon Sholle
   George Shuffler
   George Shuffler & James Alan Shelton
   Kenny Smith
   Larry Sparks
   Tim Stafford
   Orrin Star
   Richard Starkey
   Bryan Sutton
   Eric Thompson
   John Tindel
   Chuck Tinsley
   Dan Tyminski
   Craig Vance
   Sean Watkins
   Doc Watson
   Clarence White
   Jeff White
   Mike Whitehead
   Various Artists
   Flatpicking Samplers
   Dave Hull
   Massoubre & Seguret

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Benjamin
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 01:01 AM

John Jackson deserves to be on that list. Not only was the man a brilliant musician, but he was also the nicest man I met.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: belfast
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 09:37 AM

Bert Weedon? Or, to be slightly more serious, Arty McGlynn?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: s&r
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 09:57 AM

Richard Starkey?....AKA Ringo?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: s&r
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 10:07 AM

Only one mention of Isaac Guillory - shame on you.

And surely Eric Roche is familiar to some 'catters?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: pattyClink
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 03:31 PM

I just heard some Lonnie Mack for the first time this week. These maroons need to revise their list, or at least remove 'of all time' from the title.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 05:30 PM

If Peter Green was mentioned, it was not adamantly enough.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,SeaKing
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 06:30 PM

Archie Fisher..

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 06:46 PM

Michael Chapman

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Ely
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 07:28 PM

What's your beef, GUEST pdq? She was hardly a three-chord plunker and there are few enough women in the genre as it is. I hate having separate categories ("Top 100 *Women* Guitarists"); if you have a daughter, buy her a guitar for Christmas and help us do better.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: CraigS
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:46 PM

Over a hundred posts and I can still mention Arthur Alemann, Steve Tilston, Dave Ellis, Dave Farrar, Fapy Lafertin, Birelli Lagrene, Robert A Johnson, Howard Roberts, John Williams, Philip John Lee, Alvin Lee, Brian May, Sacha Distel, Hans van Theesink, David Qualey, Richard Gilewitz, Johnny Marrs, Big Jim Sullivan ( who has never heard of Bernie Marsden), Geoff Whitehorn, Richie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Pete Townsend, Snowy White, Stan Webb and Jeff Beck ... I could go on.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 09:04 PM

ELY, what are you talking about. Peter Green???

Subject: Rolling Stone Top 100 guitar players
From: City Crow
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 12:16 AM

Any thoughts on the Rolling Stone Magazine top 100 guitar players?
I do not know if this was a thread before this or not but is seems to be the list that sparked 1,000 arguements.

--- Transferred from another thread. ---

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Beverley Barton
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 09:05 AM

yo ely
          my daughter has three guitars, a telecaster, a yamaha semi and a rafael morales nylon strung, AND YOU ARE ALL WRONG paco delucia is best guitarist, closely followed by manolo sanlucar and vicente amigo.ps why don't many women play guitar?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 07:10 AM

Re: Women playing guitar. One of the motivations for my partner's route in music was to be told as young girl - "you play well, for a girl". She has spent a great deal of time since proving that she plays well, full stop!

Best regards
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 07:13 PM

I don't know if any of these women qualify as Top 100, but in the name of diversity:

Ely's list:
Etta Baker
Memphis Minnie
Bonnie Raitt
Joni Mitchell
Joan Jett

Rolling Stone list:
Joan Jett
Joni Mitchell

ADD:
   Libba Cotton
   Melissa Ethridge
   Cheryl Crowe
   Cyndi Cashdollar (OK, "slide")
   Charo (no joke)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: early
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 07:22 PM

got to say Issac Guillory was one of the finest acoustic guitarists i ever saw live remember travvelling to york from swindon after a days work there - that night he appeared with john renbourn and together they were brill!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 03:24 PM

Another nod to the women guitar players: Glenda Faye, a flatpicker rooted in the Doc Watson Style. She was a regular in the Grand Ole Opry stage band. Now, it's off to get examples of as many of these people as possible. What a list!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Ian
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 06:23 PM

Thank God the good folks on this board didn't have to come up with there own "Top 100 Guitarists of all Time"...it would have caused more controversy than "Rolling Stones"

These things are all subjective, (and as long as Richard Thompsons included on any list, I'm happy!...and thats an objective view!!!!!)

Ian

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Andrew
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 12:25 PM

Haven't seen a mention of John James.
Now I have !

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 09:23 AM

Thread creep for fans of Peter Green: he & the Splinter Group are appearing (yes you guessed it!) at JAGZ, Station Hill, Ascot, Berks, UK this Thursday Oct 16th. Band on c9pm. Details 01344 878100.

RtS
(Guess who has tickets #1 &2?)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Pluvio
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 01:54 PM

this list missed a lot of name in the blues, bluegrass, hawaiian, jazz, fingerpicking, slide&steel, flamenco etc. etc.

but there are many great names.
thanks to youtube, only 3 years later, we can listen to thousands of undiscovered talents.

cheers!
pluvio

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 01:13 PM

Where is Bruce Cockburn, Martin Simpson, Paco delucia, Ellen MacIllwaine, Yangwe Malmsteen. My Top man would be Lenny Breau.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 01:16 PM

With all due respect, how can any list that puts George Harrison above Mark Knopfler be taken seriously. As for Hendrix as the all time best, I would disagree and put Eric Clapton, Ellen MacIllwaine and Stevie Ray ahead of him. Just my opinion tho.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 05:49 PM

So we're all agreed .....complete load of crap. some journalist talking bollocks for this weeks paycheck.

too much of that stuff going on.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Nick
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 06:50 AM

What about Steve Vai - stunning guitarist (who I think eclipses his teacher Joe Satriani)

Or Jan Akkerman...

Or Eric Johnson...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Alec
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 06:55 AM

Or Somebody nobody has ever heard of... (Well it could happen)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:38 AM

I have always felt that Jimi was highly over rated, a lot of great playing but lacking in any inate subtlety or understatement. He is a great rock player but not a great guitarist.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Nick
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 08:59 AM

>>I have always felt that Jimi was highly over rated, a lot of great playing but lacking in any inate subtlety or understatement. He is a great rock player but not a great guitarist.

I don't think he was overrated in his own time but I think listening to a lot of his material now it sounds limited, dated and often too rooted round pentatonic blues scales with some over the top pyrotechnics thrown in.

However... and it's a big one

Some of his playing is beautifully understated,lyrical, melodic and subtle.

