I have to join in - you guys seem to be only discussing the superstars and not the guitarists - I'm going to give you 2 that you may have missed. Number one: Roy Harper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2DwPhnxTNI
Yes, and I would put Link Wray in there too. Although not top ten. I wasn't arguing that DG is definitively not in the top ten - but I reckon he is left out of the top ten of at least half of those sort of lists.
Sorry Richard Thompson just blows 'em all away without breaking sweat. Try one of the live versions of Sailor's Life or Can't Win, ignore the folk song and listen to a demented heavy metal guitarist doing his thing.
Hmmm I think you're doing it mainly on personal preference I would never have a list just on technical ability (which is why I shudder to think of the likes of an Yngwie Malmsteen getting anywhere near something like this), but if you're talking about feel - well, put it this way, if you had Neil Young or Pete Townsend guesting on someone else's song, you'd not likely notice it was them. You could tell it was Gilmour within 3 notes... But of course it's subjective (and interesting to discuss, for me anyhow). I just absolutely believe he walks into any top ten...
This is pretty comprehensive and interesting (particularly considering the 'judges') - http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/buddy-holly-20111122 Andy Summers and Slash way too low (for me). Keith Richards at 4 is just weird. DG clocks in at 14 to support Pelletron's point!
and Mr Alvin Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdltHgMMrqc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW5M5xljdCI
and for Phillip Hughes Roy Harper's "when an old cricketer leaves the crease" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2PmnTvPfn4
I got as far as Richard Thompson at no. 69 and lost interest! That's just a crime against humanity...
Maybe personal (limited) knowledge would be more accurate, actually. I want to state for the record I am not a fan of Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman etc. If it was purely personal, I'd sneak J Mascis and Dean Ween in there alongside NY, Richard Thompson etc.! And that's only ever going to happen in my own personal list...
Yes, this is the thing about these lists - always someone blatant missing or too low down the list. My original point was more about who the public and critics generally perceive as the top ten guitarists. We'd have to don lab coats and get scientific to get to the bottom of who actually is the best.
I'm not a guitar expert, but Johnny Marr's not on the list so I'm skeptical. EDIT: He's 51, not high enough!
I always think of Richard Thompson as the Saints of the guitar world. Forever undervalued and dismissed. When he plays a great solo its a one off freak performance. The others were playing a bit below par and all that. TBH it's also a very age related, subjective opinion. Also sometime your favourite guitar solo/performance is not always by the best ever guitarist. As always emotional connections and context play a part. I love the guitar solo on "Goodbye to Love" by the Carpenters, really, hear it. I also love the solo (if you can use that word) by Marc Bolan on "Elemental Child". He really thought he was Hendrix at that point in his career, but was educated his gifts may be in other areas by Tony Visconti. I can almost see him doing it in front of the mirror at home.
I'm sceptical of Rolling Stone. Their bio of Cheap Trick doesn't even mention the song "Mighty Wings".
I was gonna suggest Zappa in there but you've got Stevie Vai so I guess you do know what you're on about. PS. glad Prince is in there, so often he gets made a joke of.
