Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Jimi Hendrix

10 (28.6%)

B.B. King

2 (5.7%)

Joe Pass

0 (0%)

John McLaughlin

2 (5.7%)

Jimmy Page

2 (5.7%)

Yngwie Malmsteen

3 (8.6%)

Robert Fripp

1 (2.9%)

John Petrucci

2 (5.7%)

Wes Montgomery

0 (0%)

Other...

13 (37.1%)

Total Members Voted: 0

Voting closed: 11 Oct 2005, 19:58

[La Creme]

Disclaimer: This means greatest guitar player, not greatest song-writer who played guitar, not fastest guitar player, not best-toned guitar player. Just best.

I have to go with McLaughlin despite my love of all things Hendrix, Joe Pass, and Petrucci. I mean, he's a total virtuoso in rock, jazz, and a lot in between. The only reason not to choose McLaughlin really is that he has no feeling for the blues, and thusfor, his blues solos lack soul.

NOTE: I had to delete a whole bunch of other greats because of the poll-options-numbers-limit-thang. So if you get all "nurrr why wasn't so-and-such on here nurrr" it is seriously not my fault.

[Inlander]

My vote went to "Other", in the form of Charlie Christian.  Just off the top of my head.  I'm sure somebody like Hendrix was probably more technically gifted (though Christian was no slouch in that regard), but Christian's melodies and tone are just so gorgeous.  If you haven't heard Columbia's remastering from a few years ago of his recordings with various Benny Goodman small groups from the '30s and '40s . . . Damn.

[La Creme]

He was one of the ones I deleted.

Inlander, your jazz tastes are eff - the - double V.

[Inlander]

And yet strangely I don't listen to nearly as much jazz as I used to.  I haven't bought a jazz C.D. in months.  I guess that's what happens when you live for a year just down the road from one of the best indie record shops in the country.

[La Creme]

Still, you listen to good jazz.

I am pissed with myself and want to re-vote Robert Fripp. I mean, cause he's the Robert Fripp. Seriously.

[Storm Rider]

I'm actually pleasantly surprised that Fripp is on there.

However, the inclusion of Yngwie Malmsteen over Joe Satriani is a travesty.

It really depends on how you judge 'greatest'. If you're doing it by influence on later guitarists, then Hendrix without question. If you're doing it by pure technical ability, then Petrucci or Malmsteen. If you're judging by more of a blend of the two, then probably Page.

I'm going to go with Page, but I believe that once you reach a certain level that it's really impossible to rank one above the others. Petrucci, Hendrix, Page, and Fripp all deserve recognition, but for different reasons.

[mizaktik]

Sort of suprised to not see Clapton up there, but as you said there is a limit on the number of options.  Just suprised.

[Gryff]

Hendrix I guess, but who can really say? Not me.

[Kid Modernist]

ERIC CLAPTON.

[Storm Rider]

Eric Clapton is the most overrated guitarist ever.

Even more than Slash or Malcom Young.

[normz]

Why must I choose????

I went Petrucci in the end mmmmm

*rocks out air guitar style*

[noise_wave]

I'd have to go with Joe Satriani on that one.

[Kid Modernist]

Eric Clapton is the most overrated guitarist ever.

Even more than Slash or Malcom Young.

More like, YOU'RE OVERRATED.

[sjbrot]

What do we mean by "best" by the way?

We're just going with technical prowess?

[Storm Rider]

More like, YOU'RE OVERRATED.

Don't get me wrong. I like Cream, and to a lesser extent his solo work, but I don't think that the whole 'Clapton is God' faction has any merit whatsoever. There is nothing Clapton did that contemporary guitarists didn't do better. He's good, but not worth the OMGWTFBESTGUITARISTEVER hype.

[KharBevNor]

Meh. I don't know or don't know the work of many of these guys. At least off-hand. In my personal estimation, it will always be Michael Amott of Arch Enemy. I heard they spent solid months writing and rehearsing their new album. Oh, yes yes yes.

And before all you playa-haters get dismissive, go download and listen to the track 'Angelclaw'. Nothing else made me pick up the guitar. Nothing at all. The absolute nakedness with which that song turns utter joy into music and vice-versa still makes me a little choked up sometimes.

Keep your darn jazz.