Wind Cries Mary - Little Wing - rhythm playing on Angel - 1983 on Electric Ladyland - unaccompanied piece at the end of Woodstock - are a few that immediately come to mind. And as a straight blues player (when he does it) he stands up there with the best.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: John Hardly
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 09:07 AM

stumbled upon this top 100 acoustic players...

1. Michael Hedges
2. Leo Kottke
3. Chet Atkins
4. Phil Keaggy
5. John Fahey
6. Adrian Legg
7. Merle Travis
8. John Renbourn
9. Bert Jansch
10. Tommy Emmanuel
11. Norman Blake
12. Doc Watson
13. Preston Reed
14. Nick Webb
15. Tony Rice
16. Jorma Kaukonen
17. Laurence Juber
18. Martin Carthy
19. William Ackerman
20. Sandy Bull
21. John Martyn
22. Don Ross
23. Billy McLaughlin
24. Doyle Dykes
25. Steve Tibbetts
26. David Bromberg
27. Peter Lang
28. Kelly Joe Phelps
29. Alex deGrassi
30. Davy Graham
31. Martin Simpson
32. Monte Montgomery
33. Muriel Anderson
34. G.E. Stinson
35. Pierre Bensusan
36. Bill Mize
37. Al Petteway
38. Peter Finger
39. Craig Chaquico
40. Greg Carmichael
41. Tim Reynolds
42. Pat Kirtley
43. Peter Huttlinger
44. Benjamin Woolman
45. Stephen Bennett
46. Richard Smith
47. Roy Harper
48. Edward Gerhard
49. Peter Rowan
50. Sam Pacetti
51. Kaki King
52. Stefan Grossman
53. El McMeen
54. Miles Gilderdale
55. Eric Tingstad
56. Sean Harkness
57. Doug Smith
58. Peter Ostroushko
59. Tommy Jones
60. D.R. Auten
61. Dirk Freymuth
62. Dan Schwartz
63. Peter Roller
64. Paul Geremia
65. Douglas Niedt
66. William Coulter
67. Tim Farrell
68. Arlen Roth
69. Joni Mitchell
70. Chris Smither
71. Andrew York
72. Jerry Reed
73. Gayla Drake Paul
74. Artie Traum
75. Richard Johnson
76. Thom Bresch
77. David Wilcox
78. Kenny Sultan
79. Steve Baughman
80. Buster B. Jones
81. Robbie Basho
82. Peppino D'Agostino
83. Pat Donohue
84. Mike Dowling
85. Tony McManus
86. Dave Mallany
87. Tim Sparks
88. David Grier
89. Orville Johnson
90. Brooks Williams
91. George Villiers
92. Rick Ruskin
93. Greg Neaga
94. Dorian Michael
95. Charles David Alexander
96. Tom Long
97. Richard Gilewitz
98. Jim Earp
99. Tracy Moore
100. Michael Dunn

and this top 100 pre-war acoustic guitarists...

1. Kokomo Arnold
2. Pink Anderson
3. Ed Andrews
4. Son Becky
5. Ed Bell
6. Black Ace
7. Scrapper Blackwell
8. Kid Bailey
9. Willie Baker
10. Blind Blake
11. Billy Bird
13. Ishman Bracey
14. Big Bill Broonzy
15. William Brown
16. Willie Brown
17. Bo Carter
18. Joe Callicott
19. Rev Edward Clayborn
20. Kid Cole
21. Bob Coleman
22. Walter Coleman
23. Sam Collins
24. Blind Teddy Darby
25. Rev. Gary Davis
26. Little Buddy Doyle
27. Honeyboy Edwards
28. Frank Edwards
29. Sleepy John Estes
30. Blind Boy Fuller
31. Blind Roosevelt Graves
32. Richard "Hacksaw" Harney
33. Blind Willie Harris
34. Willie Harris
35. Buddy Boy Hawkins
36. Johnnie Head
37. Barbecue Bob Hicks
38. King Solomon Hill
39. Lightnin' Hopkins
40. Son House
41. Peg Leg Howell
42. Mississippi John Hurt
43. Bo Weevil Jackson
44. Skip James
45. Blind Lemon Jefferson
46. Blind Willie Johnson
47. Lonnie Johnson
48. Robert Johnson
49. Tommy Johnson
50. Coley Jones
51. Little Hat Jones
52. Charley Jordan
53. Rube Lacy
54. Furry Lewis
55. Mance Lipscomb
56. Robert Jr. Lockwood
57. Carl Martin
58. Tommy McClennan
59. Charlie McCoy
60. Kansas Joe McCoy
61. Mississippi Fred McDowell
62. Blind Willie McTell
63. Memphis Minnie
64. William Moore
65. Buddy Moss
66. Sonny Boy Nelson
67. Isaiah Nettles
68. Hambone Willie Newbern
69. Robert Nighthawk
70. Blind Benny Paris
71. Charley Patton
72. Robert Petway
73. Eugene Powell
74. Willie Reed
75. Blind Joe Reynolds
76. Walter Rhodes
77. Mooch Richardson
78. Sonny Scott
79. Johnny Shines
80. Jaydee Short
81. J.T. "Funny Paper" Smith
82. Frank Stokes
83. Blind Joe Taggert
84. Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker)
85. Johnnie Temple
86. Elvie Thomas
87. Henry Thomas
88. Ramblin' Thomas
89. Henry Townsend
90. Walter Vincson
91. Otto Virgial
92. Uncle Bud Walker
93. Willie Walker
94. Rev. I. B. Ware
95. Curley Weaver
96. Sylvester Weaver
97. Casey Bill Weldon
98. Peetie Wheatstraw
99. Bukka White
100. Robert Wilkins

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 09:31 AM

Roy Harper - Diz Disley - Ike Isaacs - Blind Blake - Ivor Biggun.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 11:38 AM


Jeronimo Maya
Vicente Amigo
Paco de Lucia
Sabicas
Diego del Gastor
Nino Ricardo
Paco del Gastor
Moraito
Tomatito
Gerardo Nunez

Resistance is futile....

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:02 PM

How about the late great "Carl Perkins", or even "Brian Setzer", and how on earth could eddie Cochran have been no 84, every Electric guitar in England had a wound "G" string until he showed us the way, he was a god, and possibly one of the greatest losses in the world of music in the last 50 years.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:17 PM

Easier, by far, to make a list of a hundred "top" guitarists than to lay out the criteria for what constitutes a "top" guitarist.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Scoville
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 04:19 PM

That's what I was thinking, M.Ted. Sort of an exercise in futility, really.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 05:00 PM

Brent Mason is the most fabulous guitarist in the world. He is Hendrix,Django,Benson and Albert Lee rolled into one.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 05:21 PM

Mick Pearce does it for me (and he is getting better all the time!)

