OT: Favorite Guitarist
Tired of talking about covid I know there are some major music fans on this board
curious as to who your favorite guitarist is? Can include favorite solo or song
for me right now it’s J Mascis. Until recently I had never rode the Dinosaur Jr train but since I’ve gotten on I can’t get off (lol)
Used to be a huge fan of David Gilmore, the solo on Mother is so damn beautiful it makes me cry
I'm gonna go outside of box and say Glen Hansard. His songwriting and vocals are amazing.
Page, probably Hendrix second, then in no particular order Pete Townshend, EVH, SRV, Frusciante, Tim Sult, Tom Morello. Almost left out Buddy Guy and Muddy
Lita Ford - it's not a penis-only club.
Charlotte Caffey
Susanna Hoff - more for the eyes than the strings. I am a sexist pig, probably.
Good call. I'll add PJ Harvey and Kelley Deal (Breeders) as fantastic female guitarists
I think slash
Jeff Beck
Robin Trower
Tony Iommi
Ronnie Wood (particularly with the Faces)
Terry Kath.
Chicago was never the same after his untimely death.
Clapton!!!!!! Favorite part of The Last Waltz is his solo on Further On Up The Road is so, so, so good.
Angus Young
Slash
Jimmy Page, Clapton, Skunk Baxter, who also has a second career as a defense consultant for the US government -- mind blown over that one.
Love the Jeff "Skunk" Baxter reference. Saw him play with the Doobie Brothers.
Should also give a shout-out for Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers.
While I'm at it, Walter Becker of Steely Dan.
When I was in advertising, we did music tracks for commercials and one of the music houses I frequented brought Jeff in all the time for guitar work. It was nothing to him -- a few bucks for like an hour's worth of work. He was a good guy, and wore 1974 like a glove, even in 1990. Bellbottoms, ankle boots, mutton chop sideburns.
Too cool?. I'm a big fan of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Saw DB six times and SD three. Glad you got to meet him ?
Robert Fripp
Pat Matheny
Steve Vai
Bob Weir
Steve Morse
Steve Howe
Don Ross
Richard Thompson
John McLaughlin
Django Reinhardt
Leo Kottke
Billy Strings
Larry Carlton
+1 for Richard Thompson
No Kottke fans nominating Michael Hedges? Hedges lived in his own ethereal wonder world in much of his work, but it was brilliant and mind bending what he could milk out of a six string (or harp guitar).
Saw him three times before he died, first at the Ark on the Live on the Double Planet tour (there’s a live album on Spotify and its unreal), once at the Michigan Theatre w/Kottke (incredible), and years later in Portland.
Michael Hedges was awesome and I really miss him and what he could have created - died way too young
I have been been a fan of J Mascis for about 30 years. I remember seeing him at the Blind Pig in the early 90's. No set list, asked the audience what they wanted to hear, and played for hours. Remodeled my basement this past winter and started listening to the Farm album again. Watch the Corners has my favorite solo on that one.
I didn’t see Alex Lifeson mentioned. I think he’s underrated because whenever Rush gets brought up, the first thing you talk about is Neil’s drumming followed by Geddy’s bass. But there’s a reason Rush is my favorite band. Alex is a fucking awesome guitarist. The instrumentals, including the lead guitar, on Rush’s songs are instantly recognizable.
Recently, I’ve been looking to Japan for some newer sounds in rock music: I like Kanami Tono’s work both as a guitarist and songwriter for Band-Maid.
I’m also liking Hazuki and SAKI’s work with Nemophila.
Warren Haynes
I don’t have just one favorite guitarist, but the guy who did this 70 years ago was pretty good:
That was fun!
Or...Trey Spruance.
That's a tough one:
Jeff Henneman
Dimebag Darrel Abbot
Kirk Hammett
Jimmy Page.
Jimmi Hendrix
Randy Rhoads
Slash
Hughie Thonasson
Tony Iommi
David Gilmour
,,,just to name the ones I like on the top of my head.
And Some favorite solos for each
David Gilmour
https://youtu.be/JwYX52BP2Sk?t=190
Eddie Van Halen
https://youtu.be/YRFKU6QvBJY?t=105
Alex Lifeson
https://youtu.be/auLBLk4ibAk?t=120
Jimmy Page
https://youtu.be/QkF3oxziUI4?t=334
Neal Schon
https://youtu.be/kFqXFE8OSG4?t=106
Tom Scholz
King - Hanneman of Slayer were awesome in this dual riff. https://youtu.be/DECp8LKurKs
Randy Rhodes always did a kickass job live: https://youtu.be/mSfNvTVEALw
Jones and Thomasson of the Outlaws were also good dueling together: https://youtu.be/WEkJFR69IXw
And Ted Nugent, the Motor City Madman!
I'm sure there are some flamenco and country guitarist that haven't been mentioned yet. Someone did mention Glen Campbell, already, but I would add Chet Atkins and Roy Clark to the list.
Bill Frisell
David Pulkingham
Buddy Miller
Marc Ribot
Taylor Goldsmith
Robbie Robertson
Julian Lage
David Hidalgo
Lowell George
Ry Cooder
David Lindley
... (the list is probably much longer, but those listed above are the ones who immediately come to mind)
Jerrrrrrrry
John McLaughlin
Steve Howe
Michael Hedges
David Gilmour
Robert Fripp
Trevor Rabin
Steve Ray Vaughan
Kenny Burrell
It's David Gilmour - without a doubt. He made the black Strat sing melodies that were beyond description. Ana Popovic is pretty damn pleasing as well to both the ear and eye.
It's David Gilmour - without a doubt. He made the black Strat sing melodies that were beyond description. Ana Popovic is pretty damn pleasing as well to both the ear and eye.
Hard to pick: Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, Stevie Ray, Frampton, Knopfler, Page....
Haven't seen Paul Gilbert mentioned yet. He is definitely right up at the top of the list for me.
My favorite acoustic finger-picker at the moment is Buck Meek from Big Thief. He floats through some pretty complicated chord progressions with real nice style. Listen to "Haley" off their album "Capacity" for a good example.
My favorite electric player has been Nels Cline for a while. His group plays free jazz with a million stomp pedals, like if Thurston Moore and Wes Montgomery had a baby. He also sessions with a lot with other bands (he played lead on Wilco's Sky Blue Sky album).
But yeah, J Mascis and David Gilmore are also very high on my list. The "Time" solo basically inspired me to buy my first guitar when I was a wee lad, and I think J Mascis taught an entire generation of guitarists to give a shit about good tone.
NUGE!
Prince
Santana
Jack White
Joe Walsh
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Matt Bellamy. Love his live improvisations, too.
My son
Robert Johnson
Bo Diddley
Ron Wood
Respect for big Bo — The Originator
Surprised that Ted Nugent didn't make the list until late in the thread. Van Halen (RIP) would be top for me. Page's sound was pretty special, too. Slash is the reason I listen to GnR.
I'm guessing Ted's politics are why he hasn't shown up much
I dunno, Clapton’s politics didn’t keep him off the first page. I’m not sure Nugent is as good as a lot of the other names in this thread.
I think Ted is good but not top 10 good. I don't really care about a musicians politics. I'd rather them to keep it to themselves. It seem like Ted was in the news a lot with his right wing politics but he has been quiet for a while.