The Greatest Rock Guitarist of All Time

[Dorkandproudofit]

This arose out of yet another pointless argument between me and my friends. Among the following, who's the greatest? Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, or Eddie? These are the ones my friends and I went down to, but as this is a large community and not five guys drunk on Kahlua and arguing whose solo like, really fucking rocked, I'll add in an "other" category.

Who is the greatest Rock guitarist of all time, and why?

[alienmastermind]

Picked Eddie. Because while Jimi did things other people wouldn't, Eddie does things other people can't.

[boratika]

Eddie does things other people can't.

Doesn't necessarily mean those things are worth doing.

[Dorkandproudofit]

I concur with the Jimi notion, though Brian "Brimi" (his actual nickname in HS) is a close second.

[Squidbot]

Man, I am SOOOO torn by this, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Angus Young.
Flame on!
It's just a personal preference. All of those listed in the poll are awesome, and my initial reaction was for hendrix based purely on his collosal influence on guitar work.

[Suave Peanut]

What about Vai? Satriani?

[Sandman]

Dimebag Darrell of Pantera......R.I.P.

Cemetery Gates (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyczwqRD2NI)

[Savok]

I think Hendrix would of become unarguably the greatest had he lived, the guitar had become one of his organs as it was. Certainly he knew how to make each note count. Page on the other hand makes a lot of mistakes, but this is rock not classical, making mistakes because you're attempting the impossibly awesome is pure rock and roll.

At the heart of rock though, is the blues, and Jimi could seriously play the blues.

wCQBbgb_Lvo

[fitbabits]

I'm not voting for one simple reason - "all time" has not yet passed.

[divinechaos]

Eddie Van Halen could do things that Eddie Van Halen can't pull off now. Have you seen him live? He's fucking terrible. So no, it ain't Eddie. Yes, he pretty much invented finger tapping but no.

Hendrix? He was pretty intense and came up with a lot of awesome songs but again, he was fucking sloppy live. And you can hate me for this but he pretty much butchered the U.S. Anthem. But I guess anybody that can play something so badly and make it seem like that was his purpose and make an audience full of pot-heads love it deserves some respect.

Jimmy Page is another guitarist that was incredibly sloppy and even is today. But he wrote some amazing riffs, and while some were simple *like Rock 'n Roll* some were just so fuckin' heavy * Immigrant song*. Still, his sloppyness and lack of creativity when solo-ing doesn't make him the best.

So Bryan May is the greatest Rock guitarist of all time. Look up ANY live show and tell me if you can hear him make a mistake. Not only that but the transitions between his solos and the rhythm parts are flawless. He is incredibly talented both with a guitar and the piano. He even played some of Freddie's parts live. He also wrote some AMAZING solos and some of the most memorable. While all these guitarists have solos that you'll remember forever *Hot for Teacher, Stairway to Heaven, Foxy Lady* only one solo stands the test of time *Bohemian Rhapsody*.

I voted Brian May not only for those reasons but also the fact that he is STILL kicking ass and STILL isn't sloppy, something that all the other guitarists from the time seem to constantly be doing.

[violent]

I voted Brian May not only for those reasons but also the fact that he is STILL kicking ass and STILL isn't sloppy, something that all the other guitarists from the time seem to constantly be doing.

There is this dude named Eric Clapton you should look up.

[CES]

I voted Brian May not only for those reasons but also the fact that he is STILL kicking ass and STILL isn't sloppy, something that all the other guitarists from the time seem to constantly be doing.

I'll have to agree that Brian May is still one of the best live guitarists playing today but to be honest, there's too many great guitarists for me to pick one.

Satch, Vai, May, EVH, Hendrix, Clapton. All master guitarists.

One of my all time favourites is sadly forgotten these days: Bo Diddley, the man most responsible for creating the Rock genre.

[CptTripps]

What is the basis of great? Great innovation (hendrix), great feeling (Page), great writing (May), or all three (Gilmore). Too much to vote for any one guitarist as I really respect all the musicians listed.

For example, if you love the technical aspect of then you can watch the Children of Bodom guitarist swap solo's with the keyboardist all day long... that get's boring to me, but technically it is amazing. A great guitarist does not even have to solo in my opinion if he is writing catchy songs with feeling, I think Jack White is a good example of a well rounded guitarist who although can solo, is not a shredder and writes very original music.

