Question of the Week: Who’s the best guitarist of all-time?

Local Spins’ Question of the Week (Oct. 7, 2020)

Who is the best guitarist of all-time?

This week’s winner of Local Spins merch: Email subscriber Lawrence Meyering, who responded to the Question of the Week and was entered into a drawing for Local Spins merch. Sign up for email updates and the weekly newsletter here: https://localspins.com/subscribe-local-spins-mailing-list/

THE READER RESPONSES:

Jamie Geysbeek – That I’ve ever seen live: Probably Eric Johnson or Slash.

AJ Dunning – Lots of great ones, but it has to be Brian May.

Bruce Vanderkooi – Yep, might be mine also. I did see Mick Ronson with the Hunter / Ronson band shortly before he died! We saw Queen with Adam Lambert, which was great, but Brian May was the reason I was there – So good! I never saw Bowie or Mott with Ronson, so I missed his best, but I did get to hang out with him at a bar in Windsor. We got to the show early and they had just finished the soundcheck. I sat and talked with Ian and Mick for 20 minutes. It was a great night! …and yes, Ronson was a lot of fun to watch!

Tommy Erickson – Eddie Van Halen at Pine Knob!

Mike Metchikoff – Eric Clapton and Derek Trucks.

Justin Wierenga – John McLaughlin

Alas Kram – Jon McLaughlin (different guy) is the best piano player I’ve ever seen. Funny

Andrew Ogrodzinski – Frank Zappa. Of course, McLaughlin, DiMeola, Vai, SRV, BB King, Jeff Beck, Santana, etc. I saw a street musician in Chicago playing outside of a Grateful Dead concert who had a self -built double neck guitar and he played bass lines and melodies on one neck while playing chords and counter melodies on the other neck. Didn’t catch the guts name but easily the most unique and virtuoso player I’ve seen. Maybe someone is familiar with somebody who fits that description.

Tom Sydloski – All time? Andres Segovia

Dave Adams – Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tommy Emmanuel, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck. Take your pick

Rick Slachta – Zappa or Leo Kottke

Isaac Powrie – Derek Trucks, Trey Anastasio or David Gilmour

Bill Vits – Christopher Parkening

Justin Dore – Best: Jeff Beck, Favorite: John Mayer

Bette Wickering – Johnny Winter? Rory Gallagher? Carlos Santana?

Dansir McCullough – Jeff

CT Revere – Back when he was playing hard-edged jazz-rock fusion, Al Di Meola.

David Garland – Alex Lifeson

Paul Wyatt – Neil Diamond
Nathan Purchase – Gary Clark Jr., Isaac Berkowitz and Chris Bota.

Don Drury – Buddy Guy was/is amazing!

Lucy Ernst – Prince at Van Andel

Steve Talaga – Fareed Haque or Frank Gambale.

David Winick – Boy, the best guitarist is really subjective. Technically, Joe Bonamassa is right on top. But I don’t find him very soulful.

Alas Kram – John Mayer

John Neil – Allan Holdsworth

Dave Joanis – I’ve seen some great ones live and can’t pick just one, but the one that really left a mark on me was Kingfish @ the Pyramid Scheme right before Covid killed everything.

Kyle Rasche – Keller Williams was pretty mind-blowing

Michael Len Davis – Allan Holdsworth and Al DiMeola on the math side, Eddie and Jeff Beck on the feels side.

Steve Damstra – Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Howe

John W. Hartel – Jeff Beck

Alex Austin – Clapton, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, John Mayer, Ry Cooder, Buddy Guy, BB King, and probably a bunch of others I can’t remember offhand.

