Best Rock Guitarist

Bogbunny · Post by **Bogbunny** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:11 am

Totally ignoring Rolling Stone's out of date bag of shite, and being totally subjective name your top 6 :

Knopfler
Buckingham
Gary Moore
Angus
Clapton
Hendrix

Go for it!

Slim 293 · Post by **Slim 293** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:28 am

Here’s six...

Hendrix
Duane Denison
Adrian Belew
Keiji Haino
Prince
Billy Gibbons

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:32 am

Slim 293 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:28 am Here’s six...

Hendrix
Duane Denison
Adrian Belew
Keiji Haino
Prince
Billy Gibbons

How about...
Richie Blackmore
Alvin Lee

They never seem to get any love on these threads.
Oh, and the obligatory
Dave Gilmore, the Gavin Henson of guitarists

RodneyRegis · Post by **RodneyRegis** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:38 am

Oh good, another opportunity for people pto leave it Clapton and wait to be asked why.

fonzeee · Post by **fonzeee** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:36 am

I don't even like his band but the fact we're even 4 posts into this thread and still no mention of Eddie Van Halen is criminal.

Short Man Syndrome · Post by **Short Man Syndrome** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:37 am

Me
Guthrie Govan
Me again
Chris Poland
Still Me
Steve Vai

obelixtim · Post by **obelixtim** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:41 am

Brian May.
Pete Townshend.
Mike Campbell.
John Entwistle.
Dickey Betts

Entwistle is there because he described himself as a guitarist. And he made the bass guitar talk.

Also: Bonamassa. Eric, Page, Prince, Satriani, Randy Bachmann.

puku · Post by **puku** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:41 am

Better with examples of their work, no?

IMHO, the best exponent of electric blues Stevie Ray Vaughn. Texas Flood.

The guy could sing too.

UncleFB · Post by **UncleFB** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:43 am

My subjective top 3:

Hendrix
Vernon Reid
Slash

Mine is based purely on the music I like, and I do like non black guitarists too - but can't think of any obvious ones at the moment.

Jay Cee Gee · Post by **Jay Cee Gee** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:46 am

I know he's a song thief and a wrong 'un regarding teenagers, but no one mentioning Jimmy Page yet is messed up.

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:04 am

The best is Hendrix, all incredibly subjective of course.

My favourites to listen to in no particular order;

Neil Young
Adam Franklin
Larry Lalonde
George Harrison
Buzz Osborne
Duane Denison
Jonny Greenwood
Steve Gunn
John Frusciante (Mother’s Milk / BSSM)
Josh Homme
Mark Knopfler
Dean Ween
Slash (Appetite)
East Bay Ray
Billy Gibbons
Billy Corgan
Graham Coxon
Adam Jones
Jim Martin
Angus Young
Trey Spruance
MacKaye/Picciotto - Fugazi
Moore/Ranaldo - Sonic Youth

I’m sure there’s a shitload to add.

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:25 am

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:04 am The best is Hendrix, all incredibly subjective of course.

My favourites to listen to in no particular order;

Neil Young
Adam Franklin
Larry Lalonde
George Harrison
Buzz Osborne
Duane Denison
Jonny Greenwood
Steve Gunn
John Frusciante (Mother’s Milk / BSSM)
Josh Homme
Mark Knopfler
Dean Ween
Slash (Appetite)
East Bay Ray
Billy Gibbons
Billy Corgan
Graham Coxon
Adam Jones
Jim Martin
Angus Young
Trey Spruance
MacKaye/Picciotto - Fugazi
Moore/Ranaldo - Sonic Youth

I’m sure there’s a shitload to add.

No Clapton? But, as a non-oficionado, why don't Richie Blackmore & Alvin Lee get any love on these lists? Carlos Santana too for that matter.

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:35 am

I don't really listen to Clapton, but as a guitarist of no comparable talent, I can appreciate his playing.

vh5150 · Post by **vh5150** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:18 am

In my opinion ...

Hendrix and Van Halen easily the most original and influential. Each caused seismic shifts in what a guitar could actually do amd sound like. The innovators.

Hendrix was an Alien and EVH just the most naturally talented muso going. Pure joy. Always had a smile on his face whilst ripping out a big stretch. EVH the best rock rhythm guitarist by miles ... drop dead timing and power in his right hand....but a lot of time for the late Malcolm Young.

