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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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onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
Frogman, check your link. I always liked the foxes on the trampoline.
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
I think Chuck gets too little credit from the average person and average guitarist for his contributions. I have no doubt that folks like Keith and Dave appreciate him. I'm sure he was their idol. Chuck's songs are mini-wonders. Each one tells a complete story in two minutes with lots of catchy scraps of singing and playing. Who knows what he could have done had his career not been interrupted by his incarceration.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I kinda take both sides on this point.

Check this thread. How many mentions of Chuck do you see? (I think I mentioned him, so I'll pat myself on the back.) That near absence from a pretty savvy 'goner thread on this very subject makes him under-appreciated, no?

Conversely, Chuck is widely admired (and often revered) by those who play rock music on electric guitar. A large number of the '60s first-gen guitar heros cite him as a major influence. My favorite quote on this subject came from George Thorogood (who only did covers, not originals, for many, many years). When an interviewer asked him why he didn't write his own songs, GT replied:

"Because Chuck Berry has already written all of the great rock n roll songs."

Still, the non-playing fans of guitar music tend to overlook him somewhat. So, depending on the crowd you're polling, he may or may not qualify as under-appreciated.

Just my take.
loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 
i generally agree with marty (which is usually good policy). i think chuck berry is probably the second (or third or fourth) greatest lyricist ever, and his influence on other guitarists is unquestionable. personally, however, i never really dug his guitar style--to me it's repetitive and narrow, and not in the hypnotic bo diddley way. a lot of folks, myself included, always believed that his piano player was the real defining element of his sound.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Chuck's style is SO iconic---it IS Rock 'n' Roll guitar! And though his playing is pretty basic, not requiring a lot of chops, remember the scene in "Hail Hail Rock & Roll" where Keith is playing the guitar part in "Oh Carol" (I think it was), which starts with the strings "bent" up for the first note? Keith mistakenly plays the strings unbent, then bends them up to the note. Chuck repeatedly shows Keith how to play the part correctly, and Keith just can't do it! Rock 'n' Roll may not be "hard" to play, but it's hard to play "right"! Dave Edmunds has mastered Chuck's style, and there are many others who obviously use it as the base for their style, Keith being number one.
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