Plum Crazy

And don't forget the guy who says that he imitates Carlos Santana at times, Prince.

No matter how you slice it, Prince knows how play a guitar as well as anyone.

Actually, EVH is a pretty amazing guitarist and really developed a style that was imitated by an entire generation of rockers. I don’t care for his style, but he has been as much of an influence as people like Chuck Berry or Hendrix.

Oh, and your right about Carlos as well, one of my all time favorites and another who was very influential, particularly in his use of the dorian minor mode in his solos (some would call it an extended pentatonic scale, but I never thought that made much sense personally )

A buddy at work always holds up Frank Zappa, but I too lean towards Santana. In particular I really liked the piece he did with Ottmar Liebert, he provided a very nice contrast to Ottmar's spanish guitar.

B.B. King gets my vote

How about Robert Johnson?

or Randy Rhoades?

I like all the listed guitarists. I would also throw in that list Gary Moore, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Eric Johnson. Jeff Beck and Joe Satriani too.

The best however (IMO), was Stevie Ray Vaughan. The man was simply fucking brilliant and he made it look effortless. Man I wish he hadn't died.

Another though not so famous guitarist.

Ry Cooder.

Kudos to Justin. I was going to post RY Cooder until I saw his post.

Another unrecognized great is Mark Knopfler.

Knopfler and Cooder are probably the two greatest living guitarists.

And I don't know you Lesley, but you need to apologize to Eddie van Halen. That man is one of the best as well.

Jonny Lang. I adore Jonny Lang. His talent as a guitarist is phenomenal.

Carlos is #2 on my list, right after Zakk Wylde.

there is no such thing as the greatest guitarist. all the guitarists that made contributed something were good at there own style and whatever they did. some were technically better then other but some were better melodically. some were good but just hid their technique. so if somebody says jimi hendrix is the best guitarist, he should think again because people like randy rhoades are much better technique wise especially since he was classically trained. but nonetheless, people like eric clapton, jimi hendrix, randy rhoades, david gilmour, mark knopfler, angus young, johnny winter, joe satriani, steve vai, stevie ray vaughn, ritchie blackmore, jimmy page, brian setzer, paco de lucia, steve howe, pepe romero, rik emmett, kirk hammet, james hetfield, carlos santana, alvin lee, joe perry, zakk wylde, chet atkins, slash, tony emmanuel, brian may, alex lifeson, and many others have made enormous contributions that can make them equal guitar players because each had their own definate style that created theiro wn sound and defined the type of guitar player they were. That is all i have to say except for sorry to all the names i didnt mention because i had a brain freeze on the last one where i could not think of any others. thanks, guitar godd

Yngwie Malmsteen is the best if you hear him carefully. He is one of a kind guitarist

I go with Guitar god, but id have to say that my fav. guitarist of all time is Kirk Hammett, but that doesnt mean he is the best.

Lets admit it:

THE best guitarists nowadays have gotta be Angus Young, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and of course Old Skool Hetfield. I say old skool cos' Metallica became a pile of horse shit when St.Anger was released. Note: Three Maiden gutarists because Maiden Rulez!

No one has mentioned one of THE greatest guitarist of our time, Tom Morello. Even though his latest venture might be less than amazing to some, he has been just as or more innovative than any other guitarist. Few musicians transform the instrument they play into a new sound or, dare I say it, a new instrument. Those that studied him are starting to show up and I suspect we will see many guitarists in the future that will be heavily influenced by Mr. Morello.

Oh, and don't forget about Dave Grohl either. :)

jimi hendrix. anyone who don't have enough sence needs to go out and get jimi hendrix live at the isle of wight. taped a couple o weeks before he died. this is not art for the classically trained ear... and the bleeding hearts of the artists make their stand.

What kind of asshole would not think that Eddie Van Halen rocks the fucking casbah. Lesley, you need to take that back right now. But regarding the question, I think you guys are leaving out the best guitarist of all time. I think that John Pettrucci is the master.

I realize this might seem odd to you, Josh, but I don't need to do anything that someone who calls me an asshole wants me to.

the best guitarists are slahs,zakk wylde and marty friedman.did you know these guys are actuall brothers.....GOD PROMISE.

yes, there are many great guitarists, but none other have reached the complexity of Yngwie malmsteen's style. incredible! But the question is, who is the next Yngwie Malmsteen?