Dutcher Wright Snedeker – I guess it depends on what your qualifier is. Like, for example, the Generation Axe Tour that came through GR last year included these dudes: Zakk Wylde: iconic rockstar for Ozzy and BLS, signature sound and look to his guitars, influential playing, has his bag of licks and tricks; – Yngiwe Malmsteen: leather-bound Swedish shredder who showed folks classical music could be adapted to a rock setting with the flare of virtuosity, but none of his songs are memorable to me personally. He has influenced subsets of the rock/metal genre and guitar playing, but not so much the world; Steve Vai: taught Joe Satriani and a bunch of other famous guitar wizards, developed a signature sound and guitar style that included expanding the whammy vocabulary popularized by Van Halen, was in Zappa’s band when he was young so you know he’s equipped for anything but also played in bands like Whitesnake, so he has that flare; Nuno Bettencourt: very proficient player who was the signature shredder for Extreme, but doesn’t do much outside of the shred brand (which is fine, he’s got a career); Tosin Abasi: has inspired a new wave of guitarists with his attention to production and tone details, his incorporation of different guitar playing techniques into his writing from classical finger-style to bass-like “thumping” and selective-picking, to launching his own brand of high-end modern guitars/software/pedals. He’s part entrepreneur, part technical wizard, and part guitar hero. BUT, most people will never know him because he flirts with the mainstream but doesn’t dive headfirst into reaching that wide of an audience. So, I feel like the greatest guitar hero is on personal preference, because I can pick out folks like Hendrix and SRV way more easily than that plethora of guitarists building careers on Instagram, but audiences vary nowadays in what they enjoy. Sometimes it just takes that one awesome show or album to stick in people’s minds, but we also can’t ignore people who inspired the players that folks love but didn’t get the limelight.

Lee Chase – Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Danny Gatton, Redd Volkaert

John Loader – Steve Howe.

Terry Oosterhart – Steve Howe, Eric Clapton, Glen Campbell, Rik Emmett, Larry Carlton, Phil Keaggy. Allen Holdsworth, Santana, Neal Schon.

Mark Sturr – Joe Satriani

David Zeemering – Easily, the late, great Eddie Van Halen.

Greg Baxter – Music isn’t a competition that can be best or worst. My favorite guitarist is Jerry Garcia.

Mark Svekric – Zappa. Honorable mentions: Richard Sinclair, Adrian Legg, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Dean Ween.

Michael Packer – Sinclair is best known as a bassist , but also plays guitar – I’ve had him in a couple of times and have become good friends with him. Good list, Mark!

Bradley Raffenaud – Robert Fripp
Ted Bergin – Richard Thompson

Chris Carr – Derek Trucks

Bruce Madden – Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Johnny Winter. Missed Hendrix five times!

Paul Harris – SRV, hands down.

Kristine Carpenter – Also think Jeff Beck is great, but Mark Huizenga is right up there.

Josh Jekel – Billy Strings

Jim Weiler – I agree with you, Jeff Beck. Saw him and Stevie Ray Vaughan together at Cobo about 6 months before Stevie Ray’s death. What a bill.

Wile Preston – Either Leo Kottke or J Mascis. Maybe Warren Haynes or possibly Todd Parker Mohr.

Mike Schertenlieb – i was really really impressed with old man Johnny Winter. other favorite performances include Fareed Haque, Gabriel Marin, Jake Cinninger, and Derek Trucks. Oh, also Charlie Hunter.

Chuck Whiting – Whit Smith

Mark Vandenberge – Tommy Emmanuel

Brad Hastings – This is always a hard question, but some of my favorites/most technically proficient are: Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee), Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Billy Strings, Derek Trucks, Justin Wierenga. These are people I have been able to see live. Some of my favorites have passed or I have not had the opportunity to see.
Jerry Davis – Joe Walsh

Justin Dore – I’ve watched Alex Austin play some of the best blues solos I’ve ever heard.

Brian Haik – Derek Trucks and Jimmy Page.

Mo Haner – Probably Walter Becker and Dweezil Zappa. Oh, and Fareed Haque

Joel Schultze – Jack White and Dinosaur Jr.

Barry Bazza Crawford – Guitars. Yawn. . .