I think all the listed guitarist are amazing as well as Gilmore, Dimebag, Rhoads and Wylde. Just for different reasons.

[divinechaos]

There is this dude named Eric Clapton you should look up.

Trust me, if Clapton was on this list I'd have a hard time deciding between him and May.

[Ancalagon]

Apparently Freddie Mercury wrote a lot of Queen's music with a piano in mind, even though he knew May would have to play it on a guitar.

Brian May is pretty good, tough call I guess. Best ever guitarist in what? Softcore rock? Hard rock? Metal? blues? so many different uses for a guitar, think its kinda pointless to ask who the best is.

[Thanasimos]

Lots of respect for Eddie Van Halen but none for Eddie Hazel? Y'all are doing it wrong.

For me it would be a tossup between Hendrix, Hazel and May. Hazel has influenced me the most, though.

[CES]

For example, if you love the technical aspect of then you can watch the Children of Bodom guitarist swap solo's with the keyboardist all day long... that get's boring to me, but technically it is amazing. A great guitarist does not even have to solo in my opinion if he is writing catchy songs with feeling, I think Jack White is a good example of a well rounded guitarist who although can solo, is not a shredder and writes very original music.


That sort of touches on another thing that makes a guitarist great to me: a meaningful solo. To explain, while it's an amazing show of skill to rattle off a 30 second tapping solo, a solo that follows the main structure of the song is always going to sound better to me.

[Thanasimos]

That sort of touches on another thing that makes a guitarist great to me: a meaningful solo. To explain, while it's an amazing show of skill to rattle off a 30 second tapping solo, a solo that follows the main structure of the song is always going to sound better to me.

If you have not heard it before, you must absolutely listen to Maggot Brain, for which Eddie Hazel is responsible. It takes ten minutes total (and about a minute to get going), but it's worth it, I promise you, if you want a solo that's more than just dexterity.

Gentlemen, this is why I love Eddie Hazel, and would probably vote for him were he included:
Jrvn8QoYcGI

[CES]

If you have not heard it before, you must absolutely listen to Maggot Brain, for which Eddie Hazel is responsible. It takes ten minutes total (and about a minute to get going), but it's worth it, I promise you, if you want a solo that's more than just dexterity.


That's the type of song that could only really come from the 1970's. Lots of feedback, insanely long songs and ridiculous guitar solos.

[Nuggsy]

Not that it matters, but this reminded me of an old, supposedly true, story that I heard awhile ago.

Jimmy Paige and Eric Clapton are at a bar in England having a discussion over who the best guitar player in the world is. They're both arguing for themselves and Paul McCartney shows up and chimes in. There's a band that begins playing in the bar and the minute the lead guitarist begins playing, the discussion stops. Paul McCartney turns to both Paige and Clapton, points at the young man on the stage and says: "We're all wrong. He's the best guitar player in the world."

The man playing the guitar was Jimi Hendrix before he made it.

I don't really have much of an opinion on the discussion, but I've always like that story.

[RandoM51]

Megadave. :)

[jeffbax]

If you have not heard it before, you must absolutely listen to Maggot Brain, for which Eddie Hazel is responsible. It takes ten minutes total (and about a minute to get going), but it's worth it, I promise you, if you want a solo that's more than just dexterity.

Gentlemen, this is why I love Eddie Hazel, and would probably vote for him were he included:
Jrvn8QoYcGI

You beat me to it.

While Hazel might not be the single "greatest" ever player, Maggot Brain is definitely the single greatest solo I've ever heard by a large margin. Its story is no less epic:
According to legend, George Clinton, under the influence of LSD, told Eddie Hazel to play the first half of the song like his mother had just died and to play the second half as if he had found out she was alive (other variants of the story suggest that he was simply told to play as if he had found his mother dead.) The result was the 10-minute guitar solo for which Hazel is most fondly remembered by many music critics and fans. Though several other musicians began the track playing, Clinton soon realized the power of Hazel's solo and faded them out so that the focus would be on Hazel's guitar (the band can only truly be heard during the end of the song, and even then, it is barely audible.) The entire track was recorded in one take.

