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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Robm321, Yngwei...yikes! Cannot agree more. Generally at least for me, I really don't appreciate those who are technically proficient or even brilliant but then insist on showing off with just fast runs on scales without real musical and emotional artistry. In a way though perhaps not a composer of the song itself per se, all do "compose" or construct their solos...I pick a well constructed solo over fast runs any day...not that the ability to play fast in a technically way is a good thing: u just need to when & how...eg. Alan Holdsworth.

Similiarly though different there are some well regarded guitarists that for some reason don't resonate with me. May just be a taste thing....Al Dimeola, Martin Taylor are two of the examples.

Some guitarists active today who find very different, interesting, and really like include

Charlie Hunter (TJ Kirk, his own group, all over the place, plays an 8 string guitar which allows to play base lines and at times imitate an organ)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Jazz, angular and intense...reminds the great John McCalughlin not sound wise but emotionally)
Jeff Parker (underground, Chicago, solo album out: tasteful and a thinking man's approach if you will but also great and interesting comping)
Rodney Jones (funk on!)
Anthony Wilson (perhaps more known for being in Diana Krall's band, but check out his solo albums!)
Eric Johnson (actually a fan for sometime, but noticed nobody seems to have mentioned him..new album Bloom is quite good though as usual a couple of duds too)
let's not forget : paco de lucia, garry moore, stanley clark, stanley jordan, jonas hellborg,
SRV. Listening is one thing, but to have actually seen him do it(3x)was incredible. That man made a lot sound from one guitar. It literally sounded like 2 or 3 at once.