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: DriveForever
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 12:41 AM

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (Steely Dan) definitely deserves to be in the top 5.

Eric Johnson also, one of the best fusion guitarists ever.

It was good that Ms. Mitchell was not overlooked; though not a 'lead'
guitarist in the traditional sense, she contributed greatly with
her system of open tunings.

XJapan's Hide !

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 01:39 AM

Buffy Saint Marie,Bonny Raitt,Dick Appleton.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Brakn
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 03:51 AM

Top 100 Guitarists of All Time - LOL

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,mrguitar
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:43 PM

Angus Young rocks! he's the greatest!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,mick metalhead
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 07:50 PM

i agree! Angus Young is the alltime greatest! No question!his solo in "Razor's Edge" is freakin sweet. He's the only one i know of who can roll around on stage and not mess u. 4 those of you who don't agree, DEAL WITH IT!!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Chip
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 08:02 PM

If Hendrix is #1 I am the Duke of Earl. For the a list to be meaningful it would have to be divided by genre, you can't compare a flat picker to a rocker.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,r.i.p dimebag Darrell
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 08:21 PM

why isn't dime bag darrell?I think he should be #30

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: fumblefingers
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 08:43 PM

I don't like any guitar picker who:

1. destroys his instrument on stage.
2. Relies on a wave stick, fuzz box, wah-wah, etc.
3. Sets fires on stage.
4. Can't keep his dope dosage straight.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Greg B
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 09:05 PM

Don't forget that Leo Kottke credits Pete Seeger playing
'Living in the Country' for inspiring him to take up the
12-string.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: LukeKellylives (Chris)
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 09:30 PM

I, personally, think Paul Brady, my brother's friend from The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza (wish I knew his name; amazing player), and Adam from Murder by Death (folk rock/strange as hell band).

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: frogprince
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 09:52 PM

I've been fortunate enough to hear Carlos Montoya, Doc Watson, and Pat Donahue live. My only regret was that Doc wasn't playing solo, so I couldn't pick out just how much of the gorgeous stuff was him personally. I would put Pat Donahue way, way up the list of those in the business today; absolutely stunning in a small concert setting. But I've heard so many lesser-known people with beautiful individual styles, god only knows who the best thousand guitar players are!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Billy Nord
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 07:46 AM

The WORST list I ever saw........

Where are :

Allan Holdsworth
Al Di Meola
Steve Vai
Yngwie Malmsteen
Paul Gilbert
Frank Gambale
Pat Metheny
John Petrucci

Are people getting payed to make the list ???
Earn your money next time !!!
Geee.......

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: dj bass
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 08:46 AM

Have a look at Andy Mckee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4

The guitar has moved on a lot.

dj

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,mike
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 09:30 AM

I was just about to post the last comment. Moving on indeed!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 09:28 PM

I can't see Kurt Cobain on any such list over guys like Cliff Gallup (Gene Vincent's axe man) or John Goodsall of Brand X. And a few others have wondered why there's no mention of Django or Carlos Montoya. Indeed.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:06 PM

Andy McKee (link just above) does some pretty interesting stuff on the guitar and he obviously does what he does with a great deal of facility. But when I see something like that, I'm reminded of a classic guitarist who was playing at a restaurant where my wife and I ate a couple of years ago. He played pretty well, but I noticed that I had never heard any of the pieces he was playing before. And after he played four or five pieces, they all started sounding the same.

When he took a break, I got to talking with him. He'd taken about six months worth of lessons from a teacher in town that I knew (good teacher) and from that point on, he was self-taught. Everything he played, he'd written himself, he said with a touch of pride.

I pressed the questions a bit. Could he play, say, "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," Tarrega's "Tremolo Study?" No. Could he play "Romance de Amor," a lovely, but fairly simple piece by Anonymous, that almost everyone, classic guitarist or not, takes a shot at? No. Could he play, say, Tarrega's "Lagrima" (a piece my teacher had me playing about two months after I started)? No. How about a Fernando Sor study or two? Uh. . . .   No.

In fact, all he could play were pieces he had worked out himself. They consisted primarily of moving the three bar chords he knew reasonably well up and down the neck while he played arpeggio patterns with his right hand. Not, I would say, on anyone's very long list of "top guitarists."

So when I see someone playing stuff he fairly obviously worked out himself, I tend to wonder if he can play anything written by someone else.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 11:15 AM

What about dave mustaine from megadeth he is way better than kirk from metallica i dont see him on the list and randy rhoads 85 tony iommi 86 eddie van hallen 70 there behind all these no names and chuck berry wasnt even that good same with kurt kurban
jimmy page should be first or 2nd

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 01:12 PM

Oh, No dont tell me there are at LEAST one hundred of them !!!

Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Alex Unrein
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:32 PM

horrible list, cobain at 12 and eddie van halen at 70, all cobain did was play chords and slow acoustic, eddie put together maybe the best solo of alltime-ERUPTION, if you told cobain to play eruption it would take months maybe for him to even come close to it, now if you told eddie to play any nirvana song he would just listen to it and have it down

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Lord Soken
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:47 PM

No-one ever saw this bloke as a popular performer - including me - but his books encouraged many a spotty teenager to pickup a guitar and go on to great things. Let's give Bert Weeden a bit of credit.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dartford Warbler
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:55 PM

Good to see Tommy Emmanuel there, but where the hell is Richard Thompson this time?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Lucius
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 08:00 PM

Considering that most of the ÒguitaristsÓ that Rolling Stone included are of the genre that requires amplifiers endowed with large wattage, they should at least be intellectually honest. Either lose Bert Jansch and Joni Mitchell and add Martin Barre, or some other rocker like Ian Hunter, or as someone else said, explain the criteria. Personally, IÕm waiting for next monthÕs feature ÒWhat is the most popular stripe on the american flag?Ó.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,in the flesh
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 04:44 AM

my fucking god, fuck you, you poser geek, your list affends me, where is david gilmour, why is there no talk on him, fuck all these randoms, 1. hendrix/page 2.clapton 3.gilmour 4.tommy emanuel

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,in the mind
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 02:49 PM

This forum is intended for the use of articulate people able to construct proper sentences, expressing valid points of view. It's not for irrational adolescent outbursts. You need three things 1. counselling 2.dictionary 3.spellcheck.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,preben
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 04:22 PM

vey good list, but i think Kirk Hammet of Metallica shoul be number 2! you got to hear him over and over again and studdie him a bit more.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 04:49 PM

1. Stephen Stills
2. Gary Richrath
3. Davy Graham
4. Julie Ellison
5. Dan Fogelberg

That's my fave five, for what it's worth. What they have in common is the ability to play convincingly in a number of styles. Richie Blackmore would have been in there if he hadn't influenced all those fret-wank shredders.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dartford Warbler
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 05:12 PM

1. Richard Thompson
2. Tommy Emmanuel
3. Steve Tilston
4. Chris Newman
5. Clive Carroll
6. Dave Ellis

That is my current top 6. But RT will always be there in first place!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: MikkinNotts
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 05:29 AM

There are some good player in the Top 100 Acoustic List BUT…..
Richard Tompson of course has to be very near the top of this list as well.

