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john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 154
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 8:30 am:   Edit Post

I got an email this morning and was actually asked by a member who was my favorite rock guitarist of all time, being I talked about Hendrix they wanted to know if it was him, and the second part of the question was did I have a favorite Rock video, so I will answer with just one answer, a must see from beginning to end. The art of passion unfolds at every technique, enjoy this one, for me it just pulls me in and I feel his playing with almost tears of joy , great listening with headphones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KUSkGeaUPU
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 115
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 8:44 am:   Edit Post

Steve Vai, was a student Joe Satriani
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 155
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 9:29 am:   Edit Post

Yes I was aware of that, it seems as if though the styles of path went different ways between them other than the speed, to me Steve is more a Melodic player and Joe plays like a can of Red bull wide open most of the time
pauldo
Advanced Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 244
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:06 am:   Edit Post

Wow - thanks for posting that link John - that was a goosebump experience. Very powerful.

Via played with Zappa also - that says enough right there.

Rock guitarist is hard to define. . . so favorite guitarist becomes even harder to define. . . Kinda like having to pick 'just one' favorite Dead album :-)

the Zappa's (Frank and Dweezil) are great.
Steve Morse, David Gilmour, Alex Skolnick, , ,
currently Nels Cline is at the top of my list.

Thanks again for posting that link.
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 116
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post

Personally I don't believe in "the best any more."

The best guitarist will never be televised.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8625
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post

Thanks John, it was nice to see that one again this morning!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1089
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post

Another guitarist I enjoy a great deal is Chris Poland of OHM, Megadeth, Damn the Machine fame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DX_khMvAYk
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 436
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post

Music is subjective, so anything, or anyone can be someones best or favorite. Jimi certainly changed the way electric guitar is played. But to call him the best, I don't know. I've heard it said that in heaven, Jimi sits at the feet of Frank Zappa.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4062
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post

Jerry.

'nuff said.

Bill, tgo
jet_powers
Senior Member
Username: jet_powers

Post Number: 466
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post

The thread title said favorite not best. There is no way to judge who is best. There is no official scorer at a concert, as far as I know. After all, it's art, not sport.

I've enjoyed many guitarists over the years but if I had to name a favorite, I guess I'd go with Pete Townshend....

-JP
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1355
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post

I don't know that I have a favorite and the answer kind of depends upon what you classify as a rock guitarist. I've always been partial to Larry Carlton's work with Steely Dan and Tommy Bolin with whoever he was with at the time. I also like their work in jazz and fusion.

Keith
lidon2001
Senior Member
Username: lidon2001

Post Number: 421
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the link. Billy Sheehan playing some tasteful bass lines as well. Steve was one of the first "friends" at the Alembic myspace.com page.

I still enjoy the king of the whammy, Adrian Belew. He and his Power Trio are on tour coming soon to a city near you. Worth the price of admission.
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 437
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 1:16 pm:   Edit Post

My favorite.

pauldo
Advanced Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 245
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 2:24 pm:   Edit Post

One thing I always like here is that you can expand yourself....
Danno - thanks for the Ohm link that is SUPER cool. What an awesome trio!!!
I never heard of them and probably never would have save for this community.

THANKS!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1090
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 2:39 pm:   Edit Post

You are most welcome. I support him by buying his cd's from his site. Same for Trip.BTW thats Ginger Baker's son on drums.
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 168
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 3:16 pm:   Edit Post

i don't know if he counts, but my favorite has to be nels cline. from the stuff he's done with mike watt, to his trio (the nels cline singers) and his recent stuff with wilco. i'm not a big fan of wilco, but sky blue sky (the first record nels made with them) has some of the best recent rock guitar work i've heard.
another guy i really like, but probably doesn't count because he plays just about every type of music there is, is marc ribot. i love all of his solo work, and the stuff he's done with john zorn, but his work with tom waits is some of my all time favorite guitar work. check out the solo on tom's song "hoist that rag". it's crazy simple, but one of my favorites.
oh, and when i say "favorite", i mean besides duane allman.
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 156
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 3:20 pm:   Edit Post

thats Cool bout Ginger son, and just for the record, when I say favorite, I mean who I like,
as far as Best Unless you can put about dozen over the years of my favorites in a blender than that really doesn't exist for me, although it kind of reminds me of the time I visited the Rotosound factory in Kent England and when I met Entwhistle there, we walked around the side and he told me to look up and there was a Huge billboard of me about 75 feet tall of theSuperwound ad and blew my mind , then as we walked around the corner John looked at me and said I kind of like this one better...it was about 100 ft bilboard of Him and he laughed at my expression, Moral of the story favorites are one thing but the Best is in the eye of the beholder and no one will ever tell them different ...bottom line I love so many who perfect there craft and technique and take it too the limit and beyond.
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 359
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 3:34 pm:   Edit Post

"Yes I was aware of that, it seems as if though the styles of path went different ways between them other than the speed, to me Steve is more a Melodic player and Joe plays like a can of Red bull wide open most of the time"

For me Satriani gets boring after 5 minutes. Vai does and always has done much more interesting stuff. I've heard a number of people complain that Vai did his "best work" when he was with Zappa because Zappa was holding his reins and keeping him from showing off too much. Idiots. He did some fabulous stuff with Frank - "The Black Page" alone is just insanity especially considering it was never intended for anything but percussion. And yes, I know, written for Terry Bozzio. However Vai has come a long way since then and become a fabulous writer in his own right. Even on "Flexable" he had some real shining moments of brilliance. It only got better from there.

Coming up with one favorite anything with music is impossible for me. There are too many styles of music and way too many variables to pick just one.

Someone who is a brilliant rock guitarist who I believe doesn't get nearly enough credit: Dean DeLeo. His brother is a wonderful bass player as well.
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 119
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 5:07 pm:   Edit Post

Give me the old Men of blues... like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Les Paul, and "The One" who left us to soon, (The guy from Seattle Washington, who served in the US Army, jumped from Airplanes as a paratrooper...) Man, what was his name (and he loved Purple)???? Anyway, That's the "Rosetta Stone", and full Anthropology of a rock guitarist for me, hands down...

Steve Vai, Greg Howe, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Eddie Hazel, Eric Clapton, and Micheal Hampton are just singers of the quire.

History was already made, and already done many years ago...


(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009)
afrobeat_fool
Member
Username: afrobeat_fool

Post Number: 70
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

I'm glad you mentioned Hampton, because it leads me in so well, Hal. I'm all about Eddie Hazel.Maggot Brain was my first introduction to Funk. I'd love to hear some Funkadelic stories.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2407
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 7:52 pm:   Edit Post

I don't know, I thought Ralph Macchio kicked Vai's ass. ;)

Vai is definitely one of the greats, though. He can do it all. There are too many to have a favorite, though. On any given day, my mood could have my favorite shifting around. I always prefer the guys who seem like they have something to say, though. As amazing as the stuff Eddie Van Halen was playing in the late 70s was, it feels a bit technical and clinical. That doesn't do it for me today. A lot of the blues greats are on my list for that reason. Clapton, Vaughn, Moore, BB, they all tell a story when they play. Vai is similar in a different genre. Page and May are great players in the rock genre, and who doesn't feel Barre's solo in Aqualung? When you talk purely about tone, you have to add guys like Gilmour and Gibbons, too.

Hendrix was special. The biggest knock on him is that we should have another 20 or 30 years of a catalog of his great performances. There is just way too little of it out there.
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 120
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post

I mentioned them, hoping somebody just might, pickup on those cats.

By the way, both Eddie and Mike in their "Hey-Days" exclusively played Alembics guitars.

If it was not for those guys, Alembics would had been called: "Olympic" do to my ignorance of their cross-over appeal to "The Funk".

However, Alembic instruments has very strong vintage roots with "The Funk".

Sadly, those guys were practically never introduced to the "General Public". But that's cool too, because in the long run, those guys get to live a private life with out being mob by the press and alike...

"Maggot Brain is the position, and the condition of you're ass. Free your mind, and your ass will follow..."

-George Clinton
lysosome
Intermediate Member
Username: lysosome

Post Number: 129
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Saturday, August 22, 2009 - 11:34 pm:   Edit Post

As far as rock is concerned, I really like Paul Gilbert, Frank Zappa, John Petrucci, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, David Gilmour, Warren Hayes, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Alvin Lee, and Duane Allman..those guys.

Also like Andy McKee and Bill Connors a lot, but they don't really play rock.

Ah well..

(Message edited by lysosome on August 23, 2009)
dnburgess
Senior Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 645
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 12:49 am:   Edit Post

For a real goose bumps momement - Robin Trower on Bridge of Sighs - such tension.