[Storm Rider]

Meh. I don't know or don't know the work of many of these guys. At least off-hand. In my personal estimation, it will always be Michael Amott of Arch Enemy. I heard they spent solid months writing and rehearsing their new album. Oh, yes yes yes.

And before all you playa-haters get dismissive, go download and listen to the track 'Angelclaw'. Nothing else made me pick up the guitar. Nothing at all. The absolute nakedness with which that song turns utter joy into music and vice-versa still makes me a little choked up sometimes.

Keep your darn jazz.

Arch Enemy sounds familiar. I think I may have an Iron Maiden tribute album with a track by them on it. I'll have to go back and listen to it more closely.

[Kid Modernist]

Don't get me wrong. I like Cream, and to a lesser extent his solo work, but I don't think that the whole 'Clapton is God' faction has any merit whatsoever. There is nothing Clapton did that contemporary guitarists didn't do better. He's good, but not worth the OMGWTFBESTGUITARISTEVER hype.

Heh, it's cool. I have just been doing too much debating in other threads so I felt like goofing off for this one. I think to best appreciate why Eric Clapton is guitar god (Pete Townsend is my guitar rock idol, but I can't claim he is the best, just my favorite) you have to see some footage of him playing live. It blows my mind.

[Signum_Tenebrae]

nobody on this list.

[Everest]

I'm sort of torn between Page and Hendrix...

[KharBevNor]

Arch Enemy sounds familiar. I think I may have an Iron Maiden tribute album with a track by them on it. I'll have to go back and listen to it more closely.

They did a version of Aces High for one of the 'Tribute to the Beast' albums.

[lofin]

Spencer Seim

[Merkava]

Hendrix or Clapton? Tough choice...

[Seckspants]

For me, it's a toss up between Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Have you seen the Coldshot clip? It's roflcopters alround.

[Thrillho]

This is RIDICULOUSLY subjective and I refuse to vote.

My favourite guitarist is David Gilmour, who I think proves that taste and tone win over ability.

P.S. I despise the majority of shred. It's just wanking on a grand scale, and I can wank a piece of wood without spending £500 on my instrument.
Quite frankly, I'm much happier knowing that my chord knowledge absolutely dwarfs that of my mates, even though they are far better soloists. At the end of the day, the chords are more important.

[Signum_Tenebrae]

by the way Jimi Hendrix is the most overrated guitarist of all time.  period.

I guess my vote for "best" guitarist (focusing on complexity and general raw skill here) probably goes to Michael Romeo of Symphony X.

[RUMBLEMOOSE]

John McLaughlin owned the brains right out my skull the first time I heard him, and he still does it today. Every time I hear a bad, bland prog-rock guitar noodling solo, I wish it was McLaughlin, who could wank with emotion.

[Damniel]

B.B King all the way...I apprechiate all the twangy solos but he could pull out a simple lick and it sounds so much better than any fiddley solo i've ever heard...I mean theres got to be a reason for the album; Riding With The KING...surely?

[Maui]

I voted Jimi Hendrix. Hes my personal favorite on the list, plus he rocked. Not too much thought behind my vote i spose heh.

[somewhat_removed]

i'm one of the two votes for petrucci so far. i might have had to pick Vai over him if he was on there, though.

[Storm Rider]

They did a version of Aces High for one of the 'Tribute to the Beast' albums.

Yeah, it was Volume 2, right? I'll definitely go back and give it another listen.

I really cannot get over how badly Iced Earth butchered Hallowed Be Thy Name on that album, though.

[La Creme]

@people who vote clapton: I'm sorry I pulled him off. I know a lot of people like him, but I'm really not that big of a fan. I was really biased here, and I'm sorry.

@Signum_Tenebrae: I only put Yngwie instead of Romeo because not many people know who he his. Seriously, the live cut of "On The Breath Of Poseidon" is the best thrash solo ever.

@other stuff:

* Stevie Ray Vaughan was especially painful for me to pull off the list.

* I am very saddened by the fact that nobody has put a vote in for Pass yet. Seriously, he is maybe the best jazz guitarist ever. Joe Diorio is pretty ace too.

* By best I mean a guitarist with a definitive style, good sound, good technique, songwriting ability, and a reputation as a guitar god.

* Also, while David Gilmoure is a pretty incredibly songwriter, if you want tone and intelligent chord placement, check out Wes Montgomery.

