Whose The Best Guitar Player Ever?

[gwmac]

Chet Atkins deserves consideration

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I think George Lynch is the most overrated "shredder" of the 80's and 90's. I can't think of one song of his that moved me. He's often the guest guitarist on That Metal Show and every time he leaves me scratching my head as to why he's on tv. I saw Dokken around 1988 and remember being so excited when George came out on the stage. Then I sort of wondered why I had thought he was great. I just don't get it. His solos do nothing for me and don't sound that impressive. Seems like a nice enough guy and definitely looks the part. Otherwise, huge overrate.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

^^^He definitely makes the list - imho


Edit: Chet Atkins I mean

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Reinforces everything I already thought of him. Boring, underwhelming.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by kaisen

(Boring video of buff guy playing God-know-what)

That's a good example of why most metal does nothing for me. Hard to find any sort of catchy tune in that. It's busy, but it never really goes anywhere. Not exactly soulful, either. It ain't about speed for me, it's about evoking a feeling, an emotion, something...

JR

[911Freak]

George Lynch - Tierra del fuego - YouTube

[Rick Lee]

Check out Greg Howe. I knew Greg when I was a kid and have recently been in touch with his mgr. I'm hoping to reconnect with him at NAMM in a few weeks. He started out as a VH clone, played with Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, those kinds of acts to make money and plays this kind of stuff below for his own thing. Amazing player.

[jcommin]

I looked thru all 16 pages of this post and all that have been mentioned are tops. Hendrix is amazing. I just listened to "Machine Gun" awesome. There are creative guys and there are pure technicians, Hendrix probably both. Musicians, like artists have a sense of style and that is what makes them great. we wouldn't have a debate if they all sounded the same.

so............ let me throw out (2) more.

Steve Cropper - Booker T and the MG's Green Onions - Steve Cropper & Donald 'Duck' Dunn - YouTube. Donald Dunn not a bad base player either.

Joe Bonamassa - blue guitarist - he is or will be great.

Joe Bonamassa - Blues Deluxe (2007) - YouTube

[craigster59]

Maybe not the best, but deserves mention....

[69 Soft Targa]

Originally Posted by jamesnmlaw

He invented the riff and preserved the world as we know it.

He also had that time travel thing going for him which allowed him to play a '58 Gibson in 1955.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by 911Freak

George Lynch - Tierra del fuego - YouTube

Great music. George Lynch can play guitar, I've always liked his tone, rythym and intonation. He's not "the best", but I like it.

[Aragorn]

What I have enjoyed about reading this thread from start to finish is seeing some familiar faces that I like, listening to some great guitarists that I didn't know play at their peak, and seeing how others perceive "your" favorite guitarist.

While I wouldn't call these guys the best overall, I feel they were the best in their genre and used to and still listen to them alot:
Warren DeMartini (RATT)
Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)(III sides to Every Story is a great album)
And the list could go on.

[Rapewta]

I was stranded in Alaska for a year and "Hot Tuna", Jorma and Jack lifted my spirits. That was a million years ago but stuck with me.
You have to recognize Carlos Santana as a person that can talk through his
fretboard more so than anyone I can immediately think of.

[proffighter]

Check out this version, in mutch better mood, especially at the second half and end:

George Lynch - Mr Scary || Detroit 1991 HQ - YouTube

[911dean]

I don't think there's a best guitar player. I definitely have quite a few faves though.
Here are some in no particular order:
Earl Hooker
Freddie King
Danny Gatton
Roy Buchanan
Duane Allman
Redd Volkaert
Robben Ford
Kenny Greenberg
Eric Clapton
Michael Bloomfield
Matt "Guitar" Murphy
Johnny Winter
Rory Gallagher

These are just some

[Cajundaddy]

Music is art and there is no "best".

Who inspires me:
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, BB King, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Pass, Charlie Christian, James Burton, Segovia, Satch, Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Slash, Guthrie Govan, SRV, Eric Clapton, Robbie Kreiger, Jimmy Page, Larry Carlton, Carlos Santana, Peter Green and many others.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

I am certain these two gentlemen have been mentioned previously - George Benson & Earl Klugh - Cajundaddy has quite a few of my favourites covered - gotta add Mark Knopfler

[black73]

One of the best of the new generation is Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.

[Don Ro]

If, rather than "Who's the best?", the question was 'who do you enjoy listening to?', then I like just about everyone listed in this thread - mood-dependent, of course.
I also like the style of John Fahey, Mississippi John Hurt, & Leo Kottke.
.
Oh, and Derek Trucks.
.
I like to listen to guitarists where I can imagine playing what they're playing.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Great music. George Lynch can play guitar, I've always liked his tone, rythym and intonation. He's not "the best", but I like it.

Do you play guitar, kaisen?