Good songwriter, absolutely horrid guitarist. I can say the same about one of my favorite artists, Neil Young. Basic riffs, but just beautiful music.
dimebag is one of the best. the best tones come from dime. he got a ton out of a solid state randall head and a eq pedal. pantera is my favorite band ever. pantera = raging slash is overrated.
Any chance you're Jack Bruce More guitarists for guitarists: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czohTwZjEpQ]'The Cuckoo' ~ John Renbourn - YouTube[/ame] Being stuck in front of this guy at close range, in a small club, took more off my hearing than Blue Cheer did... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tew_fIhz3eY]Leo Kottke - Vaseline Machine Gun - YouTube[/ame]
Brian May is my niqqa. He has a wide range of sounds and skills....he built his own guitar when he was a teenager and still uses it dude just makes some crazy sounds with his guitar. He may not be the most skilled but he's my favorite
Mark Knopfler Why: Because his unique fingerpicking style made the Dire Straits sound and he's also a very talented songwriter.. I could listen to his solos all day, great improvisation live as well- Sultans on Alchemy is wonderful
If I had to pick one I'd pick Tony Iommi. He was such an important figure in the development of heavy metal, and he literally invented the doom metal genre. He overcame losing two of his fingertips, he had to mould prosthetics out of milk bottles. He can play blues, jazz, and all flavours of metal from protometal, to bluesy classic metal, to protothrash, and of course doom metal. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F5C0rrncXE]Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-BzEPQjfVE]Black Sabbath - Tony Iommi Guitar Solo (Hartford 1980) 10/13 - YouTube[/ame]
Mattias "IA" Eklundh (although I agree with most every poster's choice so far, esp. Eddie Hazel, Buckethead) He's a goofy Swedish player that knows how to mix simplicity and technical skill, and still have fun. Also, some of the most unique tones I've heard. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq0xvSJojw]Mattias Eklundh - Freak guitar demo - YouTube[/ame] Runners-up: Ioannis Anastassakis Ron Jarzombek Bumblefoot Farzad Golpayegani Guthrie Govan John Petrucci
Buckethead because of the insane amount of music he's put out over such a long time. And because he can completely mold as a player to fit any style of music. some others that are worth a mention - Guthrie Govan, Paul Gilbert, Shawn Lane, Steve Vai, Van Halen, John Petrucci
Skill is fine and all that but I'll take guys like Brian May and David Gilmour over Ygnwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani anyday. That ultra technical shredding stuff is like musical ambien.
I'm going with a newer face, Tosin Abasi. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZf655y29MQ&feature=related]Tosin Abasi Song of Solomon EMG 808X - YouTube[/ame]
Satriani is way more than just skill. He puts his heart into his music too. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2fExyjlG7Q]Joe Satriani - Cool #9 - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-zjnVmuTzs]Joe Satriani Flying in a blue dream - YouTube[/ame]
David Gilmour, he had alot of genre's he could play and grew up on, alot more than shown in Floyd Maybe not my favorite if were talking speed or skill, but overall, just the way he makes love to his guitar, making it sing so beautifully Lot of heart. A musical genius. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6hBI1SAL4]David Gilmour Marooned - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTY-MMlBP5E]David Gilmour Solo - YouTube[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVxsB5oNiTw[/ame]
Well I gotta say it, Doc Watson. First off, he lost his vision before his first birthday, but was still able to become really good at guitar. He was one of the first to take fiddle tunes and make an arrangement for guitar, because he could pick so fast. He got the nickname "Doc" during a live radio broadcast when the announcer remarked that his given name Arthel was odd and he needed an easy nickname to go by. A fan in the crowd shouted "Call him Doc!" presumably in reference to the Sherlock Holmes sidekick Doctor Watson. Which I think is funny. He helped the Folk Music Revival and still does. He gave us MerleFest, which is named after his son, Merle Watson, also another great guitarist, but unfortunately lost too soon. A great song. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYHJIr0ur4&feature=related]Doc & Merle Watson - Summertime - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQOCJ4SUSk]Doc Watson - 1991 - Deep River Blues (Solo) - YouTube[/ame]
cloudsplitter, you may enjoy Ralph Towner [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_13j5GoNDU]Ralph Towner -- Witchitaito - YouTube[/ame]