I dunno anymore, after listening to some of the old Les Paul stuff. Totally changed my opinion as to what all constitutes a "good" guitarist.
No way in hell. Sorry if that sounds blasphemy but no one can tell me that SRV was better than Hendrix and I respectfully disagree with you, rimrocker, on Clapton. Talk about going to hell and back - that would describe Eric Clapton's career in a nutshell. I think dying tragically like SRV did has only heightened his mystique and especially considering he was still on top. Those of you who don't own "Blow by Blow" by Jeff Beck - do yourself a favor and pick it up when you get a chance. Then you will see what I am saying about Beck.
Eddie is actually playing pretty well on the current tour. Check the You Tube videos out there. He seems to have made a full recovery from...whatever was wrong with him a few years ago... However, I'm going to have to go with Billy Gibbons.
all music has its place. It's about conveying honesty and emotion, in my opinion. But if I had to choose the best guitar player on the planet from a technical perspective it really isn't even close. Pat Metheny.
Blow by Blow is a sick album. I agree with you about SRV. He's great no doubt, but he doesn't even make my top 10. Same thing with Clapton.
was wondering when someone was going to mention gibbons. hendrix even said gibbons was an influence of his. i'd go with Clapton though.
For my money, Clapton is #1. For how great all of those other guys are, their talents really don't apply to more than just the genre they helped define. Clapton could be a contributing artist to virtually any album ever produced cause he is a musician first, guitarist second. Which, strangely, puts him in a class all his own.
if you say so... I view his playing as fairly limited and his vocals as fairly terrible. Good at what he does though - which is why music is more than just technical ability.
one extra beer and one more toke and he would be just fine with them Although just being loud was not his thing
To me he is an even better singer than he is a guitarist. Tell me, what of Clapton have you listened to?
I've listened to most all of it and he is the sure hand technical master, mostly blues/rock but definately very strong and controlled on the fretboard. There are many faster and louder but few as accurate. I rate him a little farther down because he seemed not as progressive as others. But a great rock guitarist.
I voted for Page, but I'm impossibly biased when it comes to Led Zeppelin. IMO, those guy can do no wrong. Also IMO, Tony Iommi doesn't get nearly enough credit for his talent and influence. I just wanted to mention him because he deserves it. And I can't leave out Dimebag, either.
Okay I know there have been other great guitarist, so I am going to pull a name out of left field and say Joe Maphis. He is probably one of the fastest Guitarist ever, if not the fastest. Get his Fire on the Strings CD and you'll see for yourself.
I'm confused by the criteria people are judging on. Being able to play fast, or loud, or being the most popular, best selling, highest grossing tour, imo, are not the best criteria.. Also, if you don't play guitar, I have a really hard time seeing how someone's opinion can be really all that accurate. (not being a dick, just honest here)
Yngwie Malmsteen is another one who doesn't get enough love. This guy is just sick: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2cm-w62o9o8"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2cm-w62o9o8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> Arpeggios from hell: <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aS_IYe5JTZ4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aS_IYe5JTZ4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I've heard everything he's ever done. My favorite is the From the Cradle album and the stuff with Blind Faith. Cream is OK. Technical isn't a term I would use to describe his guitar playing. While my Guitar Gently Weeps was excellent. Sorry, Clapton isn't God. And in regards to being able to play all styles, if all styles are limited to blues and rock then yes - he can play them all. Technically - someone like Pat Metheny or Mike Stern can play circles around all of those guys. That's why it is so important to remember that that isn't what music is about. It is about emotion. That is why different people have different favorites as different emotions and expression appeal in different ways to people. I like Clapton. I don't consider him to be in the top 50 greatest guitar players of all time. and he's a fairly horrible singer but he has improved.