I saw Jeff Beck recently (with Tal on bass) and I think he is at the top of his game - which is amazing for someone who's been around so long. And he is one of the few players with a unique voice.

+1 for Frank Zappa, David Gilmour.

You gotta give props to Keith Richards too.
57basstra
Senior Member
Username: 57basstra

Post Number: 1047
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 1:05 am:   Edit Post

George Harrison
cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member
Username: cozmik_cowboy

Post Number: 542
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 6:58 am:   Edit Post

I don't know that it makes him my favorite (there's a lot of players I really like), but if the guitar genie came out of my soundhole & said "You can have the chops of any one picker in the world", I wouldn't hesitate: Bob Weir.

Peter
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 1057
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 7:09 am:   Edit Post

Very interesting thread we have here.
The video of Steve Vai is great. What tasty stuff with some lightning fast licks thrown in when they need to be there. Add in the volume pedal and whammy bar and tone and ... wow, outstanding.
Once again Billy Sheehan, who can hold his own with anyone on the speedlick scale, lies back when serving the song calls for it. He stands at or near the top of the rock bassist list, IMHO (not meaning to hijack the thread over to bassists).
I noticed, at about 7:30 of the Vai video, the upper frets have the fretboard "scalloped" out. This is like the guitar Gibson made for John McLaughlin so that he could bend notes with the same downward motion as fretting them. I'm sure there's much more to the story than that. Feel free to correct my recollection of it.
Danno, the Chris Poland video is great too. I love people who can stay that tight in the odd time signatures. What great backup, too.
A few years ago Gil Layton (Laytonco on the club) and I did the opening act for Kofi Baker's band. They played Cream and Blind Faith tunes. What a fantastic band. Armando Cepeda (LA session cat) and a guitarist named Cameron Morgan were great. Cameron played some unbelievable things. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Kofi was going through a rough time right then so the hang was kindof wierd but once they got onstage, wow. I hope things are going better for Kofi, now.
Rich
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 439
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 7:34 am:   Edit Post

Kofi Baker usually plays once or twice a month at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles. Although I have yet to go check him out..
jerryme
Intermediate Member
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 137
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 8:24 am:   Edit Post

Jerry Garcia
Michael Houser
Duane Allman
Jimmy Herring
Derek Trucks
Bobby Weir
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 157
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 8:26 am:   Edit Post

THe Gem guitars come scalloped out in the upper and Richie blackmore use to scallop out his whole neck on a strat, every fret, and get some great effects from it, I should specify more here, I have many favorite guitar players that all shine from time to time, some play great while standing there like a tree deeply rooted while others run all over the stage. But when I saw this video a while back, I gave it as one of my all time favorite guitarist simple because of all around performance, expressiveness, emotion, tone, playing skill along with out of the box with the whammy bar and volume pedal.

I feel as far as all those elements, Steve Vai has put his guitar on a table, looked it completely over at every place and said, I am going to find out what I can do with every part of you!
To me the video shows just how deep some one can get into their music and there instrument, after all, our instruments are an expression of ourselves.

So I feel comfortable to say this is one of my favorite guitarist because of what this video gives to me musically and the video vision of inspiration that it projects of some one going the extra mile and taking the time to develop (not just play) his art so much, that a signature sound is created, and that makes music so inspiring to venture out and do more with it.

* So at the risk of giving a favorite's great example FOR ME it kind of goes like this..
In the guitar world, Hendrix paved the road, Jerry poured the foundation, Harrison built the walls, Clapton did the landscaping, Demiola painted the house and Vai framed the roof, but the roof has yet to be completed or closed in, every guitar player in the world is still trying to decide what material to use for the roof, and pedal's, devices and techniques are just the hammer and nails they use...
and so it continues....... and Bass players live next door, must be a duplex! but theses are houses that will probably never have a mailbox on them simply because it would have to say "the best lives Here" and in reality we all may build on the same foundations of music but our finished product is to each his or her own liking, don't just mow the lawn or do maintenance, build an addition!... Shine On You Crazy Diamonds! and play hard! ...peace John.

P.s and as far as all the other great guitarist whether blues or jazz or whatever, they are just up the street working on a different house.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4063
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 9:04 am:   Edit Post

John:

One correction to your metaphor. Jerry painted the heavens above the house during the day, and the Dark Stars at night.