Melodee Van Bogelen Horsford – Clapton & Eddie VH

G. Kendall Kiel – Hendrix (rock), Ronnie Earl (blues).

Chris Corey – Jeff Beck. Also I got to see Herb Ellis in a small club. Was outstanding.

Al Haaksma – Tommy Emmanuel

Nick Evans Mowery – Edward Van Halen, Tommy Emmanuel, John Scofield, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton

Bill Seppla – Holdsworth, Beck, Page, EVH, Hedges, Clapton, Guy, 2 Kings, SRV, Mascis, Haynes, Trucks, Zappa(Frank), Chet Atkins

Buck McDougall – Mark Knopfler

David Harris – Buddy Guy

David Harris – And Niel Carlson

Bob Starkie – Jeff Beck a few years ago at Devos. Wow!!!! And I had great seats. On the bass side: My son Jake was in junior orchestra at Saint Cecilia and we somehow got front row to Christian McBride…holy moly!

Lance Climie – Al Di Meola

Carol-Lee Weber – DiMeola. My absolute favorite. I have seen him in concert 15 times over my life. Last time was June 2018 in Grand Rapids. As the sister of a master luthier/tech and one who appreciates most every genre of music, I have so many favorites, all of whom I’ve seen live. I’ll not name them all but my #1 is Al Dimeola. The others, including EVH, all hold great memories for me. How lucky I am, to come so close to and appreciate such talent.

Bruce Vanderkooi – So many great ones! One of my favorites is one, I feel, redefined how it could be played: Mark Knopfler

Carl Schumacher – Best live: Pat Metheny. Jaw dropper: Tommy Emmanuel

William Hahs – There’s so many great guitarists and so many genres I really hate these kind of questions. I usually answer it’s someone sitting in their living room you’ve never heard. But I really think you have to break it down by genre and your taste. Although I respect the ability to play quick solos and fly across the neck my personal favorites are those guys who can say more with OneNote than and most can say with a hundred.

Greg Chandler – Pete Townshend. Jack White is really good too, seen him both solo and with the Raconteurs.

Luke J Roy – Earl Klugh.

Mark Swanson – Richard Thompson.

Michael Packer – Gad. You ask questions that are impossible to answer – it’s always a personal choice. My choices among many of them are Fripp, Al DiMeola, Andre Segovia, Zappa (sometimes also the worst guitarist I’ve seen at times)) Larry Coryell, John McLaughlin, John Goodsall, Leo Kottke, ALL the members of The National Guitar Trio, many many others.

Rick Wilson – Jimmy Page

Mark DeWitt – Beyond Eddie VH, Alex Lifeson is one of the best.

Mike Lloyd – Andres Segovia

Michael R. Hampton – John McLaughlin; Andres Segovia for more classical style

Greg S. Lewis – Wow, hard to distinguish, but I will say one of the most memorable performances, perhaps best, I have seen was Pete Anderson at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill. But if I have to pick a bigger stage, Mike McCready (a truly underrated soloist).

Jeff Mantia – Vernon Reid from Living Colour

John Serba – So underrated!

Mark Bast – On acoustic, Michael Hedges. On electric, EVH.

Jason Hammond – Michael Hedges. Oh man, he makes everything A Okay.

Ed Kettle – I got to stand at stage right and watch Jeff Beck walk on stage by himself and put on a clinic. He looked over at me and laughed. I most likely was standing there with my mouth open in awe. I saw him a few times but that was the best.

Scott Langford – I saw Jimmy Page when Page & Plant were on tour, but the guitar playing that impressed me most was Stephen Stills.

Mike Dodge – Tough one to answer. Les Paul maybe? But I’m still not sure how I’d compare any of these guys; they ALL made it look easy. John Mclaughlin, Jimmy Page, Albert Lee, Jeff Beck, Leo Kottke, Pat Metheny, EVH, Alvin Lee, Steve Vai, Yngwie, Steve Howe. Tough one.

Terry R Altman – Seen in person? Phil Keaggy, without a doubt.