And the exclusion of these mighty fine players is a travesty of justice.

The late great Issaac Guillory

The sadly missed Eric Roche

Roy's there but Nick knocks socks off his Dad

Little known but world class player and luthier Steve Hicks


I suppose that is the very nature of compiling lists. Somebody is always going to be excluded.

Mikk

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 07:03 AM

I not sure Richard Thompson should be near the top of the acoustic list. I've always been disappointed with his tone. It's probably because he plays electric guitar so much. To be a really great acoustic player, a guitarist would really need to totally devote themselves to being "un-pluged"!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 09:47 AM

BEN HARPER .....is the man on top

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dartford Warbler
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 10:26 AM

Dear GUEST,Tunesmith (13 Mar 07 - 07:03 AM)

If this isn't acoustic, then I'm the Hokey Pokey man! :

Beeswing

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dartford Warbler
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 10:34 AM

Or this!

1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Stringsinger
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 11:15 AM

Burl Ives...he could do more with less.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: MikkinNotts
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 11:26 AM

Tunesmith
"I not sure Richard Thompson should be near the top of the acoustic list."

I most certainly am !!

" I've always been disappointed with his tone."

Wot!! Have you seen him play live!!

" It's probably because he plays electric guitar so much. To be a really great acoustic player, a guitarist would really need to totally devote themselves to being "un-pluged"! "

Now your just being silly !!

Thanks "Dartford" for pointing the uninitiated in the right direction

Mikk (Beating a very hasty Retreat!!)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: cptsnapper
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:26 PM

What about John James?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,ash_mchash
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:51 PM

haha i only agree with 1 on this list, nobody can deny the absolute genius of the reat Jimi Hendrix, anyone who challenges that is a fool.

but... where's Django Reinhardt? John Squire? Johnny Marr? Pat Methany? Rory Gallagher? Syd Barrett? David Gilmour?

Valiant effort but too many holes mate sorry.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 06:49 PM

YIKES! bob

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 07:06 PM

check out isaac guillory,he is incredible

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: MikkinNotts
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:15 AM

Sadley "GUEST,ib48" your post should be in the past tense "check out isaac guillory,he was incredible" As very sadly Isaac died on the last day of 2000.
I had the great pleasure of seeing him play not to long before he passed away. I went to see John Renbourn & Isaac played solo and with John too. I had not heard of him before and I remember being absolutely amazed by his fantastic playing (he had a great voice too)
I have found this on "Wikipedia"

"Isaac Guillory passed away in 2000. His legacy is immeasurable; the music that he could cause to come forth from a guitar with such apparent grace, pleasure and ease - The man who could visualise an unlimited warmth and love for life and take us to that very special place..."

I read about Isaac's sad death in the pages of "Guitar Techniques". In an article written by Eric Roche's, when he used to write an acoustic column for the magazine.
Eric & I exchanged emails at the time writing about our sadness at such a great loss.
How ironic was it to be that Eric to is now no longer with us.

Two fantastic players who will always be at the top of my list.

Mikk

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: gnu
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 06:55 PM

This guy was "first" to a lot of homes in NA with his style. He was right on his time back then.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,harryrages
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 03:11 PM

There wil be some of us old enough to recall Bert Weedon - probably had more influence on aspiring guitarists than anybody in his time. How many people sat in their bedroom in the 1950's with a Bert Weedon Teach Youself Guitar. cheese cutter strings and bleeding fingers.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 03:39 AM

Bert Weedon's book were/are dreadful, and he wasn't a very interesting player, either!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,henry
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 08:51 AM

Tunesmith, you are right. But Bert was all there was at the time - well, Bert and Lonnie Donegan. Myself and three pals entered a skiffle competition in a local church hall, we were all eleven years old and Bert Weedon was judging. We played I Shall Not Be Moved and Mama don't Allow. We must have been awful but Bert wrote on the bottom of our "report" sheet - "Good effort for such youngsters". Trouble is, I never got any better!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 04:33 PM

henry: Inspite of my criticism, I have a "soft spot" for Bert. He used to teach guitar on some pre-Blue Peter childrens' tv show way back when. Also, I saw him live many years ago, and, although I wasn't impressed, the audience loved him.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GoodNightGracie
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:42 AM

Joseph Spence

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: oggie
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 09:36 PM

If you allow that a dobro is a guitar then Jerry Douglas must surely be in there somewhere?

All the best

Steve Ogden

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Sea Dew
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 09:31 AM

DECLAN SINNOTT by all means !

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 06:09 PM

A lot of posters here are listing their favourite guitarists rather than the best! For example, I have a soft spot for the painter Lowry, but I know he is certainly not one of the best artists of all time.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,henry
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 04:28 PM

Yes, but did he play guitar?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:02 PM

Lowry played fanastic guitar on his big hit "Matchstick Dogs and Cats"!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 09:35 PM

ANDREW HARDIN

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,fat-t
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 03:46 AM

John Mayer should definetly be here. Even though most of the songs
he writes are quite tame compared to some. He can still rip off a
Hendrix or Vaughn cover, I think better than the originals.

Keep setting the fret board on fire man.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 09:28 AM

J.P. Cormier, Dave MacIsaac, Joni Mitchell,Adrian Legg are some of my faves.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Chris G
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:49 PM

I totally agree with the comment a few up. John Mayer should definitly be up there somewhere. He shreds it up right alongside of Hendrix, Guy, and Stevie Ray. But at the same time he can slow it down to a nice mellow acoustic jam. I mean hes all over the place. And the blues stuff on TRY! along with the colaborations with King and Guy, like damn man. Then he goes right back to his mellow stuff. I'm not saying number one or anything but he definitly needs to be up there.

Also, Kurt Cobain and Jack White need to be knocked down a few and James Taylor, and Jim Croce should at least be on there.

