Great Guitarists (Top 10)

Clashfan | Wednesday, December 16, 2009 | 9:30 am

Can I just point out that this list is made based on one single performance caught live and that also happens to be available in the vault. For all of those squawking about their favorites not being on this list get over it all ready. This is not a list of the 10 greatest guitar players ever (although why Jerry Garcia would ever be included on such a list escapes me) it is not definitive and if you read the summary they even say these are but a few great tracks. I suggest you take it for what it is simply a list made to highlight a few truly spectacular performances that you might not have otherwise found in the vastness of the vault.

scoboat | Tuesday, September 29, 2009 | 6:13 am

STELLAR!

GTRZAN | Monday, September 28, 2009 | 12:26 pm

I like music,diverse well played music.My current list is called;thereisn'tabestgtrst.You say tomato..I say potahto.I can come up w/50 right now that i like equally,so obviously we're not gonna settle this.I'M NOT A BIG DEAD FAN,but usually 'round Christmas PBS shows the dead playin'the final winterland show{i think}IT IS AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF IMPROV!!As for the STONES ya either git yer ya-ya's or ya don't.I like them in all their incarnations.I'm a big ZEP head,but also cringe at the 1st part of heartbreaker's solo.A guy by the name of STEVE VAI{ALUMNI OF:berkley conserv.,Satriani student,some jonnyrottenpopband,whitesnake,david l.Roth&some brilliant solo works}-i paraphrase:"1 of my favorite solo's is Page's heartbreaker".If he's talkin'bout the 2nd solo,which is fast&precise,clean&perfect for the chord progression.,I agree.I like every player mentioned here&countless others in all genre's.[sorry to Mr.Vai-he was very early on hangin' w/F.ZAPPA&got a "spanking"on his birthdaywhile playing live w/Frank on a cover of "Whipping Post"}point is...THERE AIN"T NO BEST ANYTHING,it's in the ears of the listener,me I think the song is more important then the solo.Thanks for the list VaultKeepers!>>>>>>>> GTRZAN ;.}

Spaceguy | Sunday, September 27, 2009 | 4:13 am

Like golf. Some nights are smoking. Have seen God and walked on air with any number of them. Pretty cool someone mentioned Hooker. Yeah he had good nights too. He had enough to pull out of the bag when he was feelin it! What about Bloomfield and Bishop? Even Steve Katz was making some noise. Nils we watched in Ventura with Jimi. He was not Jimi but you got a great show. Beck is none other. He plays mental rock. Yeah, straight from thought to sound. I like what was said above about the SF gang. Most of these people broke the ground and let it all happen. No limits no excuses. When people came to SF they new they could kick it and see where it went!

toyradio | Saturday, September 26, 2009 | 3:43 pm

What I find rather sad about this being promoted is, that though necessarily subjective, it seems intent on ignoring guitarists in the sf bands that Bill Graham was so instrumental in promoting to the wider world. What a wasted opportunity to bring some deserved attention to Jorma, Cippolina and Duncan, Andrew and Gurley to name but a few!

Kel Varnsen | Saturday, September 26, 2009 | 8:56 am

Ah the top ten, one of those nearly impossible things for me to do. Mine changes by the moment. Of course Jimi & Stevie will always top the king shredders of all time. For those of you panning Garcia, yes the man had bad nights as well as stellar. But check out some live 73-74 stuff. Eyes, Weather Report Suite, etc. After the rawness of the 60's had been refined, and before the the drugs and crowds took their toll. The man could truly rip. When he got that right elbow up he was something to behold.

shinyllama | Friday, September 25, 2009 | 11:48 pm

Glad to see Rory Gallagher on the list. He is a wonderful artist and more people would love him if the heard his stuff. For a good LP try Irish Tour 74

Cacteur | Friday, September 25, 2009 | 10:09 pm

Ten is a kind of tight amount to even get close to including everyone who should be in, but, as well as the many already suggested, I'd add Zappa, Parliament's Eddie Hazel, (Maggot Brain live at the Fillmore, circa early '90's, has to be one of the sweetest guitar solo's ever.) Prince, one of the most under rated axemen on the planet, Angus Young, Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen. I'm also shocked at the omission of Jimi and BB and others that have already been mentioned, but really, ten is hardly an extensive list.

Anonymous | Friday, September 25, 2009 | 7:29 pm

sorry...not even CLOSE! garcia jorma...saw him at the Belly-up this year! top form! carlos...christ on a crutch, he's top 3! duane allman...red fucking hot every time out! he's still dead. alvin lee...one of a kind jimmy page...just damn good eddie vahalen...not my fave but truly groundbreaking. buddy guy...never disappoints billy gibbons...zz top...that's right...zz top brian may...good call! brian setzer...besides stevie ray, best show i EVER saw john lee hooker...maybe the band but he LAID IT DOWN prince...yep! check it out...he's got some chops and a dozen others that kick the snot out of nils and rory who both are world class but not ten greatest. voodoo chile...absolutely! stevie ray...hell yeah

Chris89 | Friday, September 25, 2009 | 6:21 pm

uh santana? allman bros? anyone?