Who is the World's Greatest Guitarist? ~ PART 2

Having asked the question "Who was, or is, the greatest guitarist of all time?" Tim Brookes has a change of heart and wonders if it's even a good idea to think in such terms...

Tim Brookes has written books on asthma, hospice, hitchhiking, SARS, and life on a dirt road in Vermont. His most recent book is Guitar: An American Life, was published by Grove Atlantic Press. But he would give it all up in a flash in order to be able to play Limehouse Blues like Django Reinhardt.

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[oilkills]

A) Who is Shawn Lane?

[halvi5450]

Lenny Breau all the way

[bearsbugs]

@joelplutchak

OK, He (Les Paul) had been experimenting with various pick-up designs throughout the 30s and built his "Log" solid body in 1941, in Epiphone's workshop. I hadn't heard of any playable examples from anyone else prior to that, but then, contrary to what some seem think, I don't know everything. And yes, it was a case like the telephone and the jet engine, where more than one person was working on the same idea at the same time. But who were they?

[joelplutchak]

@bearsbugs According to wikipedia, the first solid body electric guitars were made in the early 1930s. Les Paul in my opinion was probably more influential in his playing and recording techniques.

[bearsbugs]

The answer to the question "Who changed the world of guitar music the most?" would be far easier to give, that would have to be Les Paul with the invention of the solid body electric guitar.

[bearsbugs]

I think it is too subjective a subject to ever be given a definitive answer. The same qualities that may make one person say this artist is the greatest guitarist ever may be the very thing that makes another person say that artist shouldn't even be on a list of the to 1000. My own favorite guitarist is John Lee Hooker simply because of the way his music made me feel, and I would be the first to admit that there are and have been very many more talented guitarists than he was.

[behnkenj]

A few of my own favorites:

Jazz : John McLaughlin, Flamenco: Paco DeLucia, Prog Rock: either Steve Hackett or John Goodsall. I'm tempted to say McLaughlin is the best because he could really do it all - and exceedingly well.

[behnkenj]

Doesn't make sense to me to go beyond 'recorded history' when dealing with this subject. I think you also need to take into consideration the style of guitar playing. I'd expect much different things from a Jazz guitarist than I would from a folk guitarist. Both could have incredible skill, but the music and technique is so different that it really prevents comparison. On the whole, however, I find the subject fascinating and am interested in the results.

[guitarvangelist]

I absolutely loved your book! And yes, this is a stupid question!!! But since you asked it is Paco De Lucia.

[jmsbk12345]

In all seriousness this question can't be answered.  It is subjective and if you were asking me which guitarists lift my spirit the most and make a tingle run down your spine or make you laugh out loud in joy or have depth of soul, passion and feel then I would say: Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Danny Gatton, Paco de Lucia, Lenny Breau, Segovia and Jeff Beck just for starters. I love the naturally gifted players that don't know so much of the technical side of music.