T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Not sure what world the guitar world pollsters live in but it must be a small, tiny one. https://www.guitarworld.com/news/brian-may-nudges-out-jimi-hendrix-to-top-total-guitar-greatest-rock-guitarist-of-all-time-poll 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdutton Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Joshin' Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 May is good but not in top 10 IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuvian Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 No one touches Jimi. Jimi is God. Not that I'm critical of Brian May. I think he's an excellent and enduring guitarist but can anyone cite anything he's done that warrants him being on the same page as Jimi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 22 minutes ago, stuvian said: No one touches Jimi. Jimi is God. Not that I'm critical of Brian May. I think he's an excellent and enduring guitarist but can anyone cite anything he's done that warrants him being on the same page as Jimi? There are a veritable slew of guitarists May doesn't belong on the same page with. That's not to say he isn't very good. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Just Joshin' said: May is good but not in top 10 IMO. Not even the top 100 imo... must have been one of those polls where the "team" gets voted on from a fan base. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34-78-83 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Guitarists cannot be compared like sports teams. There is art and artistry involved. Great ones are just great. Joe Pass? Great. Jimi Herring? Great. Bruce Cockburn? Great Alex Skolnick? Great How many average random humans have even heard of them? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, 34-78-83 said: Guitarists cannot be compared like sports teams. There is art and artistry involved. Great ones are just great. Joe Pass? Great. Jimi Herring? Great. Bruce Cockburn? Great Alex Skolnick? Great How many average random humans have even heard of them? I have heard of all of them... I think, but c'mon... Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa, Steve Howe, Al Dimeola, Jimmy Page, Clapton, Duane Allman... that poll is just what I mentioned, for a laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I stopped reading at "asked its readers"... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Success Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Brian May is on my Mt. Rushmore. But Hendrix does stand alone. It's interesting w/ Hendrix. I never really thought his records captured the man's greatness. When you see the live clips, it's a whole other story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bferra13 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) As a ham and egger guitar player for 15 years or so, May is being severely overlooked in this thread, and I dont even like Queen. Love Jimi as a guitar player and his music, he was a natural talent, but lacked technical skill and a lot of his songs just use chord exaggerations and Jimi really stayed in his comfort zone with chord progressions and soloing. I'd personally take Jimmy Page over both of them if we are simply judging guitar playing. Jimi died way too young. The sky was the limit for him had he stayed alive and especially had he learned more about understanding music theory. With that being said, what he was doing in the 60's was totally revolutionary. I think his mark on music is more that than his technical skill on the axe. He accomplished so much in such a short time. Makes ya think how much brilliance we missed out on with his early passing. Edited June 12, 2020 by Bferra13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 7 hours ago, stuvian said: No one touches Jimi. Jimi is God. Not that I'm critical of Brian May. I think he's an excellent and enduring guitarist but can anyone cite anything he's done that warrants him being on the same page as Jimi? Maybe the 5 boxcars of Guitar World magazine he agreed to purchase just before the poll closed? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 9 hours ago, T&C said: Not sure what world the guitar world pollsters live in but it must be a small, tiny one. https://www.guitarworld.com/news/brian-may-nudges-out-jimi-hendrix-to-top-total-guitar-greatest-rock-guitarist-of-all-time-poll I have a feeling that the Bohemian Rhapsody movie had a lot to do with it. Probably a lot of young voters that had no reference to the ‘60s-‘70s time period other than seeing that flick a dozen times. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 6 hours ago, Bferra13 said: As a ham and egger guitar player for 15 years or so, May is being severely overlooked in this thread, and I dont even like Queen. Love Jimi as a guitar player and his music, he was a natural talent, but lacked technical skill and a lot of his songs just use chord exaggerations and Jimi really stayed in his comfort zone with chord progressions and soloing. I'd personally take Jimmy Page over both of them if we are simply judging guitar playing. Jimi died way too young. The sky was the limit for him had he stayed alive and especially had he learned more about understanding music theory. With that being said, what he was doing in the 60's was totally revolutionary. I think his mark on music is more that than his technical skill on the axe. He accomplished so much in such a short time. Makes ya think how much brilliance we missed out on with his early passing. With due