Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: john_judge on August 22, 2009, 08:30:08 AM

Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 22, 2009, 08:30:08 AM
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KUSkGeaUPU)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009, 08:44:40 AM
Steve Vai, was a student Joe Satriani
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 22, 2009, 09:29:24 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: pauldo on August 22, 2009, 10:06:28 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009, 10:32:04 AM
Personally I don't believe in the best any more.
 
The best guitarist will never be televised.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: David Houck on August 22, 2009, 10:33:59 AM
Thanks John, it was nice to see that one again this morning!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: dannobasso on August 22, 2009, 11:24:16 AM
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DX_khMvAYk)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: crobbins on August 22, 2009, 11:46:39 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lbpesq on August 22, 2009, 12:20:12 PM
Jerry.
 
'nuff said.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jet_powers on August 22, 2009, 12:28:50 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: keith_h on August 22, 2009, 12:42:46 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lidon2001 on August 22, 2009, 12:44:54 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: crobbins on August 22, 2009, 01:16:23 PM
My favorite.
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/69103.jpg)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: pauldo on August 22, 2009, 02:24:49 PM
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!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: dannobasso on August 22, 2009, 02:39:15 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: darkstar01 on August 22, 2009, 03:16:15 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 22, 2009, 03:20:58 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: briant on August 22, 2009, 03:34:13 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009, 05:07:42 PM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 22, 2009, 06:29:36 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bsee on August 22, 2009, 07:52:02 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 22, 2009, 08:16:09 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lysosome on August 22, 2009, 11:34:36 PM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: dnburgess on August 23, 2009, 12:49:32 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: 57basstra on August 23, 2009, 01:05:22 AM
George Harrison
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on August 23, 2009, 06:58:21 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: richbass939 on August 23, 2009, 07:09:58 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: crobbins on August 23, 2009, 07:34:03 AM
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..
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jerryme on August 23, 2009, 08:24:39 AM
Jerry Garcia
Michael Houser
Duane Allman
Jimmy Herring
Derek Trucks
Bobby Weir
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 23, 2009, 08:26:36 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lbpesq on August 23, 2009, 09:04:37 AM
John:
 
One correction to your metaphor.  Jerry painted the heavens above the house during the day, and the Dark Stars at night.
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 23, 2009, 10:35:12 AM
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!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 23, 2009, 11:19:53 AM
Young Guitarist Henry Garza is someone to watch. Clean without all the effects.
 
Noted for the song:
How far is Heaven
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 23, 2009, 05:29:26 PM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jagerphan84 on August 23, 2009, 05:48:11 PM
IIRC, it was Ry Cooder who laid down Ralph's track for Crossroads.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 23, 2009, 06:07:25 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: basicvoo on August 23, 2009, 06:52:35 PM
For me, Steve Vai's former employer; Mr Frank Zappa. For his sheer unmitigated audacity.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bsee on August 23, 2009, 07:30:51 PM
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...
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: crobbins on August 23, 2009, 07:48:33 PM
I thought Arlen Roth coached Ralph in that flick..
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: john_judge on August 23, 2009, 08:23:35 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: 2400wattman on August 23, 2009, 10:48:10 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: goop on August 24, 2009, 05:08:31 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: terryc on August 24, 2009, 07:17:19 AM
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!!!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: terryc on August 24, 2009, 07:21:31 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: gare on August 24, 2009, 08:52:35 AM
Terry Kath
Steve Howe
David Gilmour
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: eligilam on August 24, 2009, 10:05:51 AM
East Bay Ray of the Dead Kennedys.
 
 
(Oh, and Alex Lifeson's decent, too.)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: peoplechipper on August 24, 2009, 11:43:47 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: darkstar01 on August 24, 2009, 11:48:05 PM
when it comes to punk rock, D Boon. period.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: peoplechipper on August 25, 2009, 12:18:44 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: tom_z on August 25, 2009, 10:40:35 AM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: keith_h on August 25, 2009, 11:50:10 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: briant on August 25, 2009, 12:59:11 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: David Houck on August 25, 2009, 06:23:39 PM
Tony; you may find this of interest; Glenn Phillips playing Vista Cruiser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-LB-il_3nI) live.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: hg30904 on August 25, 2009, 06:41:13 PM
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!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: peoplechipper on August 26, 2009, 12:28:10 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lysosome on August 26, 2009, 05:20:07 AM
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV8-_hgL4g&feature=related)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jacko on August 26, 2009, 05:21:56 AM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: David Houck on August 26, 2009, 08:48:11 AM
Graeme; and keyboard player!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jedisan on August 26, 2009, 04:46:06 PM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lindoom on August 26, 2009, 07:00:06 PM
Frank Marino!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: pauldo on August 26, 2009, 08:36:12 PM
Not sure how I forgot him - Warren Haynes.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jbybj on August 26, 2009, 10:46:39 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jacko on August 27, 2009, 01:08:12 AM
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).
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: hydrargyrum on August 27, 2009, 06:26:26 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: lbpesq on August 27, 2009, 07:26:03 AM
Some more who have yet to be mentioned, but should get their props:
 
Jorma Kaukonen
David Bromberg
Robbie Robertson
Roy Buchanan
 
Bill, tgo
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: gyonnii on August 27, 2009, 07:39:15 AM
JOE PERRY
RICHIE SAMBORA and one of my true favorites for uniqueness of tone
BRIAN MAY
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: tom_z on August 27, 2009, 10:18:57 AM
Let's add John Cipolina to the list too.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on August 27, 2009, 01:17:59 PM
Are any of you familiar with Ernie Isley? Dywane Blackbyrd McKnight?
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: afrobeat_fool on August 27, 2009, 02:40:08 PM
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Fj-wfl4v0)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: tom_z on August 27, 2009, 03:07:13 PM
Another fine funk guitarist would be original Funky Meters member, Leo Nocentelli.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: toma_hawk01 on August 27, 2009, 05:46:46 PM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: peoplechipper on August 27, 2009, 11:24:44 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: elwoodblue on August 28, 2009, 12:39:43 AM
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.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bigyouth on August 28, 2009, 04:51:45 AM
for me  
Richie Blackmore(Deep Purple)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: peoplechipper on August 29, 2009, 11:36:21 PM
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
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bigbadbill on September 13, 2009, 06:50:48 AM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: sonicus on September 13, 2009, 08:25:01 AM
I don't think that any one has mentioned Robben Ford . i like his tone and his chops!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: jeffbass4 on September 14, 2009, 04:20:59 PM
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.......
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: benson_murrensun on September 15, 2009, 02:59:02 PM
Steve's a wonderful player! But, oh, that loincloth! Or, is it an apron? I don't know.
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: gyonnii on September 15, 2009, 06:10:25 PM
kind of reminds of a Black Bistro apron!
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: yggdrasil on October 08, 2009, 04:28:24 PM
Jorma
 
Robin Trower
Fripp
Sonny Landreth
Mick Taylor
Kimock
Pete Cosey (on Miles' rock albums Agharta, Pangaea era.)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bigbadbill on October 12, 2009, 09:32:29 AM
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)
Title: Favorite Rock guitarist
Post by: bracheen on October 12, 2009, 11:15:16 AM
Bill Panzer of course!