Denny Larsen – Johnny Winter!

Robert Biggie G Gill – Steve Vai… no question. Then Satch, Nuno, Paul Gilbert and EVH, in that order

Peter Stieler – Reeves Gabrel at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill. 12 years with David Bowie says it all. Adrian Belew is right up there, too.

Paul Brewer – Jim Hall in the Village Vanguard (1986).

Scott VanderSchel – EVH. Brian Setzer is amazing and often overlooked.

Jake Koelewyn – Technical ability and composition, I would say Plini

Roger Kintner – This is a tuff one. I’ve seen a lot of great ones. In no particular order: Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Dicky Betts, Jimmy Herring, Junior Brown. And one of the most underrated guitarist Mike Campbell.

Jason Hammond – Yessir, Mike Campbell. Absolutely brilliant!

Bob Yokabitus – I saw Pat Metheny in 89. Near Detroit. Was in awe. Steve Howe was amazing in the ’80s and ’90s. Saw him in Chicago and Detroit, Lamar Park, I think in Detroit on the Drama tour. Alex Lifeson in the ’80s and ’90s was incredible. I never saw Eddie in person, sadly. David Gilmour was great at Rosemont during the Momentary Lapse of Reason tour. I’ve been lucky.

Nic Stubbs – Allan Holdsworth. Even Eddie Van Halen said he was the best.

Tom Lockwood – Scofield and Frisell with Bass Desires at the State in Kzoo, around 1986?

James Paauwe – Fripp, Di Meola, Keaggy, Hackett. Too many to count.

Jon Koeze – Rheinhardt

John Serba – For sheer innovation, influence and a blend of technical skill and feel, it’s a tie between EVH and Toni Iommi. Runners-up: Prince, Vernon Reid, James Hetfield (with the right hand of steel), Dave Mustaine, Jimmy Page, Bill Steer, Chuck Schuldiner, J Mascis, Andy LaRocque, Matt Pike, Bonnie Raitt, Kim Thayil, Jeff Hanneman, Alex Skolnick, Denis D’Amour… Yngwie Malmsteen was definitely the most entertaining.

Matthew Farage – Johnny Winter or Pete Townshend? Wow, tough choice. I guess Johnny I’d pick..

Ted Lowis – Pat Metheny blew my 7th grade mind in 1979
Ed Vander Ploeg – 1. Terry Kath. Saw him live at Pine Knob six months before his untimely death; 2. Larry Carlton…touring with Steely Dan at Beacon Theater in NYC; 3. Eric Clapton at the United Center in Chicago.

Pete Guidera – There is no best guitar player or best band. There are too many at a level most will never look down from. Beck is amazing. Clapton is amazing, Page is amazing and the list goes on.

Randy Cleves – In no particular order: Alex Lifeson, Steve Howe, and Pete Townshend.

Jason Hammond – Jeff Beck is absolutely amazing. Mine would have to be, unapologetically, Bruce Cockburn

Tom Taylor – Very open to individual interpretation and time period in one’s life I believe. Beck, EVH, Lifeson, Luke, Gilmour, Les Paul, Metheny and many others have rocked my world.

Chad Michael Wedeven – Best of all time? Les Paul. Best alive? Richard Thompson and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Best I’ve seen? Neil Jacobs, a guy out of Grand Haven who makes his acoustic sound like three at once. Best electric I’ve seen? Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices. My festival boss, Seth Bernard, also ain’t no slouch.

Daniel P Hudelson – In modern times, Jon Harrington with Fagen’s Steely Dan band. To cover all those great parts, you gotta be a monster axeman. Another really good one I got see up close at the Tip Top, was Jr Brown.

Paul T. Fredrickson – Too hard to answer…. Danny Gatton, Bill Kirchen, Eddie Hazel, John Fahey.
Eric Kincaid – I can tell you I enjoyed seeing Dick Dale the most.

Mark Shirey – Terry Kath, and maybe most underrated would be Stephen Stills!

