David Gilmour Names His Favourite Guitar Player

[@AliasMark69]

Back in O.C. Calif when I was 30 my wife heard a commercial on the radio about a P.F. show coming up. Knowing I am a Floyd fan she called the radio station (KMET - LA, “The Mighty Met”) to get information on the concert, The DJ on live radio Cynthia Fox…. said...."Congratulations, YOU are caller number 10, YOU just won tickets to the show and the Sound Check Party before the show"... I met David Gilmour back stage. He gave us both a signed album that I have in my music room. We talked for 22 minutes. I called him…“The Master Of The Stratocaster” He smiled. I told him his music will stand the test of time with anything from Beethoven or Mozart. He smiled even bigger. I asked if I could shake both his hands that make such great guitar solos, he smiled bigger and said “Sure” and shook both hands at the same time, making a cross between us, I smiled HUGE. Hard to explain how awesome that moment was in my life. I asked him to describe his technique of playing guitar, he replied… “I strike a note, bend it, shake it and then release it”…. Yes, he does that quite well, better than any other guitarist I know. . I told him in my eyes he’s a “Legend“. He thanked me and said “Enjoy the show”…. during the concert after the song “Money” he looked right at me and said…. “On saxophone, another Legend, Mr. Raphael Ravenscroft” … acknowledging my comment to him. It is my favorite moment in over 300 shows I’ve seen. I asked David…. How do you create those awesome solos?… he said….. I sit on a stool and listen to what Roger, Nick and Rick put down and play along. I listen to what I played and pick out what I like, then I put the pieces together into one piece then learn to play it as one. Our fans are fanatics for our shows to sound like the albums so I must play it correctly each time in a show. I have the concert Brochure and album on the wall with David’s picture centerfold.

[@johngrotegut1048]

That's just awesome

[@erroneousbatch]

Really nice post, mate. Thanks.

[@DonaldMerrit]

Wow!

[@kathyscoppettuolo4203]

What a blessing 🙌 😊

[@robertcaffrey6097]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful recollection with us.

[@cds1957]

David Gilmour’s guitar playing has taken me to heaven and back! He is one of the best!

[@coyote520]

Naw, you are wrong, fella. He IS the best.

[@WiliamWolker]

Why did you come back ?

[@kdee8166]

Steve Morse, Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, SRV, Dave Gilmour, Mike McCready, Alex Lifeson, Snowy White, Angus Young, Michael Schenker - they are some of my favourites. As for who’s the best? Well, I couldn’t choose and it’s not that important or relevant as different styles, genres and mood always play a part.

[@row8017]

Steve Howe was at least 5 time melody maker guitarist of the year

[@markcooper9063]

Jeff Beck

[@thehammer3340]

Ted Nugent

[@sherylbranca9532]

Thank you for mentioning Snowy White--he's often overlooked, and is one of my favorites, as well!😊

[@MrConspark]

Gary Moore (RIP) and Joe Satriani added to that list 😍🎸

[@rob1tom]

Gary Moore was a legend. Right up there with the greatest guitarists.

[@keithmiles917]

Yep. Jeff Beck. Excellent choice, Mr. Gilmour. Technically brilliant. Always inventive. Described as "uncopyable" by Rick Beato. And with good reason. A one-off. R.I.P.

[@bertenqvist7324]

Yes I think Jeff Beck formed him the most.

[@DUGGER1947]

With Gilmour, it's not about how many notes or the speed of the notes. It's the quality and perfection of the notes. His note bending, control of the hand tremolo (vibrato), volume knobs, and foot pedals is superhuman. He can literally tell a story or establish a theme just by playing the guitar. His guitar (whether it be one of a number of types of electric models, acoustic, lap steel, or platform steel) is literally another singing voice, with all the associated emotion and soulfulness.

[@jeffk4930]

…and when note to add in more notes. His work often gives you a chance to follow his last notes, almost reflectively. David gets more out of the notes as a standard that I’ve measured other guitarists.

