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Who is your overall favorite guitarist?

At 44 years of age, I personally feel fortunate to have lived in an era along with some of the finest guitarists who have ever lived. I have always had an overwhelming love of music. As I look back to my earlier years of music appreciation (I took formal piano training for 17 years) I remember how my instructor would suggest exposing myself to the many different styles and disciplines of music.

These were such valuable words of wisdom. Considering the fact that this suggestion, more or less, forced me to be more open to musicians other than those that played in strictly rock and roll bands.

Wow, was I surprised to find that I could be as entertained by Chet Atkins and Les Paul as I could be by Ritchie Blackmore or Carlos Santana. Just think about some of the finest from our time. Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Steve Howe, Al DiMeola, the list could seem almost endless. All such incredible musicians.

Although it's very hard to pick one person or style in particular, let's remember the key words, "overall favorite".
I would probably have to say that my overall favorite would have to be Steve Morse (from Dixie Dregs fame).

Who is your favorite?
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bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,858 posts
 
You're spot on Marty. There's the story about Sinatra introducing a song during a live show, calling it one of the greatest love songs ever written, attributing "Something" to L & M. Because it's a Beatles song he naturally assumed they wrote it. George is like Rodney Dangerfield.

I also love George's humility; when he would meet starstruck musicians he would say to them "Hey, I'm just like you. I just got lucky." Contrast that with Lennon's pronouncements that he was an "Artist". You're supposed to leave that to other people to say, John. Geez, have a little class, will ya?

There's another little guitar break (as opposed to a "solo") I have always loved, and which I would not be surprised to learn was George's model for his in "Nowhere Man". It's James Burton's in Ricky Nelson's "Young World". Same deal, just playing the melody, but it sounds SO great. And with tone to die for---the best I've ever heard!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,858 posts
 
Just yesterday I learned that Bill Pitcock IV died of Cancer back in 2011 at age 58. He was the guitarist in The Dwight Twilley Band, and played the great flurry-of-notes break in the middle of "I'm on Fire". Give it a listen---I'll guarantee you've never heard anything like it! His set-up was a Gibson ES335 directly into (no pedals) a stacked pair of Fender Deluxe Reverb amps with a digital delay between them. His tone was superb!
gareneau
110 posts
 
I'm on Fire is one fantastic tune. I remember hearing it on the slopes at Whistler mountain while skiing. What a riff!
loomisjohnson
1,949 posts
 
"i'm on fire" is classic, but the real killer on that record is the guitar solo on "sincerely", which was played by roger linn, who designed all those pedals and electronics.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
100% surely, the most under appreciated little guitar break ever:

Carl Hogan's intro on "Ain't That Just Like A Woman" by Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five. I can't link from this device, but check out the studio (not live where it's played by a horn) version on YouTube. I think you'll all recognize it pretty quickly.
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