[Thanasimos]

You beat me to it.

While Hazel might not be the single "greatest" ever player, Maggot Brain is definitely the single greatest solo I've ever heard by a large margin. Its story is no less epic:

Glad I'm not the only voice of reason around here -- just the fastest! ;)

[Wasson_]

yeah, it's in no way Brian May, he just has the coolest story behind his guitar...

z_lwocmL9dQ
this is pretty god damn awesome. Complete with power slide**

[violent]

I could totally do that, I just don't want to.

[Rakael]

No mention of Slash? I know he may not stack up to some of those mentioned, but he is damn sure better than some others mentioned as well.

[Rakael]

If you have not heard it before, you must absolutely listen to Maggot Brain, for which Eddie Hazel is responsible. It takes ten minutes total (and about a minute to get going), but it's worth it, I promise you, if you want a solo that's more than just dexterity.

Gentlemen, this is why I love Eddie Hazel, and would probably vote for him were he included:
Jrvn8QoYcGI

That is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Now if only I could still smoke weed and hear that the way it is supposed to be heard.

[CES]

No mention of Slash? I know he may not stack up to some of those mentioned, but he is damn sure better than some others mentioned as well.

Slash is a superb guitarist (anyone that can shred like that on a Les Paul is damn good) but he doesn't really bring anything new to guitar playing unlike most of the guitarists mentioned in this thread.

[Sandman]

If you want to talk about doing something new and different look no further than Tom Morello. He may not be the best soloist ever but he does shit with a guitar that no one else has ever and probably will ever duplicate.

[Thanasimos]

That is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Now if only I could still smoke weed drop acid and hear that the way it is supposed to be heard.

I'm sorry, you were saying? ;)

[SilentScreams]

Kirk Hammett.

*Runs and hides*
*Re-emerges from hiding to make his argument*

I know he's not the most technically sound player out there. He's not the fastest, the loudest or the most innovative. But he's played some of the best sounding guitar work out there, and in music...well, nothing else matters.

[Sandman]

Kirk Hammett.

*Runs and hides*
*Re-emerges from hiding to make his argument*

I know he's not the most technically sound player out there. He's not the fastest, the loudest or the most innovative. But he's played some of the best sounding guitar work out there, and in music...well, nothing else matters.

Even I didn't say Kirk Hammett. If you are going to look at him you might as well look at those that influenced him such as Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn and even the guy he formed Exodus with : Gary Holt.

[SilentScreams]

Even I didn't say Kirk Hammett. If you are going to look at him you might as well look at those that influenced him such as Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn and even the guy he formed Exodus with : Gary Holt.

It's all personal preference. For me, he's the best.
Nobody else named in this thread has played anything that sounds half as good to me as some of Kirk's stuff.

As I said, if we're going on technical proficiency or innovation then yeah, he's far from the best, but I don't care about any of that. I listen to music for the way it sounds, and Kirk sounds awesome both live and in the studio.

[pomeroy]

Unanswerable question, to be honest.

For shits and giggles, I'll throw out Dick Dale.

[Virtual Pariah]

If you want to talk about doing something new and different look no further than Tom Morello. He may not be the best soloist ever but he does shit with a guitar that no one else has ever and probably will ever duplicate.

Actually, I think Morello's non-electric work is better than his electric work.

To me the list is off a bit.
I never got into Hendrix's studio work. His setting was live.

Of the list here, I'd say Page.
He brought something to the table that allowed EVH and the others to be heard.

Off the list you are missing:
Dale
Knopfler
Gilmour
Harrison
Guy
Clapton
Beck
Presley, or more precisely Scotty Moore
Atkins
Paul
Johnson
King
Segovia

Music is so malleable and fluid that techniques from one area just gradually moved into the next. The EVH stuff was originally a classical technique that Eddie tried on electric.

I try to love it all, but tend to blank out once we get into drop z, 3 and a half step down stuff.

[Rakael]

I'm sorry, you were saying? ;)

Very true on the acid part. Thing is, acid and I don't get along. Weed does just enough to make things really fucking cool without setting off a buzzsaw in my brain. Maybe shrooms though.

[BabyJesus]

Other:

The super underrated Prince.

then...

Hendrix
Eddie VH
Clapton
Slash
Randy Rhodes

[johnperkins21]

If you want to talk about doing something new and different look no further than Tom Morello. He may not be the best soloist ever but he does shit with a guitar that no one else has ever and probably will ever duplicate.

I was going to say pretty much the same thing. Dude uses a ton of pedals to get his sounds, but the innovation is there and his sound is very unique.

Like a lot of things, music is subjective. It would be hard to vote for a guy as the best ever if you don't really like his music. And anyone you're a fan of automatically gets favoritism.

There isn't a "greatest rock guitarist of all time," there's just a lot of different "favorite rock guitarists of all time."

[muddi900]

This Poll is full of fail for not including Steve Vai.

[Vandabo]

That sort of touches on another thing that makes a guitarist great to me: a meaningful solo. To explain, while it's an amazing show of skill to rattle off a 30 second tapping solo, a solo that follows the main structure of the song is always going to sound better to me.

Exactly. Super fast shredding and whatnot are never really impressive to me, but listening to Clapton doing the solo work in While My Guitar Gently Weeps is just incredible.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps from Concert for George (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32017529)

I also really enjoy Pete Townshend, but I don't think I'd call him the best ever.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

While probably not the most innovative guitar player, my favorite guitarist is Paul Waggoner of Between The Buried and Me fame. The stuff he writes flows so well and he plays it absolutely perfectly live. It's not shreddy, it's just great stuff.

yQps1QFVZME

[Karak]

People will laugh. But since I have not heard many of those on the list, I have to go with whom I have listened to.
'Steamin Steve Clark' from Def Leppard is still my favorite.
I am sure no one thinks he ranks anywhere near some of these guys. But seeing him in concert 3-4 times and hearing him and talking to him personally he was a fucking awesome guy(when not drunk obviously) and to me and only in my opinion one of the most pleasurable to listen to.

[Virtual Pariah]

Exactly. Super fast shredding and whatnot are never really impressive to me, but listening to Clapton doing the solo work in While My Guitar Gently Weeps is just incredible.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps from Concert for George (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32017529)

I also really enjoy Pete Townshend, but I don't think I'd call him the best ever.

To me it's all relative.
Some songs work with a flutter of notes and some sweeping arpeggios.
Others need a good set of blues bends and some swing.

Steve Clark was actually a kicking player. High and Dry still has awesome vibe.

I don't understand people who think that there had to be an either/or scenario. They are all valid techniques that can be used by a great player to evoke emotion.

[Karak]

Steve Clark was actually a kicking player. High and Dry still has awesome vibe.

I don't understand people who think that there had to be an either/or scenario. They are all valid techniques that can be used by a great player to evoke emotion.

Agreed.
I just know that people would rarely ever mention him. One of the last song bits he wrote and it got released late was a solo on "White Lighting". That solo is one of the sadest things I have heard even though it doesn't try to be. Every time I hear it I just get quiet and each time I find something new.

[Rock Bandit]

Onqzua4bRHY

[CES]

Exactly. Super fast shredding and whatnot are never really impressive to me, but listening to Clapton doing the solo work in While My Guitar Gently Weeps is just incredible.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps from Concert for George (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=32017529)

I also really enjoy Pete Townshend, but I don't think I'd call him the best ever.

I do have massive respect for anyone who can shred on a guitar, that takes much skill and practice.

This has to be my favourite guitar song ever though, it's just a perfect blend of meaningful playing and technical skill.

F4fPv450OYM

[SilentScreams]

Satriani is indeed a God.
Don't go to see him live though. It's a snoozefest.

[CES]

Satriani is indeed a God.
Don't go to see him live though. It's a snoozefest.

Saw him live twice on the past two European tours he did. Have to say, he's one of the few performers who actually got a lot out of the acoustics of the Concert Hall (only VGL had better sound)

I'd say he plays a solid, but bland setlist at the live shows I've seen.

[SilentScreams]

I went to see him once and it was enough. He's amazing no doubt about it but the thing is after a few songs regardless of how good he is, it's just a guy with a guitar.
In the same way that vocals wouldn't work without music, music doesn't work without vocals. Not for a whole concert anyway.

