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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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duanegoosen
355 posts
 
-Mantas Di Plata was pretty astounding (Paco fans will probably dig him, unfotunately the recording quality is generally not real spiff... still worth checking out)

-Uwe Kropinski, So Oder So and Berlin Concert are both way more psyco-active and head warping than most electric guitar records, (extremely percussive).

-Larry Coryell did some good stuff w/ Phillip Catherine and Steve Khan

-Derek Bailey may be tough to absorb, but was still a #$%^!! giant!

-Sylvain Luc, first Trio Sud disc is great

-Egberto Gismonti's use of harmonics alone on the Fantasia record sets him apart from anyone else.

-Bernd Steidl put out a good acoustic hair metal shred record

U.Srinivas/Dream w/ Michael Brook holds up pretty well

-Fred Frith has invented some cool acoustic things that got recorded

-Eddie Van Halen Spanish Fly does not suck, same w/ Allan Holdsworth's acoustic work on on Velvet Darkness and with Gong.
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
I can't believe I forgot Uwe Kropinski. Good call, Duane. That guy is incredible.

Also:
Mark Knopfler

And one my favorites, whether electric or acoustic, Nuno Bettencourt. Excuse the poor quality, but this video of Nuno is purty darn good.
duanegoosen
355 posts
 
Nuno can smoke!... Kind of wondering about the earlier mention of Jonas Hellborg; As far as i know he's a bass player. Buckethead did some fantastic acoustic guitar playing on Hellborg's Octave Of The Holy Innocents disc and Shawn Lane also delivered some excellent acoustic guitar work on a couple of Hellborg discs. Are there some other Hellborg discs w/ acoustic guitar out there anyone can recommend?
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Hey Howard - Can you recommend a good Nuno CD? All the selections on Amazon were priced at $34 and above...WTF? Here's one for this thread: Guitar Wars

Marco
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,551 posts
 
Hey Howard - Can you recommend a good Nuno CD? All the selections on Amazon were priced at $34 and above...WTF?
Criminy, I don't know why they would be so much. $92 for Guitar Wars...sheesh! As for Nuno stuff, you may/may not like the music. I'm not too into the band Extreme, but his guitar work is amazing. I like Schizophonic a lot, his solo album, though I'm not sure if it would be your thing. I'll see if I can send you one for a listen. I'm not familiar with his Drama Gods stuff. His new project should be stellar: Satellite Party, with Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction).
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