Jimi Hendrix tops Rolling Stone’s list of best guitarists

The Calgary Herald ^ | November 23, 2011

[ConservativeStatement]

Legendary musician Jimi Hendrix was named the greatest guitar player in history Wednesday by Rolling Stone magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music experts and top guitar players.

“Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage,” said Grammy-winning guitarist Tom Morello in the magazine, citing Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” as key tracks.

[gorush]

Knopfler was the master of the note not played. He certainly had a style of his own...and yes he and Gilmour deserve honorable mention. But I have Vaughn and Beck tied for first with Hendrix tied for third with a few others (but Clapton is not among them).

[truthfreedom]

Why is there nobody mentioned in the last 35 years? Not arguing the specifics, but it seems like after 1977, no good guitarists. Everyone wants to add other old ones. I probably would too.

[magritte]

Bill Nelson’s work in BeBop Deluxe is worthy of a very big nod, including Sister Seagull, Maid in Heaven, and Blazing Apostles...great technique..

[Norm Lenhart]

Being an 80s metalhead I gravitate that way, but one of the funny things is that for all the legendary speed of 80s shredders, the country guys - Atkins and the like, were as fast or faster and played with feeling to boot rather than just high RPM scale runs. The Jazz/fusion guys, likewise.

Atkins was a monster.

[Reagan Man]

The top 10 are all great guitarists.

I'd exclude Van Halen and include Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Personal preference: Eric Clapton.

[katiedidit1]

Know your guitarists...two of the all time greats.

[Signalman]

Pat Metheny is no slouch either.

[Revolting cat!]

Dave Yorko.

[katiedidit1]

Unbelievable...you left Stevie Ray Vaughn OFF...

[Revolting cat!]

John Yanick.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

From a technical perspective, none of those three are even near the top. Page himself admitted that he was a somewhat sloppy guitarist. They are all great musicians, and I would put all three near the top for the roads they blazed and the music they wrote, but I do not think of any of them as great guitarists.

[Clyde5445]

My thoughts exactly.

[Fiji Hill]

My choice would be Potzi.

Thanks for posting the link. That music is certainly interesting.

[Blue Highway]

I know he won't be in any top guitarist polls for a while, but maybe 20 years from now we might be seeing his name, Tosin Abasi. Interesting 8-string guitarist to say the least.

Tosin Abasi from Animals as Leaders "CAFO"

[joe fonebone]

robin trower.....frankie marino..........where are they??? (glad to see leslie west made it)..ronnie montrose....j geils.....too many that need to be there were not, and too many that had no business, made it

[Billthedrill]

Right you are, although the joke part was his own idea. The Miss Vicky wedding thing was kind of sad, though.

[Revolting cat!]

Ray Ennis.

[Forgotten Amendments]

This was voted on by “musicians”. Such as Melissa Ethridge and Lenny Kravitz.

ugh....

Jimi deserves it, but he freely admitted he couldn't tune it. In South America, the radio played lots of boots from back in the day. Most of Jimi’s were out of tune and awful. And Jimmy Page was just lousy on everything I ever heard that didn't come from a studio.

If it has to go to an old guy, I'd go Danny Gatton. But, there are a thousand people out there now we've never heard of.

[FightforFreedomCA]

Don't forget Phil Keaggy (video). Jump to about 6:20 to see some beautiful work...and the man only has 9 fingers.

[Chode]

pretty much...