Bill, tgo
afrobeat_fool
Member
Username: afrobeat_fool

Post Number: 72
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

I like this thread, Fun! The scalloped neck thing was Yngwie Malmsteen's thing in the 80's. I think fender made his line of guitars that way. Now that guy was a technical master. All those classical scales and Marshal distortion.
But what is Rock anyway? There is so much music that led up to it. I was watching "Bird" yesterday and at the end of the film the Coleman Hawkins character was playing some of Parkers licks within penatonic scales and they were calling it rock&roll, cause' it hit on the one. Blues, rock, Jazz, soul, country, whatever. I don't see much difference anymore. I like it all!
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 123
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 11:19 am:   Edit Post

Young Guitarist Henry Garza is someone to watch. Clean without all the effects.

Noted for the song:
"How far is Heaven"
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 158
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 5:29 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah Bill, he did seem to have a way to get way up there and look back at the world and the music going on but truly for me the Dead was a back bone of grooves and percussive elements that like a foundation it was fun and exciting for me to build on as Jerry conducted it, but I dig where your comin from. Oh and as far as Ralph kickin Vai's Ass, I had always heard that Ralph does play guitar well but was doing the air guitar thing and Vai did both guitar tracks for the movie crossroads but I never confirmed it

(Message edited by john judge on August 23, 2009)
jagerphan84
Advanced Member
Username: jagerphan84

Post Number: 288
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 5:48 pm:   Edit Post

IIRC, it was Ry Cooder who laid down Ralph's track for Crossroads.
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 159
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 6:07 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the info Adam, I wasn't sure who it was but I had heard from a lot of people that it wasn't Ralph doing it.
basicvoo
Junior
Username: basicvoo

Post Number: 21
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 6:52 pm:   Edit Post

For me, Steve Vai's former employer; Mr Frank Zappa. For his sheer unmitigated audacity.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 2411
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 7:30 pm:   Edit Post

John, Vai is credited with all the work in the final "battle scene" of the movie. Cooder might have done some of the blues playing, I don't know that for sure. Allegedly, Ralph was fingering the parts accurately until it hit the classical part, but, of course, my comments were a joke.

I'll also take this opportunity to add Santana to my list...
crobbins
Senior Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 443
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 7:48 pm:   Edit Post

I thought Arlen Roth coached Ralph in that flick..
john_judge
Intermediate Member
Username: john_judge

Post Number: 160
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 8:23 pm:   Edit Post

Yes according to wikipedia Arlen Roth did all of Ralph's parts in the movie Crossroads and Ry played the bluesy riffs during the movie
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 735
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post

In my "younger days" my favorite's were John Sykes, Jake E. Lee, Neal Schon, Randy Rhodes, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. These gentlemen still are my favorites and others have accumulated as I've discovered much of the great guitarists that came before them (and influenced them).
I still listen to Vai a lot, and I mean a lot. He creates well crafted songs that are'nt just tech heavey show pieces but, with beautiful melodies and arrangements, they hold my attention just as consistently as a great Bach piece(Cello Suite in G Major is a particular favorite) and what a performer! I've seen him twice and the man delivers. I would love to play in his band but I'm a little busy at the moment.
I know there are some members here that would probably scoff at the sight of Vai but, we must remember this is a listening based art form we are involved in. So no matter how much "pomp" is involved, there are those that are more visually extroverted and those that are simply subdued but can be equally amazing to the ears which is what matters first and foremost.
Get down my Alembic Brethren! Adam
goop
Member
Username: goop

Post Number: 68
Registered: 7-2008
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 5:08 am:   Edit Post

Great thread. For me it is and will likely always be Steve Howe. He entertains me like no other.

I was surprised though to see someone else mention Adrian Belew, because that;s what the Vai video reminded me of. I will always be fond of his work with King Crimson and his solo stuff from the same era. More favs...

Jimmy Page
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Pete Towsend
John Lennon
Alex Lifeson
John Frusciante
David Bowie

I like these players for various reasons and not necessarily technique and execution. The dude playing/touring with Steely Dan is tremendous as is the guy in Pearl Jam.

Colin
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1019
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 7:17 am:   Edit Post

Hendrix - did it for me..changed my life..seriously after hearing Voodoo Chile..it still makes me shudder and the hairs on my neck stand up.

