Thread: 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

It's official....let the debating begin....

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Jimmy Page
4. Keith Richards
5. Jeff Beck
6. B.B. King
7. Chuck Berry
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Duane Allman
10. Pete Townshend

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/li...rists-20111123

I'll accept Hendrix for #1. Not sure if Chuck Berry really deserves a #7. Angus Young at #24? Really, he's 42 places better than Robert Fripp at #62 or John McLaughlin at #68? And no mention of Alan Holdsworth? Steve Morse? Mkay...

having been a music critic/journalist for years and having had to compile dozens upon dozens of Top Whatever lists (which, to me, is the cheapest, lamest form of journalism as it's sole purpose is to create "debate" and "controversy" and thus increase sales of magazines or drive more traffic to one's website), I can tell you that a lot of different factors go into who makes it onto a particular list. When it comes to a list such as this I am willing to bet that they take cultural importance/influence into consideration along with technical prowess. From a cultural (i.e. worldly viewpoint in terms of influence) way more people know who Chuck Berry is than Robert Fripp or Alan Holdsworth, two very worthy guitarists, but they are way more "cult" (i.e. known more amongst musicians and audiophiles than amongst the general music loving public). The fact that Chuck Berry is still performing and just the legendary status of the man as a cultural icon more than likely had a lot to do with his higher placement on the list.

Also, you have to look at and take into consideration who voted on this list (they tell you that on the first page). Taking into consideration the background and musical stylings/tastes of those that voted also plays a big part in the compilation of a list such as this.

In terms of "glaring" omissions, I'd have put Adrian Belew on the list. But that's just me. Also Steve Hackett from Genesis.

A lot of my favorite guitarists made the cut (Andy Summers, Zappa, Fripp, Gilmour).

There were also a large number of names on the list that I'd never heard of, which I always like to see on a list like this as it piques my interest and will make me search them out and try and figure out why they made the list.

To each his own I guess but to leave out guys like Django Reinhardt and Doc Watson is ludicrous especially when fucking "The Edge" is even on the list (38, seriously?). Robert Johnson at 71 is stupid. Billy Gibbons is better than most of the people in front of him.

Don't get me wrong Hendrix was amazing, but I have a hard time putting him at first given the relative shortness of his career.

@dookey, same for me, there were a lot i've never heard of too.

there's a bunch i'd put on the list if i thought about it a while. adrian belew, steve howe, steve vai, yngwie f-ing malmsteen, ...

i liked seeing derek trucks ranked so high. i saw him play last summer for the first time and he blew me away. i had no idea he was so highly respected.

Trucks rules! his slide playing sends chills.
i have no problem with Jimi in first.
it's Clapton in second that bothers me. dude is way overrated.
and seriously no Trey? wtf

No John Mayer????

Fuck Rolling Stone.

Originally Posted by iscariot

No John Mayer????

Fuck Rolling Stone.

I can't tell if you're joking. But I'm serious in echo'ing that comment. His music is chewing gum for the brain, but that dude can light it up.

Where's Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López?

Originally Posted by huckbucket

I can't tell if you're joking.

Exactly.

No Danny Gatton?!? pfft. Danny is top 10 for sure, he could play ANYTHING.

Just a taste:





Good to see John Fahey on there at least. So much of that list is bullshit, which is odd with that panel of voters, there's some serious cred in that panel, wonder how they managed to fuck it up up so bad?

Wow, a list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists with none of these guys?

Joe Satriani
Buckethead
Gary Moore
Ronnie Montrose
Buck Dharma
Steve Morse
Robin Trower
Michael Schenker
George Lynch
Neal Schon
Larry Coryell
Ty Tabor
Alan Holdsworth
Al DiMeola
Zakk Wylde
Uli Jon Roth
Steve Vai
Yngwie
Nigel Tufnel

Even a clown like Ted Nugent is more deserving than somea their choices

2nd on clapton being overrated. his soloes go nowhere. and 2nd on wheres trey

Originally Posted by nateski

2nd on clapton being overrated. his soloes go nowhere. and 2nd on wheres trey

if you were to ask the musicians on the list to make their own lists, they would be much different than the RS list. Steve Morse has been on the cover of Guitar Player and GP of the year many times. I always contend that theres a kid somewhere in his garage that blows most people you've heard of away. It's exposure and popularity, not talent or respect from their peers with RS.

Eddie Van Hamster also overrated. Replace EVH w/ SRV. Zappa deserved better too.

Originally Posted by nateski

2nd on clapton being overrated. his soloes go nowhere.

well, he did write/play one of the most memorable solos ever which most folks think that beatles guy did it.

There is no such thing as the 100 greatest anything when it come to music.

I always contend that there is a kid somewhere in his garage that blows most people you've heard of away.

Precisely!

In terms of style, technical prowess, and just all-around understanding of music, I'd be willing to bet that their are at least a hundred working jazz guitarists playing shit clubs everyday of the week that blow Rolling Stone's top 100 out of the water.

Bitch please. Nobody lays Jazz anymore. Betcha there ARE that many unknown metalheads posting good licks on youtube, tho.

This list is way better.

Originally Posted by Tippster

Bitch please. Nobody lays Jazz anymore. Betcha there ARE that many unknown metalheads posting good licks on youtube, tho.

My point is, the hundred greatest guitarists are probably not household names who've achieved fame and fortune producing commercial rock.

Oh, and I know tons of folks that lay jazz.

So that's what that fucking instrument is called. Thanks!

The simple fact that this list does not include Joey Gaydos Jr. makes it pointless, needless, and incomplete.

that list is crap just like every top list RS puts out.
here's how you can tell it's crap: NO ADRIAN BELEW wtf?!?!?!

Originally Posted by cdlv

that list is crap just like every top list RS puts out.
here's how you can tell it's crap: NO ADRIAN BELEW wtf?!?!?!

that was my first notable omission.


what about alex lifeson?

Originally Posted by Ripzalot

what about alex lifeson?

He's a bottom feeder at #98, just a few spots behind legendary axeman Paul Simon, but he did make the list, a huge surprise to me given Rolling Stone's almost historic at this point hate for anything Rush.

Originally Posted by powpig

He's a bottom feeder at #98, just a few spots behind legendary axeman Paul Simon, but he did make the list, a huge surprise to me given Rolling Stone's almost historic at this point hate for anything Rush.

holy crap was paul simon in the list too? i couldn't remember seeing lifeson. maybe i pooped out before i got to the end. 100 page refreshes at the office through websense is a lot of work.

btw, i was listening to uli jon roth (electric sun) and michael schenker (MSG) just last week. i'm not a big fan of the scorpions (bits and pieces) but i like both of their solo stuff. uli's voice is bit hard to handle tho.