To me, guys malmsteen are just show offs. they have no heart in his music. They do the thing just to see whos the best, and for get the purpose of music. Now dont get me wrong, they're excellent exemplars, and nothings wrong with having fun or being a great guitar player, but guys like Hendrix, Page and Santana will get my vote over theim because they didnt forget that guitar is a soulful art form and not a sport. I say this as an artist, whose instrument just happens to be guitar, not a guitarist.

To me, guys malmsteen are just show offs. they have no heart in his music. They do the thing just to see whos the best, and for get the purpose of music. Now dont get me wrong, they're excellent exemplars, and nothings wrong with having fun or being a great guitar player, but guys like Hendrix, Page and Santana will get my vote over theim because they didnt forget that guitar is a soulful art form and not a sport. I say this as an artist, whose instrument just happens to be guitar, not a guitarist.

its impossible to name just one, there is no best player, there are many players that are genius of the guitar.
you can have a favorite guitarist (mine is angus young), but there are others like hendrix,vaughan,malmsteen,etc that are great too.

however i think the best is hendrix.

What about zakk, dimebag, james murphy??? They are up there in the rank's as well...

Michael Schenker,Frank Marino,Akira Takasaki,Nuno Bettencourt,George Lynch.

Joe Satriani is the greatest.Bar None.

Randy Rhoades (was ahead of his time, like Hendrix). Tony MaCalpine (Maximum Security- very complex, fast and emotional). Jimi Page (just because it's Page)

about the malmsteen comment on no emotion... there's plenty of emotion, it may not be as easy to hear as a more melodic guitarist, but its there. people that have no emotion for music dont play music. heres some others...

adam fulara... search for his website and check his vids, classical tapping on doubleneck guitars and such...
rusty cooley... master of shred?
buckethead... hehehe
Keiichi Nabrshima... this guy is just too damn creative.

all of those guitarists are very technically proficient, to the point of obscurity, but nonetheless, they love the music they play or they wouldnt play it at all. i like guys from both side of the mountain, different styles, different tastes.

if anyone knows any other crazy virtuoso guitarists, email me and let me know, im dyin for more! :)

god bless-
meskimo (afyouthbrigade@hotmail.com)

I'm a fan of Carlos Santana since 1974 when I discovered him. All the players listed are of course brilliant, but you can't forget Al di Meola, Paco de Lucia and John Mac Laughing, I saw the three playing folk guitar, long, long time ago. I just have no words for such as virtuosity. I've just discovered Joe Satriani recently and I was very impressed too by this guy.

people......ANGUS YOUNG!!!!!!

Cobain.

Its all about personal preferance there is no greatest guitarist. I happen to like eddie van halen when hendrix died eddie was the new guy and did alot for guitar. He set the trend for the 80s with his finger tapping,pinched and tapped harmonics, divebombs and more. Nobody did that stuff at the time. Then all the other guitar players came and copped his style and thats what runied eddie van halen. His unique style wasnt so unique anymore with every guitar player sounding like eddie.

The best? It's impossible to say. So many different styles ...

All I can say is that many of the listed here would be unable to play "Entre dos aguas" so virtuously as Paco de Lucia or "Sultans of Swing" so funkyly as Mark Knopfler.

Regards

I challenge anyone to find a artist that has revolutionized the guitar like michael hedges did.

Is there a way to interchange some mp3's between guitar fans of this forum? (p2p aside)

Regards.

Sorry, Shoikan, no such mechanism exists.

has anyone heard of justin king? he's a awesome guitarist out of oregon.... check his website justinking.com and if that isnt enough for ya watch this clip of him playing... it's nuts!!
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/guitar.php

how about rory gallagher?and a true gent also

how about rory gallagher?and a true gent also

Not the best guitarist in the world but damn good none the less and that's Bill Steer formally of Carcass and now playing for blues/rock band Firebird.

I would have to wholeheartedly agree with just about all the above mentioned posts,Zakk, Randy, Carlos,etc. However a couple names come to mind for me personally that I don,t believe were mentioned. Paul Gilbert and Jerry Cantrell are two of my all time faves.In closing let,s not ever forget Slash.

Slash, Angus Young, And Jimmy Page are the best!!!!

Im not a guitarist per say , but i think there is no such thing as "the best" guitarist, my personal favourite how ever is tom morello and omar rodqiguez-lopez, there are just pretty cool and omar does was weird stuff with that guitar of his