Robert Fripp - then came into my ears..technically brilliant even though he can be a bore on stage.
I would recommend trying his blistering cross picking technique and try to get it accurate(FrackTured from The Construktion of Light)is a good example

John McLaughlin - Okay not straight rock but the Inner Mounting Flame & Birds of Fire were at a devastating pace which made the rock audience sit up and notice.
I latched onto his Indian style as it was so different in 1976.

But all the previous ones mentioned have there place in rock music and deserve it totally...favourites is a matter of personal opinion.

Then I discovered funk....and it's bass players!!!
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1020
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 7:21 am:   Edit Post

richbass..Johns scalloped and sympathetic string guitar was designed by Andrew Wechter and built by Gibson(the one on the front cover of the 1st Shakti album) He has second made with a bottom cutaway so he could access the upper frets.
Awesome guitar!!! he used the lightest guage strings so he could play fast and bend them.
Malsteem took the idea to his Strats along with the others mentioned
gare
Senior Member
Username: gare

Post Number: 456
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 8:52 am:   Edit Post

Terry Kath
Steve Howe
David Gilmour
eligilam
Intermediate Member
Username: eligilam

Post Number: 197
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 10:05 am:   Edit Post

East Bay Ray of the Dead Kennedys.


(Oh, and Alex Lifeson's decent, too.)
peoplechipper
Intermediate Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 143
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 11:43 pm:   Edit Post

East Bay Ray's Awesome! nice to see a plug...Alex Lifeson's super cool too and been listening to him since 1976? so many good players for all your moods...Kurt Kirkwood(Meat Puppets), them Sonic Youth guys, Matt Pike(High on Fire), Buzz Osbourne(Melvins), and many more...one guy I wanted to point out(mind you, I've only heard this one track) is a guy called Glenn Phillips, and the song is "Vista Cruiser" on a SST records compilation (if I could find the cd in my massive bins of cd's I'd post the name of it...) anyway, one of the most evocative solos I've ever heard; so perfectly captures one of those moments when you're so happy all you can do is scream and channels it through a guitar...I wanna scream for joy at the sun every time I hear it...

Oh yeah, Pete Townshend is huge...really too many...
Remember I was a guitar player for years before I saw the light and switched to bass....Tony.
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 169
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post

when it comes to punk rock, D Boon. period.
peoplechipper
Intermediate Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 145
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 12:18 am:   Edit Post

D Boon, YEAH!!! agreed...so many greats; I mean, Steve Jones on 'never mind the Bullocks'; great tone!
With so many great guitar players, maybe we need a thread to find guitarists we can agree to dislike...but let's see who we uneath here for awhile....Tony
tom_z
Senior Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 590
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 10:40 am:   Edit Post

My current favorite is Steve Kimock (reportedly one of Garcia's favorites).

Must add David Lindley to this splendid list, and Rory Gallagher too.

Peace

(Message edited by tom_z on August 25, 2009)
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1356
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 11:50 am:   Edit Post

I find Terry Kath being brought up very interesting. I've heard it said that Jimmy Hendrix thought Terry was the best guitarist he had heard and that Terry was better than he was.

Keith
briant
Advanced Member
Username: briant

Post Number: 366
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post

Terry Kath was fabulous. I've heard similar praise from Hendrix though I've never seen an official source to verify it is true or not.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8641
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post

Tony; you may find this of interest; Glenn Phillips playing Vista Cruiser live.
hg30904
Member
Username: hg30904

Post Number: 52
Registered: 6-2003
Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

Terry Kath is one of my all-time faves.

Also, I always thought that Peter Cetera was under-appreciated as a bass player. He did some pretty nice things on bass while singing quite dificult lines!
peoplechipper
Intermediate Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 147
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 12:28 am:   Edit Post

Thanks Dave, that was cool!

Another cool guitarist is Mike Sullivan with Russian Circles; using a looping pedal he creates these beautiful, intricate melodies that can turn ferocious on a dime and do it all live...he even does tapping and it doesn't sound like a gimmick...Tony
lysosome
Intermediate Member
Username: lysosome

Post Number: 130
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 5:20 am:   Edit Post

Here's something to check out. I just found this this morning. I've never been big into Buckethead simply because I'm not a guitar player, but this song is something to hear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV8-_hgL4g&feature=related
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2391
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 5:21 am:   Edit Post

My favourite anything changes from day to day but I never tire of listening to John Petrucci of Dream Theater. I think he has a pretty talented bass player and drummer too doesn't he? ;-)

Graeme
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 8650
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 8:48 am:   Edit Post

Graeme; and keyboard player!
jedisan
Member
Username: jedisan

Post Number: 97
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 4:46 pm:   Edit Post

Ok, some of my favorites... in no particular order.