Daylight.

Jimmy Page and Gilmour my favourite Brits. Great acoustic players.

Claptons stuff with Cream brilliant. Then when he started to sober up he delivered bland tosh from the mid 70s onwards. Great vocalist though.

Big fan of Knopfler also in the 80s. George Harrison hugely underrated.

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:22 am

EVH is as you say, supremely talented and hugely infuential from the 80s onwards. He's also probably the hands down winner in talent vs poor song discography, Van Halen as a collective song producing team are incredibly weak. Maybe Vai edges him as his stuff is completly unlistenable.

CrazyIslander · Post by **CrazyIslander** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:25 am

Hendrix
Hammett
Knopfler
Page
May
Sambora
Santana

Newsome · Post by **Newsome** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:32 am

Gilmour
Hendrix
Randy Rhoads
Mark Knopfler
Buddy Guy
Van Halen

vh5150 · Post by **vh5150** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:39 am

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 8:22 am EVH is as you say, supremely talented and hugely infuential from the 80s onwards. He's also probably the hands down winner in talent vs poor song discography, Van Halen as a collective song producing team are incredibly weak. Maybe Vai edges him as his stuff is completly unlistenable.

EVH was a brilliant song writer in my opinion. And the mega success of his band suggests plenty of people got it. So melodic and his combo with Ted Templeman was a winner. He sometimes is unfairly tainted with by having prize clown David Lee Roth fronting the band. But EVH was prolific, an American National Treasure and one of rocks most important muso’s ...ever.
Vai is a fabulous player ... a real guitarists guitarist.

I thought Frampton was bloody good as well.

Phredd · Post by **Phredd** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:20 am

My out and out favourites both rhythm guitarists:
Bruce Welch
Malcolm Young

Of the lead variety:
Angus
Gilmour
May

However my guilty secret is someone who was one of the original rock guitarists, who had/has a unique sound, albeit a simple, but precise, sound
Duane Eddy

Mick Mannock · Post by **Mick Mannock** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:28 am

puku wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:41 am Better with examples of their work, no?

IMHO, the best exponent of electric blues Stevie Ray Vaughn. Texas Flood.

The guy could sing too.

Good call.

Not so well-known, but Pat Travers deserves a mention IMO.

C69 · Post by **C69** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:45 am

No mention of Alex Lifeson?

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:51 am

C69 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:45 am No mention of Alex Lifeson?

Much like Neil Peart, although he was really atop the many great modern drummers, a shame he was in Rush with Geddy Lee.

Fruit and Nutt · Post by **Fruit and Nutt** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:57 am

Not much love for B.B King in this thread?

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:57 am

Quite a few talents whose bands just never produced much great stuff. Steve Lukather is a beast player and arranger, but aside from a few 80s anthems, Toto weren’t that good. Great session players mind you. Paul Gilbert could play the pants off most players but he was a founding member of Mr fucking Big.

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:59 am

Fruit and Nutt wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:57 am Not much love for B.B King in this thread?

I think we’re all thinking rock in the modern sense rather than blues. He’s incredible along with so many other blues greats.

Fruit and Nutt · Post by **Fruit and Nutt** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:03 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:59 am
Fruit and Nutt wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:57 am Not much love for B.B King in this thread?

I think we’re all thinking rock in the modern sense rather than blues. He’s incredible along with so many other blues greats.

Rock is just blues with shouting and a drummer.

C69 · Post by **C69** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 12:20 pm

Tbh a lot of threads lile these tend to vongregate around the guitarists people are familiar with ergo famous.

I am sure that there a re lots of others not particularly famous that more knowledgable people than myself will have heard about.
Probably session musicians that those in the industry know about.

ScarfaceClaw · Post by **ScarfaceClaw** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 1:18 pm

Womack.

https://youtu.be/MmyYa8X6Kcs

grievous · Post by **grievous** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 2:38 pm

Gilmour
May
Knofler
Manzanera
Angus Young

There is a whole sub set below these guys

A5D5E5 · Post by **A5D5E5** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:16 pm

Arbitrary white guy who was popular in the 70s
Arbitrary white guy who was popular in the 60s and 70s
Arbitrary white guy who was popular in the 70s
Arbitrary white guy who was popular in the 80s
Token black guy who was popular in the 60s
Arbitrary white guy who was popular in the 80s

It is almost as if the forum is populated by a bunch of middle aged men who think music stopped when they turned 40.

