Greatest Guitarist

[Lutharian]

So..this is a highly debated topic between my friends and myself.  It's obviously a personal opinion...based on who your favorite band is, so tastes are slanted one way or the other.  Reason i'm bringing this up, i'm watching the documentary called 'It Might Get Loud' with Jimmy Page, guitarist of Led Zepplin, The Edge, guitarist of U2, and Jack White, guitarist of White Stripes.  These Gents make up my top 3.  I know Page was a brilliant guitarist, however Zepplin's music to me is a bore.  I'm not a huge fan of U2 either, but I can appreciate the brilliance behind what they do. 

My taste are also slightly tainted as I'm a bass guitarist myself, so I lean towards who is the better bassist, as oppose to lead guitar.  Without a bassist I feel there is no rythm in the music, but White Stripes pull it off brilliantly, especially their older albums where it was just Jack and his sister Meg.  My favorite bassist is Paul McCartney, of the Beatles, and the Wings....*cough* yeaaaaah...but anyways. 

Just wanted to get others opinions, who do you all think is the greatest guitarist, either alive now, or deceased, doesn't matter as their legacy lasts through the ages. 

[Gaumer]

Easy one

Dimebag Darrell

RIP

That means Rest In Peace. Just making sure. I mean, you ARE a bassist

[Lutharian]

Easy one

Dimebag Darrell

RIP

That means Rest In Peace. Just making sure. I mean, you ARE a bassist

HA!  But yeah, true enough.  Rest in peace, oh how awesome Pantera was/is.  Never really listened to much Damageplan.  Might have to look into that one. 

[Gaumer]

I've seen Pantera 7 times in my life. None were a bad time.

Just kidding on the bassist thing. Living in Nashville most of my life I have known several friends in several different bands, and its always the bass player that takes the most crap.

One of my best friends, godfather to one of my sons actually, is a drummer and he always jokes about a bass player he had in a band once and no one else liked him. So they replaced him, with a machine
He also likes telling this one:

Q: Why can't many bass players get through the door?
A:They either can't find the key or don't know when to come in.


I was never as big a DP fan as I was a Pantera fan. I can listen to Pantera any time. Like right now!!
http://youtu.be/_YqGCs1BR9I

[Lutharian]

Hehe, I've always wondered when the appropriate time to enter a room is.  :p.  Usually end up being in the middle or last in line to enter.  Can never be the first one.

But going slightly off topic, I have three different guitars in my possession.  Two basses, one Johnson 4 string, one Aria four string, and one 6 string acoustic Kuwai.  I'm getting a 6 string First Act from my buddy for 10 bucks.     Completely self taught as well...it's more fun that way.  What about you Gaumer?  Got any instruments or anything?

And I've attempted to get my buddies together in a band...but they are horridly flakey and can never commit to practice, so i'm all alone at home playin my simple rythm solo...heh.  Doesn't work so well with just a bass, but meh I manage. 

And I'm also jealous of you having seen Pantera 7 times.  I'm too young to have truly enjoyed them when they were around.  *shrugs*  I'm going to see 3 Doors Down and ZzTop come June though.  Can't freakin waaaaait!

[Gaumer]

No no, I am not musically inclined at all. Always wanted to but my fingers could never handle the pain of the frets. I still have ambitions to learn keyboards, but it is nearer the bottom of a very very long list.

You need to find some more dependable friends Hanging out with bands has always been fun

Yes, I blame Pantera in part to the ringing I hear when I turn all my electronics off.


Let's throw Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine into the best pickers. Seen them a couple of times

And Cliff Burton into the best bassists ever. Never seen him but Metallica 4 times.

I'd love to see ZZ Top, but 3 Doors Down is more of a fun time than a must-see band IMO.

[Lutharian]

I'll agree with 3 doors down being a fun time.  First pair of concert tickets I ever won was to a 3 doors down concert.  Was a blast, they are great live.  I'm so so for Metallica.  It's more of a love hate relationship with me.  Rage however, def a great one there.  Morello is brilliant.  If they ever come around to my side of town I'm gonna see them.  They are on my very long list of must see bands before they split.  Missed out on Disturbed.  Very dissappointed at that one.  Damn you guys and wanting to be with your families...Geez.  You have a musical career!  I want more!

And I have the same ringing in my ears, but I also get it when things are on...doctors told me it was one of the many side effects of my a.d.d.  *shrugs*

[Gaumer]

That sucks; but mine is from too many loud evenings.

First tickets I won were for Van Halen with Sammy singing somewhere around 93? 92? A long time ago

I first saw Metallica on the second leg of the Black album tour in the 90's and it was so freaking epic! Even though Alice in Chains was supposed to open and had to bow out, Suicidal Tendencies and Candlebox were there, and OMFG Candlebox is so awesome! I thought we were going to burn the place to the ground!

I missed Rage on Lollapalooza 96 but caught Tool and Snoop Dogg and OMGF, KORN in 97. Also seen Korn a couple of other times.

I saw Disturbed at an Ozzfest prolly a decade ago now, and Soufly (Bumba!!). I keep missing Slipknot

Honestly, my biggest missing show that I must see before I leave this world is the one from your sig. Mudvayne.

[Lutharian]

Ha then I have one on you.  I saw Mudvayne at Planet Bash...of 05 or 06.  Amazing show, and an amazing band.  Love them.  You are the first to catch my sig to..so props sir, props. 

[Slappy]

Pepe Romero ot the Romeros.

[Navarre]

Ha then I have one on you.  I saw Mudvayne at Planet Bash...of 05 or 06.  Amazing show, and an amazing band.  Love them.  You are the first to catch my sig to..so props sir, props. 

I didn't catch the sig but I love Mudvayne. Actually, every band mentioned has been great.

[Otter Disaster]

Pretty subjective question to be sure.  Everyone has their own definition of 'best'.  I think Jimi Hendrix gets the nod for his influence on pretty much everybody who came after, and I like his stuff.  Roy Clark is pretty amazing and shreds as much as your Malmsteen/Vai types in my opinion, but his shredding is more entertaining and listenable.  I like Angus Young's solos more than a lot of more technical players, and Iron Maiden's Dave Murray/Adrian Smith combo is as good as it gets for me in terms of metal, just nudging out the Downing/Tipton combo from Judas Priest.  Morello is an interesting player, who does really neat stuff with a guitar, but RAtM isn't my cup of tea, so I personally don't place him all that high on my list.  This is the ultimate 'Your Mileage May Vary' question. 

Steve Harris is definitely my favorite bass player though...

[Lutharian]

I agree with it being a question of pure opinion.  It's interesting to see peoples responses.  It's a great conversation starter.  And sometimes opens you up to new music. Steve Harris is a great bass player.  My personal second is Flea.  Even though he is getting older, and you can hear it in his riffs, he can still shred a bass line harder than most. 

[Slappy]

I agree with it being a question of pure opinion.  It's interesting to see peoples responses.  It's a great conversation starter.  And sometimes opens you up to new music. Steve Harris is a great bass player.  My personal second is Flea.  Even though he is getting older, and you can hear it in his riffs, he can still shred a bass line harder than most. 

Jaco Pastorius ... conversation Ended.  Those you mentioned will bow down to Jaco, ask them.