Eric Clapton, Les Dudek, Duane Allman, Jason Becker, Robbie Dunbar, George Harrison, Paul Simon, Don Felder, Gary Moore, Peter Frampton...

just a few, I am sure I have a couple of more favorites, I just can't think of.
lindoom
Junior
Username: lindoom

Post Number: 20
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 7:00 pm:   Edit Post

Frank Marino!
pauldo
Advanced Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 252
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 8:36 pm:   Edit Post

Not sure how I forgot him - Warren Haynes.
jbybj
Advanced Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 223
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 10:46 pm:   Edit Post

IN addition to many mentioned here already, I'd like to add Dickey Betts, Lowell George, Billy Zoom, and, frankly I can't believe I'm the first one to mention













TED NUGENT!!!!!!!

Rock on,
JBY
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 2393
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 1:08 am:   Edit Post

I've always loved george harrison's playing.

Graeme

p.s. Dave - you're absolutey right, Jordan Rudess is a superb keyboard player. For that matter, James laBrie can sing a few decent notes too (although he does sometimes sound as if he's straining to reach the high notes when singing live).
hydrargyrum
Senior Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 657
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 6:26 am:   Edit Post

Count me in as another huge George Harrison fan. But I also like:

Ali Farka Toure
Ry Cooder
Marc Ribot
Smokey Hormel
David Gilmour
Nels Cline
Leo Kottke
Jimmy Herring
Michael Houser
Jerry Garcia
and any number of other players a whole lot as well.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 4068
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 7:26 am:   Edit Post

Some more who have yet to be mentioned, but should get their props:

Jorma Kaukonen
David Bromberg
Robbie Robertson
Roy Buchanan

Bill, tgo
gyonnii
Junior
Username: gyonnii

Post Number: 50
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 7:39 am:   Edit Post

JOE PERRY
RICHIE SAMBORA and one of my true favorites for uniqueness of tone
BRIAN MAY
tom_z
Senior Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 592
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 10:18 am:   Edit Post

Let's add John Cipolina to the list too.
funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 475
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 1:17 pm:   Edit Post

Are any of you familiar with Ernie Isley? Dywane "Blackbyrd" McKnight?
afrobeat_fool
Member
Username: afrobeat_fool

Post Number: 82
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 2:40 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah, He played on a few Headhunter records. Very cool. And let's not forget Wah wah Watson, Johnny Guitar Watson, David T Walker, and Ray Parker Jr. These guys are the backbone of Funk, and are on most of the great albums of the 1970's. The ice man, Albert Collins. B.O.C.'s Buck Dharma. And a Master, mostly unknown, the father of ska, and reggae, Ernest Ranglin. If you have not heard of him, you are seriously missing out. My favorite of his stuff is with the pianist Monty Alexander. Earnest started out with a Ukulele when he was 4.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Fj-wfl4v0
tom_z
Senior Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 594
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 3:07 pm:   Edit Post

Another fine funk guitarist would be original Funky Meters member, Leo Nocentelli.
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 141
Registered: 7-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 5:46 pm:   Edit Post

I know you didn't say Ernie Isley?

"Who is that Lady" solo Ernie Isley?

I could listen to that earth shattering solo forever. That song gave Ernie a "football field" or an air-plane hanger of space. His brother Marvin played a mean Alembic Series I on "who is that lady" recording. This was my introduction years to Alembic. Then I got hit with their song "Atlantis" Ernie is so smooth, he helped me many times set the mood with his rock cords.

Dywane "Blackbyrd" McKnigh -
The P-Funk Guitar Army - Tribute to Jimi Hendrix CD 1997

People should know these guys music before they hold their heads up to one or two cats...

WHAT DID YOU SAY HAL?!!!!
(you can't hear me...)

(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 27, 2009)
peoplechipper
Intermediate Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 148
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2009 - 11:24 pm:   Edit Post

How about Danny Gatton? no one's mentioned him yet...and Neil Young; his electric playing is a singular sound; actually, HE is a singular sound...I remember first hearing "sleeps with angels" and thinking' I didn't know Neil could play flute'...sure enough, that was him on flute; he sounds the same on any instrument-a singular voice that is awesome and to be aspired to...Tony
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 827
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 12:39 am:   Edit Post

Neil is my hero!!