Anthony Plumstead – Steve Morris or Adrian Legg are the best I have seen.

Dan Terpstra – Johnny Marr, the one most don’t realize except from Eric Clapton to Hans Zimmer.

Marty Lighthizer – He’s no longer living, but I have put my vote in for John Renbourn.

Cynthia Timmerman – Steve Hackett from Genesis or Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac.

Michele Terpstra – Jack White and Johnny Marr

Eric Burmeister – Since shredding ain’t my thing, I’ve gotta say Stuart Mathis. Then probably Lifeson, Kirchen, or Satriani.

Steve Owczarzak – All these people mentioned are the best & they are all different & unique lifelong slaves of their trade to the end.

Rex Larsen – Music is art and in art there is no “best.” That’s exactly why most comments here include multiple choices. My short list is Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the greatest show was in a small club, Ronnie Earl, BB King, Otis Rush, Pete Townsend, Prince, Kid Ramos, Hollywood Fats, Junior Watson, Albert Collins. The list goes on. Let me add young guys, Johnny Moeller and John Mayer. I suggest you check all these guys out.

Scott Veenstra – Gosh, there are so many “greatest” guitarists in different genres. Of the guitarists I’ve seen (or played with), I can think of a few: John McLaughlin, John Scofield, Jim Hall, Dave Fiuzcynski (Screaming Headless Torsos, Meshell N’DegeOcello), Vic Juris in the jazz realm. Blues, we’ve got Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, John Mayer, Laith al Saadi, to name just a few absolute masters Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Vernon Reid. How do you pick a “greatest of all” out of a list like that, and I’ve left out quite a few. I love so many different types of music, and I love each of these guitarists better than all the rest for the thing that they do that nobody else does like them.

Randy Scott Marsh – There are just too many great guitarists and in so many different genres and at different levels of musical virtuosity out there to pick just one. What were you thinking man?

Steve Middendorp – Eddie VH, Zakk Wylde, Jack White, Joe Perry

Patrick William – Carlos Santana

Brandon’s Page – Adrian Belew

Catherine Haik – Jimi & Eddie

Ned Rouse – Robert Fripp.

Jeff Frazier – Jimi Hendrix
Greg Johnson – Seen live: Never forget first time I saw Eric Clapton.

Daniel McCrath – I was shocked at how good Vince Gill was live just jamming on his guitar.

George Naughton – Rory

Lawrence Meyering (Junior Valentine) – It is an impossible question. ‘Best’ – ‘of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality.’ Perhaps a better approach would be to pick a style/genre and ask: Who are the best 5 players? The beauty of the guitar is that it can be played at the highest levels in so many styles/genres. One of the 5 best living electric guitarists? Jeff Beck.

Don Clapham – I gave this question a lot of thought. Although I never saw him live, I have to go with Jimi Hendrix. He revolutionized guitar playing by merging the blues and rock into an amazing new sound. That sound has often been emulated but never matched. Of the guitarists I’ve seen live, I rank in this order: Santana, Clapton, Gilmour, Page.

Ernie Clark – That’s a tough one. Glen Campbell and Roy Clark we’re both excellent pickers. Jerry Reed too. Kenny Vaughan, Marty Stuart and Mike Campbell have to be in the modern conversation. Tommy Tedesco and Harold Bradley are the greatest studio guitarists ever. Then Jimi and EVH are in leagues all their own.

Frank Tobin – Jimi Hendrix. I’ve seen page, Clapton, Trucks and Rory. Have all Gilmour’s music at home. But no question, of the hundreds/thousands of guitar players I have heard or seen, Hendrix was the best. Saw him play twice, lucky!

Anna Kohls – Jimmy Page and David Gilmour, hands down. My new favorite talent is Taj Farrant.

Lucy Kosiba – Stevie Ray Vaughn is my favorite.

Mike Metchikoff – Eric Clapton and Derek Trucks!

Michael J Vizard – Rory Gallagher

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