Best Acoustic Guitar Players Of All Time?


Piggybacking on the unique guitar theme, I thought it might be fun to get your list of acoustic masters.

Here is my list:
1. Michael Hedges - This will more than likely be a controversial #1 choice, because I know Michael was heavily influenced by Leo Kottke, but I think Hedges took all his influences to a higher compositional level. He was a total freak on the acoustic guitar and paved the way for so many of the new fingerstyle players. He may not be the best of all time, but he gets my vote anyway.
2. Andres Segovia
3. Leo Kottke
4. Chet Atkins
5. Al DiMeola
6. John McLaughlin
7. Tommy Emmanuel
8. Duck Baker
9. Doyle Dykes
10. Don Ross
11. Antoine Dufour
12. Andy McKee
14. Preston Reed
15. Peppino D'Agostino
16. Pierre Bensusan
17. Billy McLaughlin
18. Tim Sparks
19. Mark O'Conner
20. Tony Rice

I'm sure there's many more I've missed, but I'll leave those gems up to you guys!
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I can't figure why Doc Watson isn't on this list??? No Tony Rice, Norman Blake??? Clarence White?!? Flat pickers of the world rebel!

Ma'God.. Then there's Eddie Lang,Lonnie Johnson... Oh, That gypsy guy... Django something..

Robert Johnson.. Could be.. Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis (he was blind too).... Least we got Ry listed up above...

There's that Bhatt guy too..

Chris
20. Tony Rice.

I'm glad he was there as I was listening to one of his albums at the time.

Regards,
Nice list. Hedges is easily my number one too.

I saw someone else mention Dave Evans, and that was nice to see. If you are into to acoustic fingerstyle guitar his album "Sad Pig Dance" is an absolute must have. It can be hard to find, but it is worth the effort of tracking that one down.

there are a few other people that I also dig but didn't see on the list:
Peter Finger
John James
John Renbourn
Leo Wijnkamp jr
Pat Metheny, Jerry Garcia (I love his style & tone) & John Carlini (one of Tony Rices' sidekicks)