And Robert Johnson, i get it hes good, king of the blues, sold his soul to the devil and all, that has to get him somewhere. But randonly put on a few of his songs and try to tell them apart without the words, there might be some confusion. You have to admit a lot of his stuff sounds the same, its good, but all the sam.

And the guy that said Tommy Emmanuel, dude I agree, hes no john Mayer though.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,theProfet
Date: 01 May 07 - 08:11 PM

Wgat about Buckethead?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,DBVOICE
Date: 02 May 07 - 07:34 PM

Look, even if this is a list of the "greatest rock and roll guitarists" how in the h-e double toothpicks did Ike Turner get on it? He was okay, but top 100? In the Rock genre here should be the top 5:

Steve Howe (Yes)
Alex Lifeson (Rush) Where is he on the list?
Steve Hackett (Genesis, early days)
Jimi Hendrix ( this is what burning a guitar on stage gets you, top 5 recognition for all eternity, and usually number one although not deserving)
Eddie Van Halen (for technical innovation)

Rolling Stone's list is obviously popularity based and should be ignored. I agree with all of those who said that the list should include a larger, more diverse range of guitar players from all genres. Andre Segovia, Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark to name a few who would make such a list.

D

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Captain Colin
Date: 03 May 07 - 02:06 PM

The Gledill Brothers. Here's two of them, so one place each.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Captain Colin.
Date: 03 May 07 - 06:46 PM

Sorry, typo. I meant THERE'S two of them of course.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,person x
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:08 AM

Are you a complete idiot or just half a one? Do you have any idea what a guitarist is let alone the greatest of all time. First of all you have complete retards that just play basic chords in your top five. Were you high when you made this list or are you just fucked in the head? Where is Eddie Van Halen, the boys from Iron Maiden and lynyrd Skynard, what about ted nuggent or micheal schneker? Your are a dickhead who knows nothings? And even bigger one for not changing the list even though you know it's fucked. Thank You for wasting my time in looking at list, and also thanks for the laugh.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 04 May 07 - 10:08 AM

person x: One could call you an idiot for not mentioning Alan Holdsworth. A guitarist that Eddie Van Halen - and a lot of critics - say is the greatest player ever to pick up an electric guitar.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 08:43 PM

Where the hell is David Gilmore from Pink Floyd. One of the most soulfull players of all time. And the creativity, well it speaks for itself. And I'm wondering how Robbie Robertson didn't make the top 20 at least. I would put him in the top ten to be honest.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: firemonkey
Date: 22 Jul 07 - 10:01 PM

Billy Zoom

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 02:09 PM

What of the immortal Donkey Dick and the Bulging Y-Fronts, and the incandescent Salvador Diddley and his Surrealist Bent Timepieces?

Will we see their likes again?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 24 Jul 07 - 10:22 AM

Barney Kessel

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Dennis in Quebec, Canada
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 04:27 PM

I would bet if you put the front page of each issue of Rolling Stone Magazine side by side and made a list of every guitarist either in a front page picture or mentioned on the front page, you would eventulally get to realize that there is a top 100 most mentioned, or mentioned as an influence.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 05:08 PM

The easiest way to assess "person x"'s stature as an idiot is simply to look at his post, his use of the English language therein, and his general attitude toward others. Self-explanatory. He's definitely, undeniably an idiot.

I love the rhetorical questions...

"Are you a complete idiot or just half a one?"

Is that a trick question? Wait. Let me get a protractor, and I'll check. Be right back.

"Do you have any idea what a guitarist is let alone the greatest of all time?"

Uhh...yeah. A guitarist is someone who plays the guitar. The greatest of all time, well..."all time" isn't over yet, is it, so I think we'll have to wait on that, won't we?

"Were you high when you made this list or are you just fucked in the head?"

LOL! I love that one. It's your best rhetorical question yet. Let me answer it with another one of my own: "Were you brought up in a cave by inbred neanderthals with 6 toes on each foot or did you learn to relate to people that way later, when you went to Yale?"

"Where is Eddie Van Halen, the boys from Iron Maiden and lynyrd Skynard, what about ted nuggent or micheal schneker?"

I think they're probably on tour, except for Lynyrd Skynard. Ted Nugent might be hunting, though. You never can tell.

"Your are a dickhead who knows nothings?"

That's not even a question. It's an assertion. Nevertheless, you ended it with a question mark. Perhaps it is just a very badly worded question. The word "nothing" does not need an "s" on the end of it, and makes no sense when you put an "s" on the end of it. I also had to add a question mark to one of your above questions, which you had ended with a period. Is something seriously wrong with you? Have you considered consulting a doctor regarding your frequent episodes of incoherence? Or are you still learning English as a second language?

"And even bigger one for not changing the list even though you know it's fucked."

You see? You did it again. You left the article "an" out of your sentence. It should have read: "And an even bigger one for not changing the list even though you know it's fucked."

Get help, man. There is still time to reach a 4rth grade level of English writing proficiency before you die.

"Thank You for wasting my time in looking at list, and also thanks for the laugh."

Likewise. Thanks a bunch to you too, Roscoe! It's been very amusing. ;-D By the way, you left the word "the" out of that last sentence. It should go right in front of the word "list".

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 01:10 PM

Since the list was, apparently, not "qualified" as pop-rock or any particular genre, I imagine Andres Segovia, The Romeros, Chet Atkins, Joe Maphis, Charlie Byrd, Django Reinhardt and any number of other late artists (nearly any of whom could roundly outplay most folks on the list) are rolling over in their rosewood coffins - if they are not snickering, that is...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,rone
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 02:25 PM

all you guys out their listen to one of the all time greats guitarist little jimmy dempsey then you know that is guitar playing buy a cd titled the legendary guitar of little jimmy dempsey you can get it at www.littlejimmydempsey.com you will enjoy it.
                           Ron.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Guest, Nick
Date: 02 Aug 07 - 11:48 PM

WHAT ABOUT 2 PEOPLE!?

1.Buckethead-amazing. Anyone ever heard Nottingham lace? how about too many humans? evan jordan is amazing, you try playing while tapping a killswitch the whole time.

and another...

2.Herman Li (DragonForce)- COME ONE!! voted fastest guitarist ever! hes awesome, just listen to fury of the storm and through the fire and the flames.

These need to be top ten both, theyr amazing

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Genie
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 04:17 AM

I agree it's kind of silly to "rank" a classical guitarist, a jazz guitarist, a folk/bluegrass picker, and a rock guitarist on the same list.   It's like comparing Nureyev with Gregory Hines with Fred Astaire.