[Merkava]

I can't believe I forgot B.B. King. That guy is a god. I've grown to like him much more recently, since his bluesy style really sounds fresh after countless rock riffs and solos.

I also think solos are very overrated. They don't do much for me, though there have been some band that pull it off to my liking.

SO FUCKING TIRED OF JIMMY PAGE.

[est]

i am not voting, because i do not know all that much about guitarists.  however, i have heard that Billy Gibbons (the guitarist from ZZ Top) has unexpectedly good tone & gets much respect from other guitarists for it, regardless of his otherwise mostly boring compositions.

[La Creme]

Yeah, Billy Gibbons is pretty good. If you want a model for rock soloing and hard-ass chord smashing when you're learning, he's probably the best one there is.

[Merkava]

i am not voting, because i do not know all that much about guitarists.  however, i have heard that Billy Gibbons (the guitarist from ZZ Top) has unexpectedly good tone & gets much respect from other guitarists for it, regardless of his otherwise mostly boring compositions.

Some legendary guitarist cites him as a major influence. Can't remember which one for the life of me.

[Storm Rider]

* By best I mean a guitarist with a definitive style, good sound, good technique, songwriting ability, and a reputation as a guitar god.

Then Joe Satriani should have been in there over Malmsteen, because Malmsteen's songwriting is TERRIBLE. I wouldn't say he has much of a 'definitive style', either.

[stevethepirate]

Yngwie Malmsteen is a ridiculously talented guitar player, I've heard some of his Van Halen tribute songs and holy shit! It's like one solid note that just chnges tone, but if you listen really carefully, you can hear the extremely fast paced clicks of his pick against the guitar strings.

[La Creme]

But Storm Rider is right, Yngwie is not a very inventive man. He is the technical thrash master, but that's it. He's a one man thrash-fest. He doesn't really work in bands, and he sure as hell doesn't write good original material. But seriously, he can thrash the shit out of Satriani, Vai, or Petrucci any day.

[Storm Rider]

But Storm Rider is right, Yngwie is not a very inventive man. He is the technical thrash master, but that's it. He's a one man thrash-fest. He doesn't really work in bands, and he sure as hell doesn't write good original material. But seriously, he can thrash the shit out of Satriani, Vai, or Petrucci any day.

I'm not going to argue that Malmsteen isn't talented, because he is, almost unbelievably so. But Satriani's songwriting is consistently superior, he has technical skills many guitarists would kill for, and his sound is definitely unique. I'm starting to regret that I hadn't voted for Other, now.

[La Creme]

Yeah, y'know, cause if you had voted other, I wouldn't have just killed a baby. Cause that's just the kind of guy I am.













SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE.

Wow, I probably really had you there.

[Storm Rider]

Then I probably shouldn't have slashed my wrists in guilt.

OH THE REGRET.

[JLM]

Django Reinhardt maybe?

[rawrXskittles]

I elect Stevie Ray Vaughn and Frank Zappa as the supreme guitar players. They are both right on the same level in my book.

I grew up with them being pumped through any available speaker. If it was not the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Petty or Led Zepplin it was Stevie Ray Vaughn or Frank Zappa. Hooray for my parents!

[La Creme]

Django Reinhardt maybe?

S


H


I


T

Man, I fuuuuuucked up.

[will: wanton sex god]

nobody on this list.

why make this post...why not simply not choose one or put "other."
how unconstructive

[JLM]

Django Reinhardt maybe?

S


H


I


T

Man, I fuuuuuucked up.

Don't sweat it.  It's easy to see how you could forget the most influential european jazz guitarist ever.  

I'm also curious as to why you chose to list B.B King over Robert Johnson.

[La Creme]

B.B. has had much more of an influence on how blues guitar is played today. Also, he, in my opinion, has a much more unique sound. On countless occasions I've heard his songs and known it was him without having previously heard the song.

Both are great though. I also wanted to put John Mayall for a blues guitarist, but seriously, you've gotta make judgement calls sometimes.

[IronOxide]

I revisitd this thread when some Django came up on my iTunes, and i realized that he could rip all of these people a new ass. WITH A BURNT OFF FINGERTIP

[Kid Modernist]

I forgot fuckin' GEORGE THOROGOOD.