[Slayer03]

Just wondering if anyone has a favorite shredder out there or who in your opinion is the best.
For me it's gotta be in no particular order......
Tony iommi, Ritchie blackmore, Jimmy page, Angus young, Sammy hagar, to name but a few.

[lechacal]

Hagar? You serious?

Not keen on shredding, but my top guitarists would be:

Brian May (and then, in no particular order),
David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Johnnie Greenwood, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton...

[square-eyes-baz]

Considering how long hes been around Ive only just started watching some Alvin Lee on Youtube

[Slayer03]

Ok Sammy hagar I will put on the back bench but yep Eric clapton he has such a good sound. Do any of you also find that these guitarists have such a distinct sound to themselves you know who they are as soon as they start to play, also I forgot to add Stevie ray vaughn and jeff healey.

[Matt_C]

Not all strictly "shredders", but; "Teh" James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Slash, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Gary Moore, John Petrucci, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbot (RIP), Tom Morello, Dave Mustaine, Chris Broderick, Gus G, Zakk Wylde, Reb Beach, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Willie Adler, Mark Morton, David Gilmour - just a few from the top of my head!

[Matt W]

Ian MacKaye (Fugazi)
Guy Picciotto (Fugazi)
Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney)
Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney)
Nels Cline

Are my favourites. But I'm not a fan of 'virtuosity' for the sake of it.

[Matt_C]

Originally Posted by Matt W

But I'm not a fan of 'virtuosity' for the sake of it.

Which is the exact reason I haven't mentioned Malmsteen. The guy is AMAZING, it cannot be denied. But he's also a prick, and his music leaves me fairly cold and emotionless. Vai and Satriani on the other hand, whilst Via is a little bit of a machine in places, there is so much more in the music than just "look how fast I can play this scale!"

[Matt_C]

I've really got into Gus G lately tho. Not sure Firewind is exactly my kind of band, a little bit too akin to Dragon Force maybe, but goddam this guys a good player! This video is just before he moved to Ozzy's camp;

YouTube - Firewind - Gus G guitar solo and 'Fire and the Fury'

[Matt W]

Originally Posted by Matt_C

Which is the exact reason I haven't mentioned Malmsteen. The guy is AMAZING, it cannot be denied. But he's also a prick, and his music leaves me fairly cold and emotionless. Vai and Satriani on the other hand, whilst Via is a little bit of a machine in places, there is so much more in the music than just "look how fast I can play this scale!"

Unfortunately, most 'metal' guitarists leave me cold.

Now this I like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAp3N...eature=related
YouTube - nels cline rippin'

[Donnacha]

The beginning of that Gus G clip reminds me of Michael Schenker!

....this topic has been done many times on here before (use search) and its always very subjective. I think it really depends on your taste in music. Personally I love listening to Stevie Ray, Hendrix, Van Halen, Billy Gibbons, Satriani, Vai and The Edge. But there are so many other out there as well, it really depends on the mood your in because one day you think SRV is the greatest ever but then you fancy some shreding and Vai blows your mind!! Its hard to be definitive on this one, just open your mind and enjoy all the talent..!

[lechacal]

Originally Posted by Slayer03

Do any of you also find that these guitarists have such a distinct sound to themselves you know who they are as soon as they start to play

That's partly why I like Knopfler and May so much. SRV had a very distinctive tone and technique as does Albert King.

[Davieboy00]

FRANK ZAPPA

Never get tired of the genius of the man

[JonnyFriendly]

'Current' guitarists I really rate -

Jack White (espec. with Raconteurs)
Kurt Ballou (Converge)
John Frusciante (RHCP)

Old Classics -

Peter Green
Jimmy Page
Kurt Cobain
Slash
Gregg Ginn (Black Flag)
and, of course, Jimi Hendrix.

Guitarists I really don't like (too much technical ability, too llittle feeling)-

Eddie Van Halen
Yngie(sic?) Malmsteen
Dave Mustaine
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani

[lechacal]

Some of those guys I really love as guitarists, it's just that I can't sit and listen to the music! For me it's the same with Malmsteen; terrific fingers and cloth ears. Not to mention he's a posing egomaniac.

I think you're harsh on Satch though.

[Donnacha]

Originally Posted by JonnyFriendly

Guitarists I really don't like (too much technical ability, too llittle feeling)-

Eddie Van Halen

Have to disagree here, he is full of feeling!! There's such a spontaneity and creativity to his playing, especially in his early years.

