Initially, I thought Bucket Head sat on this throne alone until I heard John 5. This guy is incredible. http://www.john-5.com/

Depends on the genre of music.

For versatility in playing in various genres, i.e. rock, blues, jazz fusion, rockabilly, classical, funk and techno - JEFF BECK is the best alive for me.

RnBAmbassador said:

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I feel you RnBAmbassador, Jeff Beck is a bad boy. Still great too. In fact, I'll be seeing him next month in DC at the Wolf Trap.

I don't mind Buckethead, he's got soul.
John 5, no soul at all.

Santana is still the greatest.

RnBAmbassador said:

yessire
It's just comes to personal taste really when it comes to the genuine.

n' just cause buckethead knows all the scales in the world doesn't earn him any profound spot in the culture of rock n roll
all angus young's played in history is the pentatonic, and he's miles beyond him -why? because he's built songs that connect to generations apon generations around the world on the base of his heart.
[Edited 5/15/10 11:24am]

eventually I figured out that for me, the "Best Guitarist" is something far different than "Fastest Guitarist". I mentioned John 5 before, having no soul. I watched the linked video and closed it in half a minute, because it was boring to me. Speed for speed's sake is boring.

So my definition of "Best Guitarist" is the guy who's an interesting and tasteful player, and doesn't have a generic tone. Here are my best guitarists:

Santana
Lenny Kravitz & Craig Ross
Mattias Jabs (Scorpions)
Richie Sambora

I'd say Eddie Van Halen was by far the best during the DLR years.

Jeff Beck.

midiscover said:

You better tell it! His EMOTION & COMMOTION album says it all

RnBAmbassador said:

For me I can't pick just one. Eddie Van Halen and Carlos Santana. Prince ain't too bad either.

abigail05 said:

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I would have to say that you have provided a very fair response Abigail05

abigail05 said:

----

Could that be why John 5 wrote the song, "The Devil Know's My Name?"

abigail05 said:

Good list but ..Kravitz and Sambora?!? Firreal? they are posers.

Ty Tabor - King's X
Carlos
EVH...still...
Jesse Johnson...soul...nuff said.

John 5 and these other "chops Doods" are just boring. Saying a lot of nothing.

ERNIE ISLEY IS A BEAST!!!!! (And Prince also).

NastradumasKid said:

phunkdaddy said:

I have seen most of the greats alive today, and I would have to agree with those of you that said Jeff Beck. I have seen John 5 three times(1x with Marilyn Manson and 2x with Rob Zombie). He is a really good guitarist, but not a great one. Although I did miss him last time I saw Marilyn Manson, Twiggy has no business trying to handle the lead guitarist role in that band.
[Edited 5/17/10 23:12pm]

NastradumasKid said:

YEP

Harlepolis said:

Excellent!

...

I think all I can really say is "favorite"--- it's too subjective, and everybody's looking for something different when they listen to music----it all comes down to what moves you, and in the end, that has very little to do with how much technique a player has, or doesn't have.....

I have a bunch of favorites , and they all probably vary widely in range and playing ability, but they all make me feel something special....but anyway, here are some of my favorites...



Allan Holdsworth
Jean Paul Bourelly
Wayne Krantz
Jeff Beck
Carlos Santana
Ernie Isley
Kazumi Watanabe
Pat Metheny
Prince
Lewis Taylor
Jimi Hazel
Larry Carlton
Bill Nelson
Nile Rodgers
Ray Gomez
Kevin Eubanks
David Gilmore
Corrado Rusticci
Dwayne 'Blackbird' Mcknight
Jef Lee Johnson
Wayne Johnson
Chielli Minucci
Michael Gregory







....
[Edited 5/18/10 15:40pm]

With John Martyn's passing last year, I'll pluck for Bert Jansch.

BlaqueKnight said:

It wouldn't include repetitive Ernie Isley - geez is he overrated

RnBAmbassador said:

I couldn't agree with you more.

RnBAmbassador said:

Fuck you! he's very underrated

To me, just like vocalists and composers its so much about the technical proficiency that i get who i consider "best", it's the emotional connect.

And for me John Frusciante floors me every time. Whenever "Scar Tissue" is on the radio I find myself waiting in anticipation for his solos.

RnBAmbassador said:

So, in other words, you have no criteria other than just your opinion?
Given that "best" is going to be highly subjective, my question was simple and designed to gain an understanding of what people were basing their answers on.
"not Ernie Isley" is not a criterion.
For instance, some people value versatility over proficiency; some proficiency over versatility, and some speed over versatility. So, based on what?
For you, its Jeff Beck. Not for me. A jack of all trades is rarely "best".
[b][Edited 5/19/10 2:00am]

BlaqueKnight said:

[b]Regarding Mr. Isley, there is no diversity to his solos at all. If you've heard one, then you've heard them all. When the Isley Brothers play live, the second guitarist in their touring band, Reggie Griffin, could have Ernie Isley for break, lunch, dinner and all in between meal snacks on the guitar. Griffin was in Manchild, he also scored a hit in the earl 80s called "Mirda Rock". he has worked on tours with Babyface as well. Has played on albums by Chaka Khan, Lisa Fischer, Aretha Franklin and on and on.
Jeff Beck is not the only guitar player I think is one of 'the best'. also added to that list would be: John McLaughlin, Rick Derringer, Stanley Jordan and Prince.
iPeople like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, B.B. King, Carlos Santana, have all been grossly overrated. Ask each of them whom they think is the best or one of the best, and you may be surprised at their answers. I guarantee you Ernie Isley would come out of none their mouths [/b]
[Edited 5/19/10 10:00am]

RnBAmbassador said:

You saying Stanley Jordan and Prince in the same sentence invalidates your whole position of having credibility when it comes to guitarists.
And Greg Howe wipes the floor with your whole list, sans Stanley.
[Edited 5/19/10 9:33am]