[CES]

I saw Jean Micheal Jarre last year playing all of Oxygene at the same venue as well. Trust me, a concert of instrumental music done right is far from boring.

Admittedly it could be because he had dozens of keyboards on stage from the last 40 years or so. It's funny (and quite impressive) seeing someone run from keyboard to keyboard nailing all the parts perfectly.

[Jason]

This thread reminds me of an article from a few years back that some "music experts" did about who was the greatest guitarist of all time. Bo Diddly won. Eddie Van Halen would have won, but the experts took away 75 points because of who Eddie was married to.

[IIntrude]

The Edge

too short

[Savok]

Q65iSpG1DgQ

[muddi900]

The Edge

too short

He plays the guitar?

[Primus]

Al Di Meola is better than everyone mentioned and still isn't the best.

[Virtual Pariah]

Al Di Meola is better than everyone mentioned and still isn't the best.

Di Meola is awesome, but, I notice he falls into a love hate thing. Same with Holdsworth and Gambale.

Very little middle ground with the people who hear them.

[JayVe]

I'm more a fan of Stevie Ray Vaughn personally, but I want to thank everyone who introduced me to Eddie Hazel's Maggot Brain. I'm grinning ear to ear here.

Oh, and I'm gonna disagree with SilentScreams. I'd love to hear a whole concert of instrumental guitar work. I enjoy hearing people sing without music, and I enjoy music without vocals.

One of my favorite local bands, Might Could, is simply three guys with guitars. No singing. They also play video game music under the name Motherbrain (http://mightcould.nfshost.com/motherbrain.html).

czdaKBl9Rds

[SilentScreams]

To each his own I guess. I have Satriani albums and I do like to listen to them, but only while I'm doing something else like gaming.

[ShivaX]

There is this dude named Eric Clapton you should look up.

And this other dude named Mark Knopfler.

[Virtual Pariah]

I so want to see Mark Knopfler live.
But, not with Emmylou Harris.
All the Roadrunning stunk. IMO.

Also,
Anybody here Like Guthrie Govan?
He's really good.

[JayVe]

To each his own I guess. I have Satriani albums and I do like to listen to them, but only while I'm doing something else like gaming.

Out of curiousity, do you need to be able to understand the words for them to count? For example, when I listen to Satriani, the guitar IS the vocal track to me. I also listen to music from other languages, where I don't understand a single word. In those instances, the human voice is another instrument, simply making notes.

I'm not trying to judge you, but understand. What is it about vocals that you feel is 'necessary'? Is it the sound of a voice, or do you need to understand 'words' for them to count? If a song has a choir singing along, does that count as 'vocals' even though there may be no words?

Personally, I think a lot of stuff like ELO's Fire on High (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfBUVpGvOOs&feature=related) and Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55nAwmVLQSk) are inherently more enjoyable than MANY songs that have lyrics.

Also, there are many examples (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuzc4jgwlT8) of vocals without instruments that work just fine.

CMnRaV8UmCY

[CES]

Personally, I think a lot of stuff like ELO's Fire on High (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfBUVpGvOOs&feature=related) and Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55nAwmVLQSk) are inherently more enjoyable than MANY songs that have lyrics.



Cliffs of Dover is one of those songs you play when someone tells you that guitar playing is a bit boring. Likewise, it's one of the best songs you can listen to while driving anywhere, it's just so damn happy and energetic.

I sometimes wonder why there isn't an entire sub-genre of Rock songs that sound much better when you are driving.

[JayVe]

I sometimes wonder why there isn't an entire sub-genre of Rock songs that sound much better when you are driving.
Yanno, there should be! I have a bunch of songs on my 360 in a playlist called Racing. I use it for all my racing games. Now I need to put Cliffs of Dover in there.

[CES]

Yanno, there should be! I have a bunch of songs on my 360 in a playlist called Racing. I use it for all my racing games. Now I need to put Cliffs of Dover in there.

It's amusing to note that just about every 70's rock anthem seems to make an excellent driving song. You could probably get an entire game soundtrack out of CCR, Tom Petty, Blue Oyster Cult and Wings alone.

Special aside to any Turn10 people who may (never) see this: Put Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song in Forza 3 dammit. It's one of the best rock songs ever.

