greatest guitarist in past 15 years

brettnsuzy wrote:

you laugh...

Prince plays some out-of-this-world guitar. Like Steve Winwood, rather talented...may not like his music, but the guy has more talent than he knows what to do with.

Oh yeah - Prince is an awesome guitarist. I saw him on Leno not too long ago and he was freakin' awesome - and Sheila E was playing percussion. Prince is majorly talented.

right- i suppose i should have stated that i concurred on the original point.

guitarmonger wrote:

steve vai, stevie ray vaughn, tom morello, mike einzinger, john mayer

The words of Steve Vai:

"Danny Gatton was a players' guitar player, hailed by both Rolling Stone and Guitar Player as the greatest unknown guitarist anywhere. His legend has only grown since his untimely suicide in 1994, along with appreciation for his blinding speed, effortless genre-hopping, flawless technique, and never-ending appetite for tinkering and problem-solving. Drawing from first-hand interviews with dozens of friends, family members and fellow musicians, Unfinished Business places Gatton's musical contributions into context, and documents his influence on those peers who admired him most, including Albert Lee, Vince Gill, Arlen Roth and Lou Reed. Danny Gatton comes closer than anyone else to being the best guitar player that ever lived."

Yngwie J. Fucking Malmsteem! THE BEST.

Who's that kid who blew Steve Vai away in that movie "Crossroads" :)

Great movie by the way.

After reading these responses what is the criteria for "best"? The one you like to listen to most? The one with the most sales? The one who most influenced other players?

I'll end this discussion right now with a name that I am amazed no one has listed yet. You who claim to be great music lovers should know they were all influenced by CHET ATKINS. No one revolutionized picking like he did. I would give honorable mention to Les Paul.

Chester was to the guitar what I was to jumping motorcycles, simply the greatest.

Yngwie doesn't even come up on the radar. He's kind of like watching someone who types real fast.

Yngwie is definitely special. Saw him play with a symphony orchestra one night, and then his heavy metal band the next night. Talk about Jekyl and Hyde....

Buddy Guy and Albert Collins

While we're digging into the old guitar archives, I'll throw out another name...Prince. His awesome guitar playing gets lost in the rest of his image, but he has unbelievable talent.

Sorry, guys, I see that the Prince mention is old hat.

If you're going back beyond 15 years, which some of you seem to be doing, of course you have to mention Hendrix. I'd also add Peter Green, Steve Hunter, and Jeff Beck. But the two most amazing guys I ever saw in concert came from the blues - Buddy Guy and Johnny Clyde Copeland

Fuck all them I play my own guitar.

Chuck Berry deserves some respect as a trend setter too.

Lummox wrote:

If you're going back beyond 15 years, which some of you seem to be doing, of course you have to mention Hendrix. I'd also add Peter Green, Steve Hunter, and Jeff Beck. But the two most amazing guys I ever saw in concert came from the blues - Buddy Guy and Johnny Clyde Copeland

I checked out some kid's "100 greatest guitar solos" and was stunned to see numerous Curt Cobain entrys, yet Steve Hunter/Dick Wagner duel from Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll Animal (live)" way down on the list.

Did see Brian Setzer name on the list, who hasn't been mentioned here. His recordings don't do him justice. Anyone who has ever seen Setzer live will be blown away by his talent.

I know it's not guitar, but how 'bout the hillbilly kid who played the banjo in "Deliverance?"

Pete wrote:

I know it's not guitar, but how 'bout the hillbilly kid who played the banjo in "Deliverance?"

He grew up and is now known as Thom Yorke.

ani difranco

Thanks, Malmo for mentioning it...that Steve Hunter/Dick Wagner work is probably the best guitar duel every on record