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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Audiozen-

Wow, those facts are indisputable.

Awesome display of rock and roll knowledge.

There's a seat in Cleveland with your name on it.
Zen,

I'm a big Clapton fan and his influence can be clearly heard in many who followed him. Some very prominent players like Carlos Santana and Mark Knopfler (when he's not fingerpicking) might even qualify as "followers". But Hendrix?

IMHO, Clapton gets inappropriately bashed in these threads from time to time, and I believe that he is an absolute master of tone and elegant phrasing, but I think it would be very difficult to credit him with the type of technical mastery and innovation displayed by Hendrix (or, for that matter, many other technically proficient players ranging from Steve Vai to Eddie Van Halen, etc).

Personally, I'd almost always prefer to listen to Clapton than to most others, but I do try to keep his contributions in context.

Marty
FWIW the allmusic site lists the following as those who influenced Jimi Hendrix:

* Charlie Christian
* The Isley Brothers
* Charley Patton
* Little Richard
* King Curtis
* Ike Turner
* B.B. King
* James Brown
* John Coltrane
* Albert Collins
* Bo Diddley
* Jimmy Reed
* Lonnie Mack
* The Beatles
* Freddie King
* Hubert Sumlin
* Little Walter
* Buddy Guy
* Howlin' Wolf
* Chuck Berry
* T-Bone Walker

and for Eric Clapton:

* Jimmy Reed
* Jimmy Rogers
* Slim Harpo
* Sonny Boy Williamson
* Howlin' Wolf
* T-Bone Walker
* Otis Rush
* Don Williams
* Buddy Guy
* Muddy Waters
* Big Bill Broonzy
* J.J. Cale
* Chuck Berry
* B.B. King
* Albert King
* The Band
* Bob Dylan
* Robert Johnson
* Elmore James
* Freddie King

Lots of common influences by the commonly acknowledged earlier pure blues and also rock and roller guitarists like Chuck Berry, but neither listed as influencing the other. Not surprising in that they were contemporaries during their formative years prior to Hendrix's death.