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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I saw Vai Twice,once with DLR and another time solo. I saw Belew with King Crimson that was a night to remember. I never had the luxury to see Frank. That would have been something. As amazing as he was as a guitarist he probably would have made a better president.
John McLaughlin but I've got to add both Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp of Crimson fame are incredible.
just about all my favorites have been mentioned - usually more than once. since fripp and belew have been mentioned as a pair and tom verlaine solo - how about verllaine and richard lloyd? on the one ocassion i saw the band, i thought lloyd stole the show.

in a similar context, the one name i'm surprised to find unmentioned is david hidalgo. whether playing a traditional electric solo, some bizarre acoustic mexican stringed device of indeterminate genus, or palying alongside other guitars when the fellow lobos join in, hidalgo is a riveting player.