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?
128x128buscis2
Studio Player: Dean PARKS - great tone and taste.
Recording Artist: Ry COODER - plays a wide variety of styles VERY well.
My top ten All Time list. They are selected because these musicians have moved the medium to a new place, and I have REALLY enjoyed listening to them do it, either live or on recordings. To get on this list they had to have the right combination of soul, melody, technical proficiency and creativity, and lucky enough to have played with the right side men (and women) at the right time in their careers.

1. Jimi Hendrix (reinvented electric guitar)
2. Django Reinhardt (tie, invented modern jazz guitar)
2. Buckethead (tie, reinventing electric guitar again)
4. John Mclaughlin (invented Fusion guitar)
5. Jimmy Page (went over like a lead balloon!)
6. Richard Thompson (perfected rock tinged folk guitar)
7. Jeff Beck (makes his guitar sing like no one else)
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan (The Sound of Texas)
9. Duane Allman (invented southern rock guitar)
10. Carlos Santana (invented Latin rock guitar)

Honorable mention:

David Gilmour (king of the long note)
Adriane Belew (invented animal noises guitar)
Steve Morse (invented Dixie Fusion)
John Meyer (not just your daughter's favorite bad boy)
John Frusciante (Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik)
Martin Barre (perfected Gothic Rock guitar)
Frank Zappa (what chord did you say that was?)
Jimmy D Lane. His album Lone Gone is my current favorite to put on the TT. If you like SRV you need to check this one out.