Best guitarist ever?
 

Just wondering who you think is the best guitarist in skill, and who you personally like the best.


As far as skill wise, I may have to go with this guy- http://youtube.com/watch?v=rutyA12z3Ok

Jimi Hendrix. Followed by a gap followed by Jimmy Paige. End of thread.

Edit: I changed my mind. I don't know what I was thinking. Fucking Tom Morello, man!

Electric and acoustic have two entirely different styles.

Tommy Emmanuel, Andy Mckee, and Andy's student (I think), Don Ross are all amazingly skilled guitarists, but in a hugely different way than say, John 5. This guitarist is amazing at 8 finger picks.

That Michael Angelo Batio video is really amazing, but all it really means is that he is ambidextrous and has a "drummer mindset" plugged into his fingers. Anything he did in that video, a combination of a right handed guitarist and a left handed could do the same. I'm not saying that he isn't completely and totally amazing and that that video isn't completely mind blowing (would be more if I hadn't already seen it), but it's really repetitive on either side and the best parts, if you ask me, is when he busts out the pick and goes over to one side.

Point is, finding a "best guitarist ever" is pretty hard considering that Andy probably can't do what the guy in PsyOpus does, but he knows a guitar layout and sound like the back of his hand. However, the guy from PsyOpus only plays crazy weird music so you can't really peg him with anything. John 5, well, I just like him.

Edit: Go to "Impossible guitar" on the related links of the MAB video. That's pretty cool too.

Edit2: Oh and this guy.

Edit3: This guy and his sweet guitar.

In the past tense, no one tops the Page and I mean no one.

As for the present, I'm gonna go with Michael and Christopher Amott. They come to mind first what with their wicked guitar solos (and at times, duets).

I'd have to go with either Hendrix, Clapton, or Brian May. All three of them are amazing guitarists, and I really can't pick which one to elevate to top standings.

I mourn.

No love for Eddie? Eddie Van Halen? Erruption? Spanish Fly?

T_T

I've seen some pretty cool videos. I can't watch those at the moment with my 56k. I'd like to hear more Eric Johnson, but he's pretty awesome as well.

Not one of you has mentioned George Harrison yet.

Shame on you all.

Buckethead.

His range and versatility is something every musician should envy. He has technical chops to spare, but he isn't a "look how fast I can play" guy like MAB, most of the time. He's proven he can touch the soul, which is something that few can ever truly claim. He's done music ranging from shred to industrial to funk to acoustic...every style imaginable. He doesn't think in terms of how to make a song in a certain genre or how to stretch the guitar in some new way. He only thinks in music, and anything that comes from it is just a happy side effect. He is a musician in purest form, and instead of being a guitarist, he's a musician whose medium is the guitar (yes, there is a difference). And don't even get me started on what his persona means for it.

[/end buckethead nerd rant]

Runner-ups include Jimmy Page, SRV, Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, John Petrucci, David Gilmour and Ritchie Blackmore.

I was totally gonna post the same video! Emmanuel plays with a pick on this thumb, and fingerpick/strums with his middle/ring/pinky finger. And he focuses on harmonics. It's awesome!

And justin king.http://youtube.com/watch?v=yh_24DXNy8E

More! http://youtube.com/watch?v=cRRF_M2T-vY&feature=related

Anyway, that Batio guy was alright. He did nothing interesting or innovative.

Electric players have the tendency to do that...they just do "ripping" solos, which get extremely boring after a while. Acoustic players are usually far more innovative (and skillful, since it's way harder to play acoustic than electric). Just my two cents!

(for the record, most of justin king's amazing stuff is not on youtube...Itunes ftw. Seville and Taps are both incredible. Loco Motion is sweet too, and Winter on the Hill is pretty!)