[JayVe]

My favorite driving song is Golden Earring's Radar Love. Not especially for racing, but rather those late-night highway trips.

[CES]

I'm quite partial to Magic Carpet Ride or Heaven And Hell myself.

[Virtual Pariah]

Flirtin with Disaster. Molly Hatchet
Awesome racing song.
Also, anything by Motorhead.

[CES]

Also, anything by Motorhead.

Quite true, Sex & Death, Bomber and Killed By Death are epic driving songs.

[SilentScreams]

Out of curiousity, do you need to be able to understand the words for them to count? For example, when I listen to Satriani, the guitar IS the vocal track to me. I also listen to music from other languages, where I don't understand a single word. In those instances, the human voice is another instrument, simply making notes.

I'm not trying to judge you, but understand. What is it about vocals that you feel is 'necessary'? Is it the sound of a voice, or do you need to understand 'words' for them to count? If a song has a choir singing along, does that count as 'vocals' even though there may be no words?

I've been to see Rammstein live and obviously I didn't understand a word Till was saying, but it was still a great show, so no I don't need to be able to understand the words.
As you said, the voice is another instrument there.

I guess more than anything, words add meaning to the music.
Imagine Stairway to Heaven without the words...it's good music, but the words take it that extra step from good to great.

[Rock Bandit]

Because of their use in Rock Bands' opening videos Highway Star and Hello There put bad ideas in my head when I'm driving.

And the best live guitar I've seen is Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band. Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt and The Boss all shredding. They did a version of Because The Night where they where just tossing solos back and forth and it was amazing.

[Thanasimos]

In the same way that vocals wouldn't work without music, music doesn't work without vocals. Not for a whole concert anyway.

You, sir, have been going to all the wrong concerts. Get yourself out to a nice instrumental math rock show.

[Savok]

The voice is indeed an instrument, but that also means it can sometimes be replaced.

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[Scull]

When we start talking technique and improvisational talent Django Reinhardt springs to mind.

AEzsPGHsi90

[muddi900]

I guess more than anything, words add meaning to the music.
Imagine Stairway to Heaven without the words...it's good music, but the words take it that extra step from good to great.

When you are talking about words adding meaning to music, Stairway to Heaven is the worst example you could think of.

[JayVe]

Just bumped into this, and thought it was damn cool.

Ddn4MGaS3N4

[Voodoo]

I'm so happy to see other Parliament-Funkadelic fans here. The person whom, in my opinion, is a great guitarist is Prince. Actually, remarkably, he plays bass guitar even better.

[Dorkandproudofit]

One reason I'm sort of regretting my vote is remembering that Brian May pulled this off. No extra guitarists, or prerecorded sections--just him with two separate delays, a swell effect, and his red special. Oh, and using his Ph.D. in physics, he alters the sound of his guitar by moving around in relation to the cord, the guitar, and the amps.

DTWXj448G88

[SilentScreams]

That is pretty amazing.

Edit: And I miss the old Wembley...yes it was a complete and utter toilet, but it was our complete and utter toilet!

[muddi900]

No John Petrucci love?

VECA89Y7XXI

[Dorkandproudofit]

That is pretty amazing.

Edit: And I miss the old Wembley...yes it was a complete and utter toilet, but it was our complete and utter toilet!

Here in Franklin, TN, we had our own landmark... nowhere as big or grand as Wembley, but every bit as loved; The Franklin Cinema, the very first movie theater ever built in the state! It only had two screens and the floor and seats were dirty as hell, but dammit, it was OUR THEATER! HOW DARE THEY CLOSE IT DOWN!!!! HOW DARE THEY!!!!

*stomps off to city hall to protest loudly*

[Rock Bandit]

No John Petrucci love?


No one can forget Petrucci.

SKMYeXkYcgs

[Spockrocket]

As far as most influential guitarists go, I'd have to say Hendrix. My current favorite guitarist, however, is Mr. Michael Angelo Batio primarily because of his dual-guitar antics. I can't say he's the best guitarist ever since that is subjective, but he sounds damn good and is fun to watch.

Of course I've gotta pay my respects to pretty much every guitarist mentioned in this thread, they've all pushed the boundaries of the instrument in their own ways.