There are very few guitarists that I've heard play in a variety of genres, so I wouldn't be so bold as to rank most of them, but I do think some of these folks probably deserve as much recognition as some on that list, if not more:

Chet Atkins, Django Rheinhardt, Andres Segovia, John Williams, Doc Watson - Duh! I can't believe they were left off the list in favor of Joni Mitchell, Eddie Cochran, and Kurt Cobain.

Others I'd nominate for inclusion:

Pat Donohue - definitely - extremely versatile too
Charo - she's excellent
Paul Simon - very versatile
Paul Stookey - one of the best folk pickers I've ever heard
Roy Clark - pretty impressive pickin' there too
Christopher Parkening - another longhair, so I guess that doesn't count

And two women I'd nominate:
Nina Berger -- I wonder if the Rolling Stone folks even have a clue about Nina
Chrissy Hynde - Isn't she at least as good as some of those rock guys on the list?   Anyway, I'd rank her at least as high as Joni M

I've also been quite impressed with:
Jason Mraz
John Mayer
Brian Setzer
Roy Clark
Dan Fogelberg

not to mention quite a few studio musicians and jam buddies I've known, whose names are unknown to most of the general public.

The "best" and the "best known" are not the same thing.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 11:45 AM

Apologies if he's already credited above, but in the space of one late-night TV programme, Dave Rawlings, on and off-stage partner of Gillian Welch, went from 'never heard of him' status to my all-time top five list. Amazing accompanist and soloist, on a 1935 Epiphone Emperor.

Also, have a listen to the astounding Steve Hicks via the samples on the K.Yairi guitars European website.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: van lingle
Date: 04 Aug 07 - 08:26 AM

Scotty Anderson has a number of clips on Youtube and he is beyond belief technically but really swings as well. Check out his "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "A Taste of Honey" with another great player, Bob Saxton.
Ditto on David Rawlings, Rusty. One of my favorite flatpickers.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 09:29 PM

Where is Saul "Slash" Hudson in this top 100 list....what a joke

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 09:31 PM

do we take it that is a nomination? Or just a complaint?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Feb 08 - 11:55 PM

Assuming this is a rock/pop/country list only...

Jeff Baxter of Steely Dan ought to be on the list somewhere, if the break from My Old School was the only thing he ever did.
Agree about Randy California.
John Fogerty ranked above Clarence White?
Nice to see Cipollina in the top 35.
I disagree with the disparaging Neil Young comments. He's been a hugely influential guitarist.
Freddie King nowhere to be found, nor Son House.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:26 AM

Certain guitarists have big reputations amongst general fans but are not highly regarded amongst people really deep in to a particular genre. For example, general guitar fans seem to love Manitas De Plata amd Carlos Montoya, but within the flamenco community they are not rated very highly.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:31 AM

'........of All Time?'

How can anyone possibly know this?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: bankley
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 10:54 AM

that's cuz Manitas is the bad boy of Flamenco... a bit rough and very improvisational... but he did more to bring this music to the world than a boatload of purists... a true Rom Baro.. and very much alive in his mid-eighties...

gadji si dilo......

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:45 PM

in no particular order:

1. Charley Patton

2. Alan Holdsworth

3. John Williams (guitarist)

4. Martin Carthy

5. Nic Jones

6. Justin Hayward (he's a guitar techie as well)

7. John Fahey

8. Brian May

9. Jerry Donahue

10. John Jorgenson

Charlotte (guitarists seen from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,OLD -TIMER
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:05 PM

Opinions are only opinions and do not even bring a licence to entitlement unless they are informed , balanced and impartial.
Subjectivity yawns me to death !!!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:21 PM

"Opinions are only opinions and do not even bring a licence to entitlement unless they are informed , balanced and impartial.
Subjectivity yawns me to death !!!"

and that's YOUR informed opinion? *LOL*

Charlotte (laughing at you, not with you)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,OLD -TIMER
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:39 PM

Its not my opinion ---its an unalterable universally accepted FACT without subjective or objective bias.Whats the *LOL* about ?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 05:01 PM

well, sunshine, some people like to have a bit of fun, this thread is that bit of fun....now, the question you need to ask yourself is this

Do myself and the rest of the posters look bovvered?

and.....
"Subjectivity yawns me to death !!!"


right and you post here...or are you, as I suspect, just a wind up merchant?

Charlotte (the fun from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:08 PM

I'll only mention a few that have influenced me personally and whose work has passed the test of time. So, I'm eclectic...

Josh White
Chet Atkins
Merle Travis
Jerry Reed
Django Reinhardt
Charlie Byrd
Andres Segovia
Red Shea
Gordon Lightfoot
Laurindo Almeida
Sabicas
Carlos Mentoya
Bud Dashiell
Travis Edmonson
Paul Prestopino
Wes Montgomery
Leadbelly

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,OLD -TIMER
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:45 PM

So sorry to impinge on your fragile pomposity Lotty.Does that piano stool do a 360 turnaround ?If it does and if you keep rotating in a clockwise direction it can actually elevate a flagging sense of humour,that is, if you dont get too self-esteemed and fall into the morasses of opinionated drivil .

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:53 PM

Look, everybody knows that Nigel Tufnel is the greatest guitar hero of all time. End of story.

Don't make me say it again.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:11 PM

a revolving piano stool...now there's a stereo-type...those went out with the old music hall jokes...which you as an old timer must surely have witnessed, and which, it appears, you are attempting to emulate, albeit very unsuccessfully..

Charlotte (Goodbye Dolly Grey)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:16 PM

Oh...while I'm about it...on topic...after the interuption from the nusery school crowd

Alun Davies the guitar player for Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)

Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:58 PM

Looks like everyone I can think of has been mentioned here with the exception of Randy Bachman.

biLL

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:29 PM

Here's Nigel, showing off his guitars and other equipment. The man is simply the ultimate axeman of all time, and this clip makes that crystal clear.

"You can't touch this one..."

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:38 PM

taht's Kewl L.H.



Geeeesh.




Actually this is one of my favourite scenes from the movie ... he has Jeff Beck down to the 'T'.

biLL

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:39 PM

Yeah. (grin) Isn't his haircut just perfect? Not to mention the way he talks?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:52 PM

Or that tank top ... LOL

yup ... he certainly is one hell of an axeman.

biLL

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: gnu
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:47 PM

Randy Bachman... ya know. Not only is he amazing on guitar, look at the history, the collaborations, the tunes.... SO many tunes... it's like he wakes up spitting them out.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: gnu
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 05:59 PM

Perhaps, as Spaw so eloquently alluded to or maybe not, we could simply impart some of the guitar work we consider masterful?

This guy is one of my favs.

But, all time fun masterful guitar for me, are these guys.

