Your Best Rock Guitarist Pick?

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Aug 1, 2012
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Laugh all you want, I think it was Zappa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eot80AMgWdM
His Peaches en Regalia is even better but that is more jazz than rock.
Too bad you didn't include country guitarists. I might have had a few more candidates.

 

briarbird

Can't Leave
Dec 7, 2011
433
0
Jimmy Page would be my pick for the best. How ever, my favorite is probably Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; love his tone.

 

mlaug

Part of the Furniture Now
May 23, 2010
908
2
Iowa
I've always liked Aleksandar Živojinović, stage name Alex Lifeson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78D00dYOBrM

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,439
11,344
Maryland
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Wow, too many to pick. Nugent was my first concert, "Cat Scratch Fever" tour. Page, Clapton, Gilmour, SRV are all tops in my book as well.
Jeff Beck does some amazing work. "Guitar Shop" is still a favorite album. (saw his duel tour on this album with Stevie Ray Vaungh, what a show)
Jeff_Beck%27s_Guitar_Shop.jpg


 

steelman

Might Stick Around
Jun 17, 2012
67
2
People are all over the place with this question..we all prefer different styles & sounds, but if we answer the question of who plays the instrument the best, there are only 2 considerations in my opinion.
Jimi Hendrix
I myself am no guitarist, but I have friends & cousins who are. Some even cut albums.
Ask them and they say Hendrix because he was so ahead of his time and played effortlessly. No one came close to him until:
Eddie Van Halen
When rock guitarists strive to play the instrument as best they can , it's always Eddie they are trying to play. There is nobody that comes close to Eddie's playing, technically.

 

sixmp

Can't Leave
Jan 19, 2012
420
0
I know this is for rock guitar. I just couldn't choose a rock/metal guitar player as my best as there are so many to like.

There however is one player who for me shines out from the rest.

When i was 18 i found a cd by Andres Segovia who basically walked into a recording studio sat down and played for around 59 minutes, the whole cd was just one take and it was flawless. I amazed me and still does. I put it on and drift off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCeebWgjrrU

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,439
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Maryland
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There is nobody that comes close to Eddie's playing, technically.
Probably true, but his music was perhaps too technical and didn't seem to have enough soul for me. BUT, I remember the day I fell in love with Rock & Roll. Near the end of my Sophmore year in high school, a lazy Social Studies teacher let us bring in records to play. One super-hot class mate brought in the debut Van Halen album, which had just been released. When Eruption played, even on that beat up old mono-school record player, I was forever hooked on guitar-driven rock.

 

docrx

Part of the Furniture Now
Jan 9, 2011
842
1
1)Jerry Garcia :worship:

2)Jimi

3)Eric

4)Duane Allman

5)Ry Cooder

 

cajunguy

Part of the Furniture Now
Jan 22, 2012
756
1
Metairie, LA
I love this topic. It's one my friends and I (oddly, we all play guitar) have debated for years. The only answer we've come up with is that there isn't one answer. There are too many styles of guitar and music to limit it to one answer. Ultimately the debate would go something like this:
1. It has to be Jimi!

2. But Yngwie Malmsteen is the most technically gifted guitarist of all time!

3. Sure, but he has the soul of Satan. Eddie is more fun to listen to;

4. True, he's kind of a one trick pony and his real strength is song writing;

5. What about Mark Knopfler? He can fingerpick Van Halen under a table and ever note counts;

....

100. Let's get some more coffee...
So here's what I consider a fair list that takes into account several styles:
1. Most influential/varied guitarist: Jimi Hendrix (no video needed)
2. Most Technically Virtuous Guitarist that Has No Soul at All: Ynqwie Malmsteen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6KM5XPUdvo
3. Most Technically Virtuous Guitarist with a Soul: Eric Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15eu7ar5EKM
I'll leave other categories open for the floor: :)

 

shawn622

Lifer
Jul 22, 2012
1,081
2
Mount Sterling, Ohio
Wow, what a question. I am a guitarist, and to say who is the best is like saying there is a best blend of tobacco. There are guitarists I prefer for different kinds of music. i'm a huge Hendrix fan, I love Eddie Van Halen, Clapton, Duane Allman & Dickey Betts, Steve vai, Frank Zappa and many more. One guitarist that is not as well known is a Christian musician named Phil Keaggy. I saw him 4 years ago with my christian mentor. I had never heard of him. I was blown away. If you have time, check out this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIWMrK67_bk&feature=related

 

steelman

Might Stick Around
Jun 17, 2012
67
2
FWIW John Lennon answered this question :
"Chuck Berry"
Eddie Van Halen answered this question:
"nobody plays me like me.
Nobody plays Clapton like Clapton
Nobody plays Jimi like Jimi.
We are all the best at our own style of playing."
I think that's the ultimate answer.

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,439
11,344
Maryland
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Ah, two some good ones Cajun guy. Knopfler is a favorite. Does anyone else have this release, "Neck & Neck" with Chet Atkins? (speaking of great guitar players!) It's a wonderful recording.
Neck_and_Neck.jpg


 

roudoudou

Might Stick Around
Aug 24, 2012
81
1
Montreal
Jimi!!
Also Van Halen. Randy Rhoads was great too.
Jeff Healey was another great musician. Saw him live 15 yrs ago. Was blown away!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660a3z7r2_4

 
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