I also think you're a little harsh on Satriani and Vai - you only have to watch them in action to know that they are feeling it!

....but each to their own view, which is why I said earlier that this topic is sooo subjective!

[rockmonkey1973]

Originally Posted by JonnyFriendly

'Current' guitarists I really rate -

Jack White (espec. with Raconteurs)


Old Classics -

Peter Green
Jimmy Page
Kurt Cobain
Slash
and, of course, Jimi Hendrix.

Guitarists I really don't like (too much technical ability, too llittle feeling)-

Eddie Van Halen
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani

agree with this 100%. i love jack white. he is just so damn good and there is a real cool fun edge to his music. thinking about it the raconteurs are the only new group in the last two or three years or so that i have heard that has actually stood out from the crowd. in fact i have just stuck on consolers of the lonely for the first time in a couple of months. top stuff.

would add dave gilmour, the guys out of iron maiden, jonny greenwood, mani (stone roses), and the dude out of ratm.

[Matt_C]

Can't stand Jack White! And as for Kurt Cobain? Seriously? The guy was an AWFUL guitarist - hell I can play better than he could! And I suck!

[rockmonkey1973]

Originally Posted by Matt_C

Can't stand Jack White! And as for Kurt Cobain? Seriously? The guy was an AWFUL guitarist - hell I can play better than he could! And I suck!

then i guess we can agree that we like different types of music.

its funny cos i was gonna narrow it down to my favourite and after a little bit of pondering kurt cobain would be the one. probably not the best just my favourite.

edit: that video you posted back there. the dude opens up with his solo. sounds damn good but i know plenty of people who play who can do this and there is just nothing to distinguish it from the rest especially when he starts cranking on the riffs. if technical ability equated to the best guitarist then a dude i used to know who never became famous and was just a normal everyday guy would rank amongst the best i have ever heard cos he could play like the guitar was on fire (much like that dude on the video).

[Matt_C]

Not entirely no. I was a huge Nirvana fan, but I know he's not a good guitarist. I am also a huge Metallica fan, and also a drummer, and as such Lars Ulrich is my favourite drummer, but I am fully aware he's NOT a good drummer!

[JonnyFriendly]

As a guitarist, in my opinion Kurt Cobain was a great guitar player. Is it because what he played/wrote wasn't all that complicated and didn't stick to conventional chord sequences/scales that he is not regarded as such? His style suited the music perfectly, Nirvana were (despite appearances perhaps suggesting otherwise) a really really tight band and Kurt's guitar playing was a big part of this. Oh, and they/he totally changed the face of music. If that doesn't make him a great I don't know what does.

[PygoShlee]

I'm mainly into my Heavy stuff, but hate all the fast shredding crap.

Its hard to pick any, as I prefer someone the other day someone else.

Very into John Butler and Justing King at the moment (both acoustic)

Ash

[mrbobc]

jimi hendrix was just awe inspiring.

[Bretto]

Hendrix
Satriani

[Donnacha]

Originally Posted by mrbobc

jimi hendrix was just awe inspiring.

....and he still is ! Imagine what he he'd be doing if he was still alive today?

[Davieboy00]

Should have mentioned alongside FZ but forgot.
Steve Vai .
Never had the pleasure to see him playing with FZ but did see him with Dave Lee Roth and he was awe inspriring.

[o THE CHAD o]

My personal favs are Hendrix,Clapton,Beck,Gary Moore.

My current fav is Joe Bonamassa,hes awesome and well worth checking out.

[Dony]

A bit left field this one, but since Gary Moore has been mentioned, does anyone remember Brush Shiels, the frontman in Skid Row?

His more recent style of Celtic Rock mightn't appeal to everyone, but there's no doubting his talent.

YouTube - Brush Shiels

Whilst looking for a clip I found this and forgot what a great track it is. Reminds me of my uncle's with long sideburns and Ford Cortina's

YouTube - BRUSH SHIELS

[spikey1]

I'm amazed nobody has mentioned Matthew Bellamy!

[JonnyFriendly]

I'm not, considering he's ****. So he's got lots of effects - well done.

[Dr Evilest]

Originally Posted by Matt_C

I've really got into Gus G lately tho.

Yeah, that was pretty impressive.

Personally I like John Petrucci & used to really like EVH & Michael Schenker back in the 80s/90s.

All round multi-talented favourite though is Mr Satriani.