Hey, it ain't folk, but... or is it? Hehehehehe.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,stevie baby
Date: 26 May 08 - 08:47 PM

Rik Emmett, Triumph

'nuf said.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 27 May 08 - 07:50 PM

I started redaing this with a long list of omissions, but as far as I can see the only one no one's mentioned is Leon McAuliffe of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys. (Someone even mentioned Kazuhito Yamashita)

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Stringsinger
Date: 28 May 08 - 04:52 PM

All folk and rock makes Jack a dull boy.

Jazz guitarists: Joe Pass, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Ted Greene, Martin Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel, Jimmy Bruno, Herb Ellis, Bola Sete, Lenny Breau, Chet Atkins, Alan Holdsworth,
Jimmy Raney, Phil Upchurch, George Benson, Tuck Anders ......oh man! This list goes on forever. I just scratched the surface.

You want more...visit You Tube.

Then there's the classical guitarists and lutenists.

Rolling Stone doesn't know s-----t!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 08 - 04:36 PM

Joao Gilberto anyone?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: irishenglish
Date: 29 May 08 - 05:08 PM

Alan Prosser, Malcolm Jones, Dan Ar Braz-three worth mentioning if they haven't already been! Although Nigel Tufnel is pretty good too I hear....

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,bob
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 07:38 PM

Shawn Lane?? Monte Montgomery? Kottke???? Wes Montgomery?? John Williams????????

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: mattkeen
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:24 AM

Agree that these sort of lists are a wate of time, but it did get me thinking about my favourites

Martin Carthy
Bert Jansch
Steve Cropper
Lowell George
Ry Cooder
Davey Graham
Jimmi Vaughan
Neil Young

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 11 - 10:17 PM

Jose Feliciano?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Azoic
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 01:38 AM

Ralph Towner,Allan Holdsworth,Martin Simpson,Alex Machacek.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 04:56 AM

T-Bone Walker
B.B. King
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Robert Johnson
Albert King
Eric Clapton
Buddy Guy
Mike Bloomfield
Peter Green
Johnny Winter
Otis Rush
Muddy Waters
Ronnie Earl
Hubert Sumlin
Duane Allman
John Lee Hooker
Son House

If I only had the choice of one, it would have to be,Blind Lemon Jefferson

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:56 AM

Gordon Giltrap and young 'un Clive Carroll

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: tonyteach1
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 08:22 AM

For technical ability as guitarists I would put most gypsy flamenco and jazz players ahead of most commercial guitarists

The best technical fingerstyle guitarist I have met on a regular basis in the UK is a guy called Steve Homes who is a professional flamenco player

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 09:10 AM

Being able to play flamenco guitar at breakneck speed doen't mean that you are better than anybody, only maybe another flamenco guitarist who can't match the speed! Personally I find it boring after a couple of numbers and would rather listen to the average strummer at my folk club! I'm also not sure what technically better means - the same thing I suppose that a jazz guitarist is technichally better than another jazz guitarist that is not as good at playing the same jazz stuff, but that doesn't mean he is better at playing 3 chord folk stuff does it. I've heard proffesional metal guitarists flounder when trying to strum a folky song. Load of bollox really - I'm the best guitarist inside my own head ...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 09:33 AM

Here's a positive shout for Marc Bolan...

Purveyor of perfect pop culture boogie riffs and compelling classic tone.

It's interesting to consider how so many technically excellent guitarists are obscure to all
beyond an elite coterie of devoted acolytes;

yet a barely competent player such as Marc Bolan

[who was way too vain and arrogantly unaware of his limited rudimentary soloing abilities]

somehow harboured a spark of innate genius
that inspired a generation of many thousands of youngsters to learn to play guitar.

I definitely rate him high up in my personal "Top 5" list of significant influential guitarists from the 1950's to the 1980's..

Headed in 'No 1' spot by Mick Ronson...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 09:57 AM

.. and for what it's worth, here's the last personal highly changeable & flexible 'Top 10'
I compiled some time in the last year or so
to help me work out in which direction I was going with my own 'guitar & amp tones'..

This time no 50's Rock 'n ' Roll or Blues icons were included
as their influences inform and are encapsulated by the chosen 60's & 70's influences..


So in no particular order....


MICK RONSON

MARC BOLAN

BRIAN MAY

WILKO JOHNSON

PETE TOWNSHEND

BILL NELSON

STEVE HILLAGE

JIMMY PAGE

ALBERT LEE

JERRY DONAHUE

TED NUGENT

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 10:41 AM

Here's the iconic picture of two of the very best (by some peoples' reckoning) as one was just hitting his stride and one was some years away from it...

Peter

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: tonyteach1
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 12:13 PM

Most flamenco players play at various tempos depending on the number the the dancer or singer Also most create their own melodic ideas so not just technicians

The best technical electric player I have seen is Scotty Anderson who leaves everyone standing as a fingerstyle electric player on a Tele

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Stringsinger
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 01:46 PM

musicmic, I grew up on Burl Ives before Millard Lampell, John Stauber and all the other guitarists you mention came on the scene. Burl did his own guitar playing in concert and on early recordings and in my opinion, some of his best work. Simple um-plunk that fit his voice like a glove, never getting in the way of the lyrics, unlike some of the guitar players today whose message is "to hell with vocalist, look at me".

Nobody, so far, has mentioned the father of the electric guitar, Charlie Christian.
He was the first to bring it to the forefront of jazz and dance music via Goodman.

You have to separate the guitar skills (chops) from the musicianship, bringing into the equation Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Fred Hellerman, Sam Jones (with Miriam MacKeba)
and others whose guitar accompaniments supported the song.

The Rolling Stone article should have said "Top 100 Rock Guitarists of All Time" and then it would have had more credibility.

Guitar playing must combine technique with musicianship (which can be a very subjective opinionated subject) but nonetheless, there are those guitarists who have the potential of moving an audience in one way or another, and they don't all have "chops".

Early folk music performers such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie (before he succumbed to Huntington's), Sarah and Maybelle Carter, obscure blues artists such as Laughing Charley, Son House, all these and more who made up the powerful music we call American folk (I left out Sam Hinton, shouldn't have or Pete Seeger for that matter) may not have dazzled audiences with gymnastic finger action but gave the guitar a meaning in the music we now enjoy, including Burl's "um plunk".

The guitar can't be separated from musical values on its own and to claim a monopoly on being the "best" is unsupportable, subject to opinion, and to ignore some musical aspects in favor of others.

I would say that the guitar is one of the greatest musical instruments of all time, its flexibility, versatility, emotionally moving expression and worldwide acceptance being "greater" than any one person who plays it.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 02:01 PM

No mention of Joao Gilberto?? What kind of stupid list is that? Kurt Cobain? Come on, the guy was a non-guitarist if anything. Jimi Hendrix the greatest of all time? Well, I love Jimi and there's no doubt he was extremely influential but he was doing what Buddy Guy was doing a decade before and Jimi even admitted it and played onstage with Buddy because he wanted people to know how important Buddy is.

And you can't excuse the omission of Django for any reason whatsoever and certainly not so you can include guys from Moby Grape, Soundgarden and Radiohead who are not exactly setting the guitar world on fire. Joan Jett?? Come off it. I mean, where's Johnny Guitar Watson? Where's Jimmy Reed or, for that matter, Jerry Reed? Both were certainly better guitarists than Lou Reed.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 02:47 PM

When I first started out learning folk songs and how to accompany them on the guitar (1952 or so), I took a few months' lessons from Walt Robertson, whose folk song accompaniments were fairly "eclectic." But whole basis of folk song accompaniment, he said, was what he called "Burl Ives Basic."

"Um-plunk," as Strings puts it. Or, of course "um-plunk-plunk." That's all you really need and you're in business.

Walt taught me a whole bunch of other stuff, and when I wanted more, he'd sort of run out of things to teach me, so he recommended that I take some classic guitar lessons, which I did. But with Walt's warning: "Remember the acronym KISS. 'Keep It Simple, Stupid!'"

With a classic guitar teacher with the oddly rural sounding name, Joe Farmer, I really learned how to use my fingers. He had me working on technical exercises, and very quickly into simple pieces, including the graded studies by Fernando Sor.

While I was doing all this, I got a summer job working for a picture framer. All the local big name artists came to this guy because his frames were always just right for whatever painting they contained. I learned probably the most valuable lesson I ever learned about song accompaniment from him. "When you're deciding how to frame a painting, don't just slap it into any frame. Study the painting. Look at the colors, look at the shapes within the painting. Chose a molding that reflects a shape in the painting. Then examine the colors and paint the frame a neutral blend of those colors. But—NEVER distract from the painting itself. If people look at a painting and say, 'Isn't that a beautiful frame?' then the frame is a failure. The frame should set the painting off in space, but must never distract from the painting or draw attention to itself."

Same with song accompaniment. It's not the main thing. It is supposed to accompany the song. If it becomes the main thing, then you blew it! You can do all kinds of stuff such as working countermelodies into an accompaniment, restatements of or variations on the melody line between verses, fancy arpeggio patterns, all kinds of virtuoso stuff. BUT—if people notice the accompaniment more than the song, it's a flop!

Lots of folk singers don't get that.

I sometimes slip a classic or flamenco solo into a set. It's kinda ego gratifying to hear someone mutter, "Hey, he can really play that thing!" But my main focus is on the songs and the stories they tell.

With "Burl Ives Basic," you can't go wrong.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Smokey.
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 03:25 PM

Them's wise words, Don. Accompaniment is an art in itself. I've never sung, so I had to learn it as a separate thing, which may have made the distinction clearer. I've always seen it as providing the right setting for a precious stone, but I like the picture frame better, I think.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 04:13 PM

Another guitarist that's never talked about is Philip Catherine.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: olddude
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 04:15 PM

Someone may have already said Chet Akins ... but I like that guy from the 80's stray cats .. Brian Selzer or something like that ... he can rockabilly for sure ...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Don Firth
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:17 PM

Yep. Upthread, Chet Atkins is mentioned a couple dozen times.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Smokey.
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:29 PM

Reverend Gary Davis deserves a mention.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:34 PM

"The Rolling Stone article should have said "Top 100 Rock Guitarists of All Time" and then it would have had more credibility."

It should really say Top 100 Rock Guitarists of All Time so far...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:49 PM

What about John Goodsall of Brand X? That guy is fabulous!

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 05:58 PM

...also that 100 could actually be in binary - that would provoke a whole lot more argument...

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,Curtis
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 06:33 PM

I would have thought Bruce Cockburn's name would have come up more in this discussion.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 02:24 AM

There has not as yet been 'all time' - whatever the fundamentalists would have you believe. And anyway I couldn't even begin to limit the number of guitarists who have impressed me to a mere hundred. I feel sorry for anyone who would want to.

And anyway Bruce Murdoch, Jack Hudson, Lightnin' Hopkins - what they do, may not be technically as hard as Joe Pass or Yyngwie Malmsteen - but its a hundred per cent 'right' - a perfect accompaniment for what they do.

That's a sort of 'top' - isn't it?

As Martin Carthy said about the late Peter Bellamy - people often lament that Peter never had accompanists who understood his vision fully. Then Martin said, Those peope are wrong. Peter did have one wonderful and perfect guitar accompanist - himself.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 10:52 AM

What about Junior Brown?

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 11:57 AM

Not sure about Junior Brown, unfortunately never heard him play, but I cannot believe no one appears to have mentioned the following gentleman

Joe Brown

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 02:41 PM

I went to see Michael Chapman play on Friday night. Now, there is a guitar player and a half. Only 40 people turned up to listen though.

R

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 09:57 PM

Danny Gatton

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Tootler
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 07:04 AM

I really don't know what you are all whingeing about!

After all the list is a comprehensive one including guitarists from both types of music: rock and roll.

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 08:45 AM

I don't see Tommy Emmanuel, but as long as Joan Jett made it I suppose that will do......

Going to see #23 this weekend in New Brunswick (Warren Haynes, the Great).

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,GUEST MArkyB
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 12:15 PM

Not a mention of django,John Martyn,Richard Thompson,JJ Cale,Rory Gallagher,Syd Barret.
I agree with the poster who mentioned rollingstones 'top 100 guitarists' ^
chaaa.
=====================================================================Barr chords hurt my girly fingers :(

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 12:51 PM

... considering so many of us have enjoyed the performances of literally thousands of accomplished guitarists
in our life time's obsession for discovering new music,
there's hardly any point moaning that so and so's been left off a list
compiled by a few hack mainstream music journalists with such an obviously narrow perspective on global music culture..


errrmm.. and they did'nt mention Vic Flick or Chris Spedding.....

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: Smokey.
Date: 13 Sep 11 - 12:48 PM

Tim Renwick
Al Stewart
Jeremy Spencer
Danny Kirwan

Subject: RE: Top 100 Guitarists of All Time
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Sep 11 - 03:05 PM

Has anyone heard Sam McGee?
or TOm Paley?
or Andy Cohen?