respect, there is a ton of Jimi Hendrix material out there and my assumption is that you haven't listened to very much of it. These lists are always silly, but they generate discussion, so I'm cool with it. Brian May knows he's not even close to Hendrix. I am a Brian May/Queen fan, too. After decades of having these discussions, I've firmly nailed down my top 2: Hendrix and SRV. It's always been difficult for me to "lock in" my choice for the GOAT ... but it's usually Jimi. I do agree that we missed out on tons of brilliance due to his early passig. During the last Experience Hendrix tour, I was able to see Joe Satriani absolutely KILL (in a good way) some of Jimi's more rocking tunes. A buddy of mine didn't like it. Wondered why someone like Satriani was even there. I loved it. I think, had Hendrix lived, he'd have been Satriani before Satriani became Satriani. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 9 hours ago, stuvian said: No one touches Jimi. Jimi is God. Not that I'm critical of Brian May. I think he's an excellent and enduring guitarist but can anyone cite anything he's done that warrants him being on the same page as Jimi? To me it's between Hendrix and SVR as the best. Honorable mention to Clapton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34-78-83 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Greg S said: To me it's between Hendrix and SVR as the best. Honorable mention to Clapton. All great I agree but all largely blues based. There are worlds of other great players out there every bit as good as them. I'll reiterate that lists like these are stupid. There are no standings or W-L records. Great is Great. 10 hours ago, T&C said: I have heard of all of them... I think, but c'mon... Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa, Steve Howe, Al Dimeola, Jimmy Page, Clapton, Duane Allman... that poll is just what I mentioned, for a laugh. Also all great players! Exactly why there can't be rankings once you reach great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Toll Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 EVH, Mick Ronson and Frank Gambale deserve some love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Another great guitarist who should be mentioned is Lindsey Buckingham. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasons1992 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 This is preposterous. If there's ANYONE that should be above Jimi, it's either the other Jimmy (Page), or SRV. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 2 hours ago, Greg S said: Another great guitarist who should be mentioned is Lindsey Buckingham. Great call. I'll add Mark Knopfler. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 7 minutes ago, Gugny said: Great call. I'll add Mark Knopfler. Great call with Mark Knopler as well. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 musical taste is subjective and as such the same with guitar players. There could be arguments for several as have been suggested my personal fav happens to be Stevie Ray Vaughn but Im not going to dis May he's great too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) there is a 10 year old kid from Australia named Taj Farrant total prodigy the kid will knock your socks off....youtube his name if you haven't heard of him he's brilliant and at age 10......unreal skill already. He will be on lists for best guitarist ever at some point its a Lock. Edited June 12, 2020 by Margarita FARRANT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Success Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 5 hours ago, Greg S said: Another great guitarist who should be mentioned is Lindsey Buckingham. Absolutely! He invented his own style, just like Knopfler. His playing is both understated & absolutely amazing. I'm also partial to 2 guys from the Chili Peppers (a band that has its share of top musicians, including Flea, who is among the best ever at bass). Both Hillel Slovak & John Frusciante were/are total innovators & brilliant. Another poster mentioned how subjective this is. It really depends on what you value in a guitar player. I have never cared much for guys who were mostly speed, like Van Halen or Malmsteen, though those players are clearly extremely talented. For me, it's gotta have some heart & soul. May belongs in the upper echelon, imo. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Success Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 This thread also got me thinking about one of my favorite musical clips of all time - the "Star Spangled Banner" performance from Woodstock. Everything about that is pure magic. I love that most had left the festival at that point, and only a relative few actually saw it. The camera work was amazing. And I've never seen a solo combine elements of art, politics, war and such emotion like that one did. It was the perfect musical statement at the perfect time. Bombs & strafing from Vietnam came through that guitar. I never get tired of watching that one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halloween Land Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Joe Perry is one of the best as is Richie Sanborn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 I saw this on another board but thought it would also make a great thread and that is list your top 3 favorite songs. It is really hard to narrow it down to 3 but here are mine. Clapton ….Layla Skynyrd ….Freebird Floyd ……..Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitmic Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 16 hours ago, T&C said: I have heard of all of them... I think, but c'mon... Robert Fripp, Frank Zappa, Steve Howe, Al Dimeola, Jimmy Page, Clapton, Duane Allman... that poll is just what I mentioned, for a laugh. David Gilmore Carlos Santana Jerry Garcia This finishes the top 10 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muppy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Prince was a GREAT guitar player.......I saw a youtube of adam levine paying a purple rain cover that was amazingly good although his name wouldnt enter into anyones best guitarist discussion there are MANY exquisite examples of guitar musicianship...I cant play but man do I appreciate folks who Can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 8 minutes ago, frostbitmic said: David Gilmore Carlos Santana Jerry Garcia This finishes the top 10 Thing is, those "pollsters" must be young or didn't look very far back. I would add Jorma, Harvey Mandell, Terry Kath, Glen Campbell, Al Kooper, etc. Way ahead of Brian May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Best Player Available Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 (edited) May's recent popularity surge is somewhat due to the Queen movie. When May was 15-16. he hung out in London clubs. At the time, Rory Gallagher was still with Taste. May would wait until the Taste gig was over and Rory would let him pick his brain, and show him riffs. It is by no accident May prefers Vox AC30TB amps his whole carear. Dick Cavett to Jimi Hendrix: Man , what's it like to be the greatest guitar player in the world? Jimi: I don't know you would have to ask Rory Galagher. Edited June 12, 2020 by Best Player Available 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Best Player Available said: Dick Cavett to Jimi Hendrix: Man , what's it like to be the greatest guitar player in the world? Jimi: I don't know you would have to ask Rory Galagher. I have never seen that quote by Hendrix. Thank you, and thank you for the memory of Dick Cavett. His shows always seemed a step above the rest of the genre. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Best Player Available said: May's recent popularity surge is somewhat due to the Queen movie. When May was 15-16. he hung out in London clubs. At the time, Rory Gallagher was still with Taste. May would wait until the Taste gig was over and Rory would let him pick his brain, and show him riffs. It is by no accident May prefers Vox AC30TB amps his whole carear. Dick Cavett to Jimi Hendrix: Man , what's it like to be the greatest guitar player in the world? Jimi: I don't know you would have to ask Rory Galagher. Thought Jimi mentioned Terry Kath, not Rory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nextmanup Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 9 hours ago, Greg S said: To me it's between Hendrix and SVR as the best. Honorable mention to Clapton. You must listen to a very narrow spectrum of music. All of those guys you mention are virtually identical in their approach to and take on music. Of those 3, SRV is the best IMO. But there is so much more to the world of guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 8 hours ago, Greg S said: Another great guitarist who should be mentioned is Lindsey Buckingham. Yes...Lindsey Buckingham was Fleetwood Mac, IMO. They're done now that Lindsey is out. Why is Billy Duffy of the Cult not mentioned? Nevermind, rhetorical question. He may be the most underrated guitar player, again IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 22 hours ago, T&C said: Not sure what world the guitar world pollsters live in but it must be a small, tiny one. https://www.guitarworld.com/news/brian-may-nudges-out-jimi-hendrix-to-top-total-guitar-greatest-rock-guitarist-of-all-time-poll Wasn't there a poll by some rock and roll mag way back where Karen Carpenter won out over John Bonham for "Best Drummer"? 9 hours ago, Greg S said: Another great guitarist who should be mentioned is Lindsey Buckingham. Shouldn't Mike Campbell get a bit of love? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T&C Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 21 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said: Wasn't there a poll by some rock and roll mag way back where Karen Carpenter won out over John Bonham for "Best Drummer"? Shouldn't Mike Campbell get a bit of love? Don't know about the Karen Carpenter thing... sounds like Mad magazine material lol. Adrian Belew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountDorkula Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 4 hours ago, frostbitmic said: David Gilmore Carlos Santana Jerry Garcia This finishes the top 10 Paul Gilbert. He can rival any of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Eric Clapton; more versatile and a great body of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Best Player Available Posted June 13, 2020 Share Posted June 13, 2020 2 hours ago, T&C said: Thought Jimi mentioned Terry Kath, not Rory. I don't have a link? The Rory/Jimi stuff runs deep. That said Kath was no slouch either. Dont remember Kath being mentioned. Hendrix was infatuated with Gallagher upon arriving in the UK. In particular Gallaghers sound he got from a strat. He drove to Cork too see him the day after his Marquee debut. Went to the Rory Gallagher festival in Ireland a few years back. Was there on business. Slash played, lots of outrageous players. Recommend it for any fan of Rory, unless there's a pandemic going on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts