Greatest Guitarist (Living or Dead)

[-Samurai-]

I'll just list my influences.

Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever of Coheed and Cambria
James Hetfield of Metallica
Ray Toro of My Chemical Romance
Matthew Tuck and Michael Paget of Bullet for my Valentine
All the guys from Iron Maiden(yes I know their names)

 

[piratejames]

For me, one of the greatest guitarists I've heard would be Joshua Homme. I almost melted when Them Crooked Vultures came to be, Homme, JPJ and Grohl are a dream lineup for me!

 

[greenyboy27]

I'm fully aware how annoying it is to follow youtube links but this is a true show of extreme guitar skill.

I present to you.........Andy Mckee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4&feature=channel

#

Andy McKee is so amazing to be honest, his technique is just the most original thing i'd seen in years

and -Samurai- gotta say James Hetfield's a massive influence of mine in Rhythm guitar, i still think he's the greatest rhythm guitarist living.

 

[Altorin]

Hendrix probably.. but I prefer subtlety, so I'd have to personally go with Carlos Santana

 

[Gaderael]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again! Paul Gilbert!

 

[Sacman]

a tie between Jonny Greenwood and J. Rodrigo...
J. Rodrigo composed Concierto De Aranjuez...

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Synyster Gates.... best.... guitarist.... ever!
[img width= 300 size]http://clowil.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/synyster-gates-new-image.jpg[/img]

1. Syn ain't bad... but so so difficult to take seriously
2. I Can never ever listen to his music after he butchered Pantera's Walk.

I wonder how many levels of 'No' there can possibly be. A7X is a band that high school kids think is all awesome and metal because they've never heard people who actually ARE awesome and metal.

As for the OP mentioning Dimebag... ugh.

Tony Iommi > All. Honourable mention to Glenn Tipton and KK Downing as the best dual guitar pairing ever.

Is Tommy the one who lost a couple fingers? I get people mixed up...

Because the best technical guitarists have probably already been taken, I'm gonna go with personal favorites. Alexi Laiho and Dave Mustaine, I just like them.

 

[Stein Inge]

With so many different styles and players, it´s kinda hard to narrow it down to just one...
There´s been a lot of great ones allready mentioned but check this guy out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lbvSBNLLoo

went to a concert with him once and WOW! Just wow....

 

[Something Amyss]

Gonna go with Brian May (Queen), just because.

 

[JLML]

Oh, there are way too many for me to pick one. Besides, there's never one single "best" in the world, living or dead. Everyone can think differently and like different artists. Also, they're all good at their own stuff, but no one is the master of all. It's not easy to compare someone like say John Mayer with someone like Slash.

 

[Valkyira]

Either Jimmy Hendrix or Matt Bellamy.

 

[Lordmarkus]

- Ry Cooder
- Jimi Hendrix
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
/End Thread

 

[Generic_Dave]

Rory Gallagher. Kicks Hendrix's ass.

 

[HTID Raver]

MY favorite would be paul mccartney!


but thats just me!

 

[Fellwarden]

Peter Witchers, hands down. I can also mention Ola Frenning (used to play for Soilwork, while Witchers still does) and Jonas Kjellgren and Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry, as well as Jesper Strömblad and Björn Gelotte of In Flames.

 

[MadCapMunchkin]

Eddie Van Halen. That is all.

 

[Voided Cyanide]

If you are looking for some of the best around then you cant go wrong with people like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai (even if I do think Vai only plays to show off some of the time) And you have to remember that Satriani taught Kirk Hammet how to play and I believe he taught Vai as well to an extent.

But most of these publications always end up listing what they call the 'best', but really in my opinion they are more of the most influential, ie, Slash, Hendrix, Angus Young, Tommy Iommi, Jimmy Page and so on.


Satch and Vai in my opinion are defiantly 2 of the best ever. And I'm surprised John Petrucci hasn't been mentioned yet either

Also, why do so many magazines and websites have 'best ever' lists of things they actually have nothing to do with anyway?

 

[SwampCandle]

John Petrucci is master of million note a second solos (Yes, exageration)... But for genuine bust out a damn good tune guitarist... I'm not sure you could pick one... Both Jimmy Paige & Eric Clapton are great.

Buuut, I'd personally pick Jimmy Paige... he's the only guitaist who's written tunes almost guaranteed to get you into bed with a girl. Am I allowed to say that? Mind you, Jack White can help you complete the same objective!
Despite how good they are aswell, Dave Mustaine & Kirk Hammet cannot help you there!

 

[Voided Cyanide]

Buuut, I'd personally pick Jimmy Paige... he's the only guitaist who's written tunes almost guaranteed to get you into bed with a girl. Am I allowed to say that? Mind you, Jack White can help you complete the same objective!
Despite how good they are aswell, Dave Mustaine & Kirk Hammet cannot help you there!

That also depends on the girl I guess though, heh