[st stephen]

Who is the best guitar player alive right now????

[phreaker]

Leo Kottke has got to be up there somewhere.

And sometimes I don't like his music, you gotta give Buckethead some props. The man can go from Rockabilly, to classical, to metal, to a star wars theme song in one little jam. Plays with 8 fingers too.

[mutant_dan]

A couple names that come to mind right off the bat would be Tony Rice and Doc Watson. Doc's better days of picking have past! He is a national treasure when it comes to traditional playing. Tony Rice plays fast as all get out but he doesn't do much for me melodically.

Having said that, recently I was totally floored by Derek Trucks. Considering his age, I imagine he is only going to get better.

[HOWEYMAN]

[quote="mutant_dan"}Having said that, recently I was totally floored by Derek Trucks. Considering his age, I imagine he is only going to get better.[/quote]

Imagine what it would be like growing up around all that talent. (Allman Brothers family and friends). From a young age he was recieving guitar lessons from some of the masters. fortunate son of a b. He is one of my favorites. His tone sweet.

[phreaker]

oh man, if your into DTB check out ANY live version of "Sailing on" each version is better than the last.

[HOWEYMAN]

oh man, if your into DTB check out ANY live version of "Sailing on" each version is better than the last.

Thats so funny. I work with this girl that has better musical tastes then most women I know, and I let her borrow Songlines to open her mind from John Mayer and Jasin Marz and the like (she hates the Dead) and she said she liked the whole album except for Sailing on, which I thought was one of the best songs on the album. (the whole album kicks ass). I personally can't understand why anyone could not like the music we listen to. It just unbelievable to me. Trucks Rules!

[ded1hed]

buddy guy has got to be up there

dude can flat out tear it up when he wants, one of the few guys who can play hendrix without much (if any) drop off.

[AugustWest]

I agree leo kottke is amazing guitar player!!!! I saw him live recently and it wasn't as exciting as I had hoped, but he can still play. my choice however is Robbie Robertson. I always thought Robbie was one of the most amazing guitar players ever. Doesn't really get a lot of credit like his peers of the time (clapton, hendrix, richards, page) but we all know those london scene kids just didn't have the ballsy soul of people like Garcia, Robertson, and Duane.

Robbie's guitar playing sounds like american rock n roll at it's roots (imo). He switches from rhythm to ripping leads with such ease. Just great guitarist imo. Loved him best as dylans wonder boy and with the band. Didn't like much of his early solo efforts but I loved his latter stuff. I don't think i've heard anyone talk about him on this forum, so i'm intrested in what everyone else thinks.

[wisedyes]

That's a REALLY loaded question. I mean, from what point of view? For pure technical expertise, there are classical players that no one can touch, like John Williams or Julian Bream. What about really good jazz players, like Kenny Burrell, or John Scofeild, or Pat Metheny? Very few rock players can even concieve of the stuff those guys do, let alone pull it off.

What about an Alan Holdsworth? Or a Steve Vai? John McLaughlin? How many of us could say with a straight face, that, just as a guitarist, Jerry was even in their league? There's just too many phenomenal players out there to even try to answer this. A better question is who is your particular favorite?

[HawaiianDedhed]

Nice to see Leo getting some props.

I think he is the best guitar player alive right now.

His two albums with Mike Gordon are great (as is most of his stuff).

[amyjared]

I LOVE questions like this, because they're so loaded and so open-ended. I have several faves for different reasons. Acoustic, I like Steve Howe. He tears it up! I think Steve Morse is technically one of the best players to have ever lived, and I have seen him live, both with the Dixie Dregs and with his own band and he can play anything well. Hell, he was asked to be the guitarist in Deep Purple and Kansas! He can even play acoustic masterpieces. Eric Johnson has an incredible talent, and when I saw him, it made me want to put away the instrument. Of course, he doesn't really do it for me and I don't listen to his stuff, but I still respect him. Same goes for Holdsworth, DiMeola, Vai and the rest of the shredders. I can appreciate it, but it doesn't MOVE me. Those who do MOVE me are: Santana, Clapton, Alvin Lee, Dickie Betts and Warren Haynes. Derek will be one of the best slide players, but right now I much prefer Roy Rogers and Robert Randolph. Just my opinion!

[Shaggy]

In a world where it's currently too hard to name the best heavyweight boxer in the world it's impossible to name the greatest guitarist in the world.

I mean there are so many legends still around but not as active or as groundbreaking as they once were.

Someone like Derek Trucks is hugely exciting though because of his age.

I've always thought that David Lindley was one of the most amazing players I've ever heard.

[tigerstrat]

I'll throw the name Fareed Haque in the ring. He never fails to astound me whether playing solo, or with the exquisite Fareed Haque Group, or completely losing his mind with Garaj Mahal.

Leo Kottke is by FAR... EASILY- the greatest acoustic fingerstyle progressive folk guitarist ever to pick up a 6 or 12 string guitar. GREAT to see recognition here! First time I saw him was 1988 at the tiny Woodstock,IL Opera House (exterior featured in Groundhog Day)... last time was last summer at Horning's Hideout with Gordon- ALWAYS a mindblowing experience. Keller William s owes 90% of his technique to him in a big way... although curiously, in interviews he only ever seems to give props to Michael Hedges (who may be more indebted to in terms of writing and vocals)

[/i]

[renorover]

Robben Ford comes to mind as does Gary Moore. Do you mean someone who can make ya shake yorass or someone who is awesomely intricate and original. I love Elvin Bishop and in some venues he is the best. Doc Watson is great no doubt, but so is Eric Johnson. I mean sometimes even Taj Mahal can take my mind thru a maze. Eric Clapton was the best but he found 1)success and 2)success. Not to mention Ry Cooder or Stevie Vai. The best? Wow, thats like saying the sexiest woman alive today......if ya mention your wife you're an ass and if ya dont you're gonna be hungry for a week

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

Obviously the answer is me. All kidding aside, definitely a multiple answer answer but the guy that stands out right now for me is Derek Trucks. Whoever said that here before I agree completely. SO many ripping fusion guys with speed, so many jazz cats with insane soul and feel, so many blues players with guts and riffs, so many guys out there with insane chops and he seems like he can do every one of them amazingly well on the guitar and he has added the dimension of using half (partial) tones and Eastern scales as part of his signature sound by using the slide. All always thought he was kind of like Coltrane on acid with a guitar. Not to mention, his tone is ridiculously perfect. However, I think the reigning and current Michael Jordan of guitar has still got to be John McLaughlin.