Best Guitarist Ever

[AussieDodger]

David Gilmour
Jimmy Page
Brian May
Frank Zappa.

[Inukchuk]

Didn't have time to read through the whole thing, but I like Zakk, Yngwie, and Satriani.

Anyone hear John Butler? He's pretty crazy, too.

[domination]

its a funny argument to have because we are all really trying to figure out the second best guitar player of all time, hendrix in #1, no question, there is no argument to put anyone over him just accept it and move on. There are a bunch of people close, finding a clear number 2 is hard and clearly personal opinion. The real difficult thing to keep track of is skill, and not band success. Other things to take into account are innovation and influence. For me I like Paige at the 2 spot, but who knows…

[kimchi_chigae]

Joel Zumaya.

[Metroid]

Eric Clapton hands down. To be the greatest ever you have to be the greatest EVER, Hendrix was amazing as was Stevie Ray but Clapton's longevity and resume makes him the greatest. I'd put Page up there too probably 2nd.

[BitterDodgerFan]

TE is great. If you like him you might want to check out Don Ross and Andy McKee if you haven't already.

hey i know about andy mckee, he seems to be pretty big on youtube too, and didn't know about don ross but yeah while they're great, i don't think they're on the same level as tommy emmanuel. i think TE is one of those really special ones, not once in a generation but once in all of history type, like mozart.

[Mugrila]

TE is great. If you like him you might want to check out Don Ross and Andy McKee if you haven't already.

hey i know about andy mckee, he seems to be pretty big on youtube too, and didn't know about don ross but yeah while they're great, i don't think they're on the same level as tommy emmanuel. i think TE is one of those really special ones, not once in a generation but once in all of history type, like mozart.

I agree TE is the better guitarist, was just giving some others to check out in his style.

[baizboll]

Larry Carlton is my favorite jazz guitarist.
Ottmar Liebert is an awesome flamenco guitar player.
And then there is Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Santana.

[IllinoisBandit]

Early:
Lonnie Mack... principal SRV/Allman influence, "Memphis, Tennessee"
Chuck Berry... forefather of all that is rock and roll
Les Paul... duh
Albert King... perhaps the most influential blues guitar player

2ndish Generation:
Brent Mason... architect of the modern country guitar solo
Danny Gatton... absolute master
James Burton... elvis/haggard great
Scotty Moore... "mystery train"
Robbie Robertson... put it all together
Roy Buchanan... nobody played a telecaster better
Bo Diddley... "Who Do you Love?"
Mark Knopfler... one of the most easily identifiable sounds ever
honorable mentions to SRV, Cropper, Clapton, Hendrix, Allman, Betts, BB, Bloomfield, Guy, T-Bone, Chet, Don Rich, Jim Wieder, Vai, Slash, Satriani, Harrison

Most influential: Chuck Berry, easily
Favorite to listen to: Robbie Robertson
Technically greatest: perhaps Danny Gatton, any man who plays beer bottle slide guitar is OK in my book