Danny was awesome too...love that clip on Austin city limits where he uses a full and foaming beer for a slide, and then dries off the guitar by playing through a towel.
bigyouth
Intermediate Member
Username: bigyouth

Post Number: 173
Registered: 7-2006
Posted on Friday, August 28, 2009 - 4:51 am:   Edit Post

for me
Richie Blackmore(Deep Purple)
peoplechipper
Intermediate Member
Username: peoplechipper

Post Number: 150
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 29, 2009 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post

My first brush with greatness was Robbie Robertson; his brother used to own a Bata shoe store at the mall my dad managed...when the brother got married Robbie wound up sleeping on my couch; I was five...I probably pestered a hung-over rock star on MY couch and ruined his head with cartoons...sorry. Tony
bigbadbill
Senior Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 515
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 13, 2009 - 6:50 am:   Edit Post

I thought I heard a few Beck-isms and a few Holdsworth-isms in that clip. Steve's a phenomenal guitarist, but not really my cup of tea. I'm more an Yngwie fan when it comes to that type of player. Having said that, my all time faves are Dave Gilmour, Andy Latimer of Camel, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac (yep, you heard right), John Frusciante and of course Jimi.

Oh, and a nod to Frank Marino too, who was actually a big influence on my bass playing!

(Message edited by bigbadbill on September 13, 2009)
sonicus
Advanced Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 341
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Sunday, September 13, 2009 - 8:25 am:   Edit Post

I don't think that any one has mentioned Robben Ford . i like his tone and his chops!
jeffbass4
Junior
Username: jeffbass4

Post Number: 32
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 4:20 pm:   Edit Post

I have to jump on the Steve Vai bandwagon here.
His skill level, heart and soul, and his vocabulary on his instrument along with the total control of being able to tweak ANY sound out of it puts him at the top of my list. I don't beleive there is anything he could not play. "For the Love of God" to me, is one of the most beautiful, lyrical guitar melodies I've ever heard. Like the song posted above it always evokes emotion no matter how many times I hear it. The phrasing and arrangment are the best.
Now I love Van Halen, Gilmore, Nugent, Page, and tons of others for their unique style and contributions and they each excel in their area but very few can do it all. Steve Morse and Steve Howe are a couple of more I really like that can do it all.
What I wouldn't give to do 1 tour behind Vai so I could hear him play every night!! I'm not as good as Billy but I could hold my own.......
benson_murrensun
Intermediate Member
Username: benson_murrensun

Post Number: 170
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 2:59 pm:   Edit Post

Steve's a wonderful player! But, oh, that loincloth! Or, is it an apron? I don't know.
gyonnii
Member
Username: gyonnii

Post Number: 54
Registered: 3-2009
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 6:10 pm:   Edit Post

kind of reminds of a Black Bistro apron!
yggdrasil
Intermediate Member
Username: yggdrasil

Post Number: 183
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 08, 2009 - 4:28 pm:   Edit Post

Jorma

Robin Trower
Fripp
Sonny Landreth
Mick Taylor
Kimock
Pete Cosey (on Miles' "rock" albums Agharta, Pangaea era.)
bigbadbill
Senior Member
Username: bigbadbill

Post Number: 520
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 9:32 am:   Edit Post

Oh, with regards to the Crossroads thing, Arlen Roth coached Ralph, Ry Cooder played all the blues/slide stuf, Vai did Vai (obviously) and I remember reading at the time the film came out that Vai also did the "classical" part Ralph plays in the "Cuttin' Heads" section. I remember having lots of fun trying to work that part out on bass many years ago. This is what it actually says on Wiki:

"Most of the battle is played by Vai, except for Eugene's blues parts at the beginning of the duel which are played by Ry Cooder, and can be heard on Vai's album The Elusive Light and Sound, volume 1."

It seems I remembered rightly.


One other guitarist I love who deserves a mention is Scott Gorham; I actually like him best of all the guitarists who've been in Lizzy.

(Message edited by bigbadbill on October 12, 2009)
bracheen
Senior Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 1514
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, October 12, 2009 - 11:15 am:   Edit Post

Bill Panzer of course!

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