A5D5E5 · Post by **A5D5E5** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:19 pm

Flametop · Post by **Flametop** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:20 pm

These lists always divide people over what the best means in terms of guitar playing.

Technical ability, riff composition, guitar part arrangers, ambient playing, ability to compose/play guitar parts that the song needs, taking the instrument in a never been done before direction, pioneering use of effects/discoverer of new sounds/textures/tones.

I love different guitarists for very different reasons and comparing what they do is often futile.
Top of my head and forgetting loads..,

EVH,
The Edge
Mark Knophler
Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Slash
Gilmour

In terms of talent, technique and taste (with varying degrees depending on the player I’d say I’d I listen to MK and The Edge the most. Good songwriting, well written guitar parts and giving the songs what they need.

But neither would be considered pyro guitarists though mostly well respected.

Luciano · Post by **Luciano** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:33 pm

6? OK, I will give it an improvised try:

Hendrix
Buckethead (Don't know him? Shame on you - GoT style)

Gilmore
Adrian Smith (Maiden and Dickinson solo)
Blackmore (in Purple, not his solo stuff about fairies)
Frusciante (RHCP and solo)

(Cheating

) Honorable Mentions:
- Dave Murray (the other great of Maiden)
- EVH: was a great innovator, but I can barely listen to the pop music of VH.
- Iommi: for turning a personal tragedy into the development of a completely different sound.
- May: unique sound, and incredible human being.
- Steve Morse, or how to actually replace the irreplaceable Blackmore.
- Satriani / Vai / Gilbert: great technical players, with some amazing songs.
- Angus and Malcom Young: the gods of traditional RNR.
- Slash and Izzy Stradlin: for giving the world AFD and UYI I and II.
- Morello: the guitarist that wanted to become a DJ.

Dishonorable Mentions:
- Malmsteen: great technical player, boring and pretentious music, but that lead a musical trend.

Short Man Syndrome · Post by **Short Man Syndrome** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:52 pm

Steve Lukather - although that kind of nudges us towards fusion... but Luke could be the most naturally gifted musician to pick up a guitar.

Monk Zombie · Post by **Monk Zombie** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:01 pm

No mention of Carlos Santana ?

Jay Cee Gee · Post by **Jay Cee Gee** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:54 pm

Monk Zombie wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 4:01 pm No mention of Carlos Santana ?

I remember in the late 90's it was announced he was going to do a tour of NZ and a girl I know legitimately thought it was going to be a musical duo of Carlos Spencer & Tana Umaga - "Carlos and Tana".

But then the same girl watched the Sixth Sense and didn't realise Bruce Willis was a ghost.

mr bungle · Post by **mr bungle** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:04 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 7:04 am The best is Hendrix, all incredibly subjective of course.

My favourites to listen to in no particular order;

Neil Young
Adam Franklin
Larry Lalonde
George Harrison
Buzz Osborne
Duane Denison
Jonny Greenwood
Steve Gunn
John Frusciante (Mother’s Milk / BSSM)
Josh Homme
Mark Knopfler
Dean Ween
Slash (Appetite)
East Bay Ray
Billy Gibbons
Billy Corgan
Graham Coxon
Adam Jones
Jim Martin
Angus Young
Trey Spruance
MacKaye/Picciotto - Fugazi
Moore/Ranaldo - Sonic Youth

I’m sure there’s a shitload to add.

How could I forget Robbie Kreiger, I love that quirkiest of players. What a band. Blues guitar meets classical keys meets jazz drummer then add Morrison.

Laurent · Post by **Laurent** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:12 pm

SRV
Rory Gallagher
Jimy Hendrix
Prince
Paul Personne

Bindi · Post by **Bindi** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 10:57 pm

Tash Sultana
Kaki King
Gina Gleeson

Whatever · Post by **Whatever** » Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:11 pm

mr bungle wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:59 am
Fruit and Nutt wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:57 am Not much love for B.B King in this thread?

I think we’re all thinking rock in the modern sense rather than blues. He’s incredible along with so many other blues greats.

Many years ago I attended an Eric Clapton concert at the Royal Albert Hall, where he brought out Robert Cray, then Buddy Guy and finally BB King.

They could all play a bit. Having all of them out there together, totally unexpected, was fantastic.