[muddi900]

As far as most influential guitarists go, I'd have to say Hendrix. My current favorite guitarist, however, is Mr. Michael Angelo Batio primarily because of his dual-guitar antics. I can't say he's the best guitarist ever since that is subjective, but he sounds damn good and is fun to watch.


Batio is Yngwie Malmstein without the giant asshole for a head.

[CES]

Batio is Yngwie Malmstein without the giant asshole for a head.

And a 4-necked guitar. With all 4 in the same tuning. Kind of misses the point really.

[Virtual Pariah]

And a 4-necked guitar. With all 4 in the same tuning. Kind of misses the point really.

Not really.
Once he gets into the tapping thing, it's cool to watch him switch off from neck to neck.

Any Rick Nielsen love here?

[CES]

Not really.
Once he gets into the tapping thing, it's cool to watch him switch off from neck to neck.

Any Rick Nielsen love here?

A 4-necked guitar is wasted on tapping, even for Batio. Hell, that's not even his strength, it's Alt-picking and sweeping (he is probably the best sweep picker today).

A fine example of what makes him one of the best (has anybody actually posted a video of him playing yet?):

5kFI7lsxUjc

[Rakael]

A 4-necked guitar is wasted on tapping, even for Batio. Hell, that's not even his strength, it's Alt-picking and sweeping (he is probably the best sweep picker today).

A fine example of what makes him one of the best (has anybody actually posted a video of him playing yet?):

5kFI7lsxUjc

The man may be one fuck of a guitarist, on that front I will never disagree. However, that is one SHITTASTIC wig! You would think that mad skills like that could buy you a better wig.

[CES]

The man may be one fuck of a guitarist, on that front I will never disagree. However, that is one SHITTASTIC wig! You would think that mad skills like that could buy you a better wig.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure his mind is still stuck in 1985 with hair like that.

[Virtual Pariah]

A 4-necked guitar is wasted on tapping, even for Batio. Hell, that's not even his strength, it's Alt-picking and sweeping (he is probably the best sweep picker today).

A fine example of what makes him one of the best (has anybody actually posted a video of him playing yet?):

5kFI7lsxUjc

I'll agree that from a playing standpoint the 4 neck is wasted, but, from a showmanship standpoint it's different.

Part of Rock and Roll was/is the sizzle and not just the steak.

As for the mop? Yeah, he looks like one of the Wayouts from the Flintstones. But, the gut he works with for his instructional vids, Doug Marks, has some crazy wig thing going on too.

[Dorkandproudofit]

Dear god. I've found the Triforce of Rock!

BZattOVNOpw

Can it get more awesome than that?

[pomeroy]

Dear god. I've found the Triforce of Rock!

BZattOVNOpw

Can it get more awesome than that?

To quote Patton Oswalt:

IT GETS SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER THAT THAT!

[Dorkandproudofit]

To quote Patton Oswalt:

IT GETS SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER THAT THAT!

Name one thing that could make it more awesome.

One.

[Adam Blue]

Glenn Tipton & K.K. Downing?

[torrefaction]

Poll is a miserable failure without Dimebag. Or Adrian Belew for that matter.

[J Arcane]

Jimi made Voodoo Child. A song that, whenever I hear it, I cannot help but sing in my head every goddammit 20 minutes for a week. So like, I was tempted to give him the win right off the bat.

But then people mentioned Joe Satriani, and not only is he awesome, but I have a strong sentimental connection with his music because of my dad, and how awesome he was. We actually played "Always with me, always with you" at his funeral, and I can't think of a more beautiful and fitting guitar solo for the occasion in the history of music.

Of similar sentimental attachment is this song, which was the last CD my father listened to before he went to the hospital for the last time. I like to think of it as his last message to my brothers and I:

CB17uWuBrL0

And on a less touchy feely note, I'd really like to hear more of this guy:

QOldJqSWQjk

[muddi900]

Poll is a miserable failure without Dimebag.


Dimebag was a less sloppy Kerry King.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Throwing Paul Waggoner into this thread again.

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Capping off a 60 minute musical piece called 'Covers' played straight through with no pauses. Such a great tour to see.