RS Top 250 Guitar Players Ever

Donate To GopherHole
Ope3

Ope3

Baseball Grid Addict
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
10,215
Reaction score
7,661
Points
113
Interesting list spanning all genres. No shock on #1, Jimi Hendrix. Several of my favorites that I still follow currently made the grade including Liz Phair, Bob Mould, Nel Cline, Richard Thompson, J Mascis, Neil Young as well as Mike McCready & Stone Gossard (combined).

Not egregious, but I think Gary Louris and Jason Isbell should have made it too.

www.rollingstone.com

The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

The 250 Greatest Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, Prince, St. Vincent, H.E.R. and More
www.rollingstone.com www.rollingstone.com

As for the rankings about the only quibble is Stevie Ray Vaughan at #20. I would have thought he was a shoo in for Top 10.
 

Ope3 said:
Interesting list spanning all genres. No shock on #1, Jimi Hendrix. Several of my favorites that I still follow currently made the grade including Liz Phair, Bob Mould, Nel Cline, Richard Thompson, J Mascis, Neil Young as well as Mike McCready & Stone Gossard (combined).

Not egregious, but I think Gary Louris and Jason Isbell should have made it too.

www.rollingstone.com

The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

The 250 Greatest Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, Prince, St. Vincent, H.E.R. and More
www.rollingstone.com www.rollingstone.com

As for the rankings about the only quibble is Stevie Ray Vaughan at #20. I would have thought he was a shoo in for Top 10.
Click to expand...

Cool list. It was fun to scroll through. Cool to see Lzzy Hale getting some love. The only REAL issue I would take is, 250 legendary guitarists and no Yngwie Malmsteen? Very, very surprised at that.
 

Lists like this are made to make music heads mad. I try not to dwell on them too much for that reason. Here goes...
 

Eric Clapton at #35. That is all I need to know about this list.
 

tikited said:
Eric Clapton at #35. That is all I need to know about this list.
Click to expand...

I should have mentioned that as more egregious more than SRV. Personally, through the years though I have listened to more SRV though.

Cool to see the Deals get recognition at #160. I am also glad D Boon got in there.
 


this is so subjective, because a lot depends on individual opinions and perspectives.

there are guitar players who are very skilled - and then there are guitar players who may not be as skilled, but have a unique style or play with great emotion.

and how do you really decide who is "better?" is Jerry Garcia better than The Edge? Is Neil Young better than Pete Townsend? How do you compare Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix? or compare David Gilmour to damn near anyone?

I am a Bruce Springsteen fanatic. Now, I would never claim that Springsteen is a great technical guitarist, but his playing works within the context of his music. and that's what really matters.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
this is so subjective, because a lot depends on individual opinions and perspectives.

there are guitar players who are very skilled - and then there are guitar players who may not be as skilled, but have a unique style or play with great emotion.

and how do you really decide who is "better?" is Jerry Garcia better than The Edge? Is Neil Young better than Pete Townsend? How do you compare Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix? or compare David Gilmour to damn near anyone?

I am a Bruce Springsteen fanatic. Now, I would never claim that Springsteen is a great technical guitarist, but his playing works within the context of his music. and that's what really matters.
Click to expand...
Nils Lofgren made it at 132.
 

tikited said:
Lists like this are made to make music heads mad. I try not to dwell on them too much for that reason. Here goes...
Click to expand...

One other thing, as a huge Replacements it's awesome that Bob Stinson was recognized at 128. However that's 6 spots above Bob Mould which is insane, even if that was based on his Hüsker output alone.

I'm not sure Stinson was even the best guitar player in his own band.
 
Last edited:

Ope3 said:
One other thing, as a huge Replacements it's awesome that Bob Stinson was recognized at 128. However that's 6 spots above Bob Mould which is insane, even if that was based on his Husker output alone.

I'm not sure Stinson was even the best guitar player in his own band.
Click to expand...
Kind of like how Paul was the better player than George was.
 





tikited said:
Charo was much better than the #9 listed Joni Mitchell.
Click to expand...
As far as technical playing sure, but the preface of the article indicates:

We also tended to give an edge to artists who channeled whatever gifts god gave them into great songs and game changing albums, not just impressive playing.

From that standpoint, I would say Joni Mitchell is underrated at #9.
 




There are always things to get upset about on these lists. As tikited pointed out, it's clickbait for riling up people who know (or think they know) guitar.

So I'm just going to be happy that Doug Gillard of Guided by Voices made the list. The man is a hook machine.
 

Ope3 said:
As far as technical playing sure, but the preface of the article indicates:

We also tended to give an edge to artists who channeled whatever gifts god gave them into great songs and game changing albums, not just impressive playing.

From that standpoint, I would say Joni Mitchell is underrated at #9.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice that part. That would make a little sense why Stevie Vai was so low and Yngwie wasn't listed. Still weird though.
 

#115 in action earlier tonight in Omaha, NE with Wilco.

Nels Cline

IMG_20231023_195134842.jpg
 
Last edited:


tikited said:
I was planning on going to that show but it just didn't work out. How was it?
Click to expand...
I'll post more when I get a chance in the Concert thread, but it was excellent. Well worth the trip. Fantastic venue.
 

Good show, crappy photo but #134 in action tonight at the Ceder Cultural Center.

Bob Mould

IMG_20231028_213330226.jpg
 
Last edited:

I did not see Rick Emmitt from Triumph, he may have been on the list, did I miss that?
Also, Steve Vai was amazing to see live.
 

Ope3 said:
Good show, crappy photo but #134 in action tonight at the Ceder Cultural Center.

Bob Mould
Click to expand...
Another good show on the other side of river by #134 at the Turf Club.

Bob Mould taking a bow.

IMG_20231029_222840170~2.jpg
 
Last edited:

Really a poor list. If guitar players would have a vote it would be much different. I'm sure they all do things very well for what they were/are doing but many of those are just people who make popular music. Just a few that I can think who should have been in the top 20 are Glen Campbell and a top 10 should be Danny Gatton. People are still trying figure what they did.
 

#137 in action earlier tonight standing 6' 1" & mesmerizing at the Palace in St Paul.

Liz Phair

IMG_20231117_214542958~2.jpg
IMG_20231117_223137656~2.jpg
 

#124 in action last night in Vancouver.

Mike McCready

IMG_20240504_231245825.jpg
 
Last edited:




No Billy Corgan? That's a big oversight unless I missed it.
 

#s 160 in action tonight at the Uptown. Deal X 2.

Kelley & Kim

IMG_20240924_214412430~2.jpg
 
Last edited:

tikited said:
Eric Clapton at #35. That is all I need to know about this list.
Click to expand...
No kidding. Plus George Harrison at 31? Prince at 14?
Absolutely ridiculous that Mark Knopfler isn't even in the top 75?????
Also, John Mayer at 31 is completely disrespectful to arguably the best modern day guitarist.

If you thought this list was bad, go look at their best albums of all time list...spoiler, it's even worse.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom