Who do you think the best guitarist is / was?

Living or dead?

I cannot decide myself...so I will choose 2.

Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughn

My picks would be Tonino Baliardo from the gypsy kings although he only played acoustic .

Although Keith Urban comes a close second .

Haha got to love these threads, its all so subjective! Considering how many genres exist, its impossible.

There are also a lot of aspects to consider. What exactly defines "best"? Is it their technicality? Is it their songwriting ability where they are able to pump out hit after hit? Or was it their innovation? Where they did something so completely new and different, they created their own style. Or better yet, created a whole new genre.

I suppose one might argue that the "best" guitarist was one that excelled in all those aspects.

Personally for me, I love all my favorite musicians equally :). One is not better than the other because one may be more technical, yet the other is a better songwriter, etc etc.

Merwood 'just acoustic'. You did NOT say that. hahaahaha! You do know that Gipsy Kings are from France, right?

Jarsew, very diplomatic answer. Let me put it to you another way. This is a FUN thread so relax and take a breath here. You are stranded on a deserted island. You can listen to a maximum of two guitarists works for the time you are there. Who would those be?

Oddly enough, Hendrix & SRV would be at the top of my list. But also Page, Santana, EVH... Hard to really nail it down.

Originally Posted by: KerryInHollandJarsew, very diplomatic answer. Let me put it to you another way. This is a FUN thread so relax and take a breath here. You are stranded on a deserted island. You can listen to a maximum of two guitarists works for the time you are there. Who would those be?

Haha ok, stranded on a deserted island? Well, the style that has suited my taste best is the singer-songwriter of Opeth, Mikael Åkerfeldt. I even named my dog after him, Åker...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbubISlLdH8&feature=related

I could listen to him play solo guitar hours upon hours... Love the guitar, love his vocals. I am a huge sucker for diminished and augmented chords when used in a beautiful way, and he pulls it off very well.

Followed your opeth link... Like the music. Checked out some of their other stuff on youtube. Liked what I was hearing when cookie monster stayed out of the picture.

Haha...Cookie monster...

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerFollowed your opeth link... Like the music. Checked out some of their other stuff on youtube. Liked what I was hearing when cookie monster stayed out of the picture.

Haha fair enough. But just for you Rick, here are the links to all their instrumentals and "clean" songs:

Watershed album (2008):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3tDw7znNyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CES-rze2m1s

Ghost Reveries (2005):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7sdZVSJhK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAUwCQdOurA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8S55bLP-pE

Damnation (2003- whole album is clean):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzLDT73bkk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x6YclsLHN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIh_XC_PaZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UHqEi8rfJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KjOhoH0dY4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBgoiLiNuXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gOfr7T4zAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bx1Qsgawz4

Deliverance (2002):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18-_blPsRuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpC6r0GD1uw

Blackwater Park (2001):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxaFANthouM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvLn8j4c5l4 (1st half is clean...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjLCBrSH4gE

Still Life (1999):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDIIGsf-i_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80UTrCKxb6U (amazing intro...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV1Fe9de0dA

They have 3 albums before Still Life that are so-so, they were still looking for their sound.

Theres quite a bit there to listen to, but based on what you have liked of their clean stuff, you will probably like every link.

jimmy page

Originally Posted by: shahnenjimmy page

Definitely, also SRV, hendrix, Clapton and the best acoustc guitarist ever andy Mckee

Two best guitar players I've ever seen in person:
- Steve Stevens
- Mitch Perry

Jason Becker. Thats all there is to say =]

Originally Posted by: PerpetualBlazeJason Becker. Thats all there is to say =]

Jason Becker is one of my favs, been listening to him since I started guitar about 8-9 years ago and I still listen to him a lot

Originally Posted by: JarsewHaha ok, stranded on a deserted island? Well, the style that has suited my taste best is the singer-songwriter of Opeth, Mikael Åkerfeldt. I even named my dog after him, Åker...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbubISlLdH8&feature=related

This reminds me a lot of Queensrÿche. It also reminds me somewhat of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Nice. Thanks for this.

Originally Posted by: PerpetualBlazeJason Becker. Thats all there is to say =]

I'm not familiar with this artist. Must Google now. This thread is opening my ears to some new stuff. Thanks, all.

*Just* read about him. Replacement for Vai in DLR's band. Ok. Cool. I saw DLR w/ Vai back in the 80s but hadn't heard of Becker. I think maybe because the Guitar World became saturated with these style of guitarists. No offense. Or maybe I just wasn't aware enough at the time. I think DLR started to decline in popularity after Becker joined.

Adam Jones is the man. His tone, his feel and attitude, everything just rules. Tool is a masterclass group all the way around, but I was starting to give up on guitar until Jones came onto the scene.

Originally Posted by: KerryInHollandThis reminds me a lot of Queensrÿche. It also reminds me somewhat of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Nice. Thanks for this.[/QUOTE]Yup, hes a huge King Crimson fan.

[QUOTE=KerryInHolland]I'm not familiar with this artist. Must Google now. This thread is opening my ears to some new stuff. Thanks, all.

*Just* read about him. Replacement for Vai in DLR's band. Ok. Cool. I saw DLR w/ Vai back in the 80s but hadn't heard of Becker. I think maybe because the Guitar World became saturated with these style of guitarists. No offense. Or maybe I just wasn't aware enough at the time. I think DLR started to decline in popularity after Becker joined.

How far did you read exactly? He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease, and was able to only record one album with DLR, and was barely able to finish. I guess my point is that its probably more accurate to say DLR started to decline in popularity once Vai left.

Also, Jason Becker in my opinion wasnt necessarily your typical radio-hit-songwriter, that wasnt his style. But simply a virtuoso, a shredder. Being extremely technical is a different talent then being able to write hit songs. So my second point is that you need to judge him based on his Perpetual Burn album, where he is 100% himself and not trying to write radio crap.

Here is one song off that album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtjOe5e9VFA

Here is another off the same album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wFoSbjXB68

For me, he is the only shredder that I can actually listen to in awe anymore. I get bored easily with most shredders. It seems as if theres much more emotion in his stuff than what most shredders write, but of course thats my own personal reaction, a very subjective... subject :D

Also, his writing arrangements are incredible. He flows very well from beginning of the song til the end. You can almost imagine a storyline; such as an intro, a build up, a climax, outro, etc. I think thats pretty talented since most of his stuff isnt a standard song format such as verses/choruses. Not to mention he was 18 when he wrote the album...

A question that honestly has no set answer, pending on your tastes. However, below are some links to some of favorite guitarists and kids that have had a huge influence on me.

Jeff Parker
Bill Frisell
Nels Cline
Charlie Hunter
Jake Cinneger
Chalmers Alford
Michael Hedges

Carlos Santana, David Gilmour. I'm an old fart, what can I say.