[@chrisgrieves1468]

David Gilmour happens to be my personal favourite guitarist, but then Pink Floyd is my fave band if I had to name one. However there is no such thing as a single 'best' player. We are all fortunate there are so many great ones that all bring something to the table in their own way. One that hardly ever gets a mention but deserves a shout is Roy Buchanan who played Telecaster..

[@rumien1383]

I could have written this word for word.👍👍

[@TheCornishCockney]

How about the two Irish geniuses,Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore? Astonishing technically,but add soul into the mix too. Ritchie Blackmore for nostalgic reasons,Brian May for obvious reasons,Tony Iommi for testosterone reasons and Eric Woolfson (Alan Parsons Project) for personal reasons.

[@Martha-jl6eu]

Jeff Beck. Good answer.

[@Retroscoop]

I'm not surprised Harrison is in his list, there is indeed lots of common things between these two.

[@michaelsmith2723]

Mark Knopfler would like a word! And he is a finger player. Dire Straits. Still playing at 75!

[@maryanngarcia3080]

Love Mark

[@BjørjaBear]

He is one of those guitar players that you'd recognise the sound of, even if he played something that you hadn't heard before. Lovely signature sound.

[@roisingtommy]

Mark Knopflers solos doesn't make people cry.

[@Bluemusic66]

@@roisingtommypffft. Ever seen people react to Brothers in arms?

[@Bluemusic66]

Knopfler is too ‘young’ to be an influence.

[@curtvona4891]

Beck is a favorite of a lot of the best Guitar players. I would add Blackmore as great Stratman.

[@flyingburritobro68]

Tommy Bolin on the Spectrum album was so good the Beck was influenced to go that direction and admired Tommy

[@joebranston6330]

Yeah but Blackmore less original, and also seems to be a douche

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

His auctioning of guitars for charity is touching. Great player.

[@steelhead197]

Yep..the employees and the ceo of the charity thank him, for the exorbitantly affluent lifestyles they can continue….🤦‍♂️

[@hendrikdebruin4012]

@@steelhead197 YUP if 5% ends up helping anyone it is a lot.

[@87Rado]

Gilmour and SRV have always been my favorite guitarist, no one else even came close or would make it onto the list in my opinion, until I heard Tommy Emmanuel, he could play note for note along with anyone!

[@waynedurning8717]

If you grew up or around the 70s the fact is you were spoiled with great artists. Including guitarists. Of all the many truly unique truly phenomenal guitarists nobody takes you on journey like David Gilmour. If there were only one guitarist to last the next few hundred years it would him because of that. Just listen it is undeniable.

[@hanstilstam7858]

Eric Johnson is one decent strat player

[@Transterra55]

David Gilmour is definitely one of my favorite guitarists of all times, but there are so many great Strat players with distinct sounds like SRV, Rory Gallagher, etc.

[@Stechamppn]

Dave gilmores playing Is about big bends... smooth vibrato..... melodic structure... every note in the right place.... I know this tho ...jam on some of the classic floyd solos.... and if your finger tips ain't sore afterwards...your lucky ..I've shredded skin loads of times over the years jamming on floyd solos.... then there is shine on ....that is so slow ..so damn slow that in my eyes is in fact harder to play than fast riffs.. that in its self is art... its the suspense he and floyd could build.... I've seen great cover bands do it....and they don't play it like dave...he's unique and a one off legend ..and a nice guy 👌

[@Allan-et5ig]

I hear you. I seem to have permanent soreness in my left index finger; probably from acoustic.

[@PFTome]

My humble hero for the past 4 decades.

[@scaredypicker]

I hope the person who bought the black strat didn’t expect to sound like David when they played it. He could make a £120 Squier Affinity sound incredible

[@PedroLopez-fe5bf]

Jeff Beck is in almost every favourite guitar player list.

[@eversut1]

Anyway, there is only 1 David Gilmour and we, firm believers, worship him.

[@djeejah]

loved the laid back approach of this clip. Most certainly the personality of Sir David Gilmour shows up in his talent, the fantastic guitar solos he blessed us with and having is black strat raising so much for charity command respect 🙏

[@coyote520]

David Gilmour is my favorite human being on this planet. We are absolutely BLESSED to be graced by his talent.

[@georgegeysen6499]

Very nice ... regardless of detractors and critics and all the other "Fender" players (SRV?) ... Gilmour's tone and melodic sensibilities have resulted in some of the most iconic work ... but I'd take Shine On You Crazy Diamond as maybe his most iconic.

[@MartinSage]

Why do we only need one favorite? Silly, each has its own strengths

[@krakatoa1200]

I think Hank Marvin, influenced most kids in the 60's. my favourites include Paul kossoff, Allen Collins and Rory Gallagher.

[@PrzemyslawMaj-t3e]

I simply love David Gilmour aura and tunes I was born in 1971 I rural Poland so it was because of my lovely uncle who introduced me to pink floyd on old vinyls and…….until now still on my playlist ❤❤

[@avalanche9026]

A good player must be open to million things. David is right on. Then you get to form your own.

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Dave has never been the fastest or most technical it's his feel and tone that makes him great. He gets more out of simple notes

[@herbcanter2114]

In an interview with Guitar Classics magazine in 1985, almost one year after he had released his second solo album “About Face”, David Gilmour talked about new guitar players. He mentioned two recent ones that he was being influenced by. One of them was Eddie Van Halen, who already was one of the most influential guitar players in the world. Although his music was really different from what Gilmour used to do, he told the magazine that he was being influenced by Van Halen. “These days I don’t listen to other people with the objective of trying to steal their licks. Although I’ve got no objections to stealing them if that seems like a good idea. I’m sure that I’m still influenced by Mark Knopfler and Eddie Van Halen as well.” “I can’t play like Eddie Van Halen, I wish I could. I sat down to try some of those ideas and I can’t do it. (But) I don’t know if I could ever get any of that stuff together. Sometimes I think I should work at the guitar more. I play every day but I don’t consciously practice scales or anything in particular,” David Gilmour said. Eddie passed away in 2020 at the age of 65 after years battling cancer. Gilmour had the opportunity to meet him a couple of times over the decades. The Pink Floyd musician told Guitar Player magazine in 2009 that he always seemed to be a very nice guy. “I have to confess I don’t listen to an awful lot of Van Halen, but Eddie is fantastic. His moments of sheer, unbridled, joyful playing- as he did on the Michael Jackson track - can’t help but make you want to jump around on a dance floor.” “He was a major influence on a lot of people, wasn’t he? He changed Rock music. (Eddie) made a lot of very average players think they were a lot better than they actually were!” David Gilmour said.

[@petedavid5127]

Nobody touched the stunning sonic landscapes wrought out of the feedback of Jimi’s guitar playing. He got sounds I’ve never heard since.

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

David Gilmour's Strat playing has an unmistakeable signature. While his playing is never fast it is always well measured & usually soulful reaching emotional points that reach out & touch the listener.

[@craigrheberling]

hearing beck's "truth" lp, back in '68- his lead on the cut "blues deluxe"- that was my first clue! raw emotion? 100%!! loved it then, and even more today!

[@parandersson6541]

One of his most known solos were performed on a Gibson Les Paul, the solo on Another brick in the wall part2.

[@JoelRussell-e7m]

Rory Gallagher

[@billd9667]

I'll counter with someone whose name I haven't seen in the comments - Roy Buchanan. And he did it with a "just a Telecaster."

[@JoelRussell-e7m]

@ I’m a fan

[@davidvanbrunt4233]

Seen him at Hollywood Bowl 2 weeks ago....incredible !!!

[@SashanMusArt]

From an interview between David Gilmour & Dale Maplethorpe in FAR OUT Sat 27 April 2024 19:30, UK The Dire Straits album David Gilmour calls one of his all-time favourites: “I’m still influenced by Mark Knopfler”. ……..after so much experience working on albums and having an innate ability to craft them, David Gilmour is an expert in both writing and recommending LPs that you should listen to. One in particular that caught his attention was the self-titled Dire Straits record. The album divided audiences at the time, but in retrospect, there is no escaping the fact that the amount the band managed to accomplish on their debut really is something. The record features ‘Sultans of Swing’, which is still one of their biggest songs to date, and ‘Water of Love’. The album had a particular impact on David Gilmour, who doesn’t only call it their best album but one of the best albums he has ever heard. “Mark Knopfler has a lovely, refreshing guitar style. He brought back something that seemed to have gone astray in guitar playing,” said Gilmour, discussing why he likes the album so much, “These days, I don’t listen to other people with the objective of trying to steal their licks. Although I’ve got no objections to stealing them if that seems like a good idea. I’m sure that I’m still influenced by Mark Knopfler.” This is a massive compliment from Gilmour, as someone who has particular mastery over exciting playing techniques and musical tone. For him to say that Dire Strait’s sound on their debut is not only good but is so good that he has considered stealing it is nothing short of the highest praise within music. I ❤️MK

[@muleface1066]

You can't be a great musician without deep humility. We all learn from those that came before us and from those that we play with now. 'A wise man learns more from the fool than a fool learns from a wise man.' The same is true of musicians. There is also a sort of ego, but it's usually ego based on the music. If I'm playing a Lennon song, for example, or Duke Ellington, I owe that song a certain level of confidence and intention.

[@Thescottishguyreacts]

Mark Knopfler gotta be in the mix

[@madade27]

Greatest Fender Player of all time?...Who came up with THAT Bull? Henry VIII ?.....FFS!!!

[@WiliamWolker]

One of my three kings of guitar - David Gilmour, Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore.

[@luizoswaldoabreu2752]

"I learnt from dozen more". Yes, its true, and it reminds me that he of course learnt from country-rock guitarrists too. I own two or three Unicorn (a really good British country-rock band) albums which he produced and also played wonderful steel guitar. A joy!

[@nilsgroters2494]

Rory Gallagher?

[@kitrichardson5573]

Mark Knopfler and David Gilmore are my two favorite guitar players. There are other great guitar players certainly like Jimmy Page. I think Joe Walsh should be in the conversation. You could list a bunch of them. But those two at the top of the list, always jump out.

[@joeniccoli1916]

Wouldn't say Gilmour wasn't fast. Definitely would not say that.

[@AlexandraHorn-t4b]

Oh yeah,Mr Beck 🎸He was soo great! He is my favorite.Terje Rypdahl,Robin Trower,Jimmy Page...✌️

[@jerrylanglois7892]

So, much for the great cord\melody, fingerstyle players...

[@malcolmherbert5127]

Maybe not often thought of as a Fender player (although he really is, even though his Strats are heavily modified), but possibly my favourite guitarist has to be Ry Cooder. You say Gilmour is a thoughtful, restrained, melodic, and rather emotional player, and I wouldn’t disagree with those descriptions at all, but compared to Ry virtually all other electric guitarists pale into insignificance when emotion comes into the picture. Just give a listen to the guitar break in Across The Borderline for example, or the instrumental I Think It’s Going To Turn Out Fine off his Bop Till You Drop album

[@cuda426hemi]

He's not really a Fender player. A few of his guitars might be but his bottle neck and slide sound ain't Fender. He used a million other brands from Guyatone to Gretsch to Teisco and a boatload of acoustics and semis. He's in the "Club" of decent players fo sho. David Lindley, Dave Hole, Derek T and of course Sonny Landreth are also in the slide Club. I like his soundtrack to Southern Comfort - a pretty good film nobody saw about National Guard troops on exercise in the Bayou - but things go wrong. His tremelo'd to death trademark slide is all over it. Bayou spooky - which is what Ry rends to "do". 🎸

[@TheCornishCockney]

A music God in not just rock,but music as an art from any era. 200 years from now,there will be huge orchestras in massive venues playing Pink Floyds entire work and they will be considered classical masterpieces. Probably AI with all the PF members up there on stage playing to billions around the world. I saw the real thing. 3 times including Pulse in London in ‘94. Still the best concert I’ve ever been to.

[@barrygreenstein8383]

Why are there so many negative comments about Gilmour. He may not be the greatest of all time but he was great!

[@doscwolny2221]

Absolutely and I'm a Waters fan👍

[@doscwolny2221]

Absolutely and I'm a Waters fan.👍

[@alisonanthony1228]

Was? He still is! I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he was stunning.

[@DonaldMerrit]

I concur with David's choice. I mean, when was the last time you seen a Jeff Beck tribute band..

[@Louis76-z3i]

Mark Knopfler

[@1956tojo]

SRV and EVH, with Gilmore, Hendrix, Trower, Marino, and Malmsteen as side dishes.

[@jts2398]

Marino? His main axe is an SG.

[@nicholasprotz4297]

@@jts2398EVH is a trickster.

[@donaldbyrd8084]

Love marino,funny how nobody says his name

[@herbcanter2114]

@@nicholasprotz4297 Go listen to what famous guitarists said about EVH BEFORE he started tapping , he was even more incredible .

[@mariannemaloneywitherspoon6335]

Beck is great and so was Stevie Ray Vaughan. Unfortunately, Stevie was taken too soon. 😢 7:44

[@nealebradford600]

Ever heard of Rory Gallagher? He's the greatest Fender player

[@brianpoole4369]

MARK KNOFFLER...by a country mile!!!

[@אילןמזרחי-ב6נ]

steve hackett

[@crosebore3781]

SH on another level

[@אילןמזרחי-ב6נ]

@@crosebore3781 upper level

[@crosebore3781]

All by himself. Firth of Fifth

[@Allan-et5ig]

What guitarists say at their peak is what is most meaningful, not what they say decades later. I have a '77 guitar magazine in which just as this (A-I narrated? don't know) video pointed out, Gilmour lamented his limitations. "Poor left and right hand coordination" lack of speed, and several more self-criticisms, I can't recall. Many or most of his most famous solos were - not that others don't do it too, comped together from various takes. I like his all-around ability, mainly. Writing, singing and playing. I see him as a all-rounder, rather than a virtuosic soloist - though some of his solos are virtuosic.

[@pjtheory]

It appears that being a contrarian is the new normal for KZbin mouth breathers. Breaking news...Gilmour didn't anoint himself as the greatest Fender player, but he is one of the greatest dual threats (e.g., vocalist/musician) in rock history. The 78-year-old guitar god continues to create new music that adds to his prodigious back catalogue with Pink Floyd, his solo albums, and his work with numerous artists (e.g., Paul Mccartney, Pete Townsend, Brian Ferry, Kate Bush, Roy Harper, The Orb) in the past 56 years.

[@petermacmillan6756]

Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossof, Richard Thompson, all underrated. But the best Strat man? NIGEL TUFNEL!

[@jefra6]

Don't forget to include Nils Lofgren, George Kooymans and Jan Akkerman in this list.

[@torbjrnlund903]

David Gilmour is the creme de la creme de la creme de la creme de la creme. Hats off.

[@Michel-r6m]

A gentleman 👍

[@mplant1999]

Why is George Harrison's influence on David Gilmour "rather surprising"?

[@2tbos]

How beautiful young Gilmour was

[@anachronistofer]

Given how expressive and lyrical Gilmour's playing is, along with how meh his lyrics tend to be (along with his wife's), I continue to be baffled as to why he never produced an all-instrumental album or two.

[@Chiller11]

$3,300,000 for a bolt neck Stratocaster is pretty interesting evidence of the value of celebrity.

[@ctuna2011]

Jeff Beck is my favorite but I put Dave right up there though his style is different but fantastic in it's own way . The is an new Generation of extreme shredders but they are not quite the same . Mateo Mancuso and Guthrie Govan come to mind. Dave Music is usually Mental and ethereal every note counts .

[@davidshaw-nu1bz]

❤

[@garystevens1129]

Alvin Lee, Gary Moore and Bubby Guy are a few of my favorites

[@frankpostma8362]

Agree! And how about Rory Gallagher!?

[@JedBlake-g2r]

Joe bonamasa, blackmore , gary moore, what a great time it was

[@dankelly7712]

“The wild technical flair of Clapton”😂😂

[@mariner0]

not sure why but they keep mentioning Hank Marvin and now I'm feeling quite hungry.....but seriously, its more the skill to compose as others can copy, but the writing of the original stuff is the true skill

[@GodfreyTempleton]

Hendrix. When you work out Hey Joe, Gilmour comes out as Mister Thumbs.

[@kingcurry6594]

Gilmour is a great player, but he's probably not quite the best Fender player. 1) Rory Gallagher 2) Jeff Beck 3) Ritchie Blackmore 4) Mark Knopfler 5) Robin Trower 6) Dave Gilmour But those are all great players. No Jimi Hendrix? No - I just don't like what he does. He's extremely influential and changed the way guitar was played, but many can now do what he did. And Andy Latimer usually played a Gibson or a Burny, but when he played a Fender, he was amazing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaK7i5aDZqxnatU

[@guesser7]

There are two guitarists that have a touch that no others have. Mark Knopfler and Steve Hackett.

[@Musictruthschannel-jb8du]

and Jeff Beck

[@MrHistorian123]

Andy Latimer should be there with those two.

[@davidpendry7731]

I will add Joe Bonamassa to your list

[@theonemodifier]

@@Musictruthschannel-jb8du the correct answer

[@theonemodifier]

@@davidpendry7731 I worked one of his shows, JB only gave me goosebumps for a brief moment. And backstage he was a complete jerk.

[@soundssimple1]

" the greatest fender player of all time ? ffs , bollocks..." One of the greats certainly, but all this 'best' or 'greatest' stuff is nonsense.

[@johngraydon506]

Its all bollocks as we all have our favourites but thecLondon scene in the sixties did establish some world class british musicians

[@philfyphil]

I agree, ridiculous the way people rate players. Rolling Stone Magazine rated Nile Rogers in the top 10 yet Jeff Beck was at forty something. I’m sure people come up with these stupid statements to irritate others.

[@stogies3]

@@johngraydon506By that time the USA had dozens of great players in every genre.

[@stogies3]

@@kennypriest7434 The first two i like,Page and Blackmore.don’t care for the rest,and still stand by what i said.

[@PeterSokol-bl5vz]

What strikes someone emotionally…..moves them…is a very personal experience….everyone can be the best guitarist in the world…..technical ability…dedication…practice…complicated composition…uniqueness…..that is a whole world on quite a different level….its all Point Of View.

[@TyBrando]

Well done!

[@henryarn]

3.3 million for the strat! I wonder how much Page's number one would sell for!

[@maryanngarcia3080]

David Gilmore can make that guitar touch my soul. Love his voice, too.

[@cityslacker6221]

don’t see how, since this gentleman is named Gilmour

[@ThomazLera]

Please tell me which is this early floyd live recording playing a slow blues

[@flankerjr]

Terry Kath!

[@sonnyboy5566]

Beck number one! Incredibly unique

[@davebowman6497]

I am a big Gimour fan. The whole concept of GOAT is meaningless, tribal, counter-productive, and just plain stupid.

[@richgonzalez5057]

Steve Howe of yes

[@ruisousa7967]

Best Fender player of all time??? Now we rate guitarrist based on model????

[@Thebeastfromnorth75]

Greatest Fender Player of all time? Ever heard of a chap from Weston-super-Mare? He bares the name of Richard Hugh Blackmore.

[@anachronistofer]

Yes, along with a guy from Seattle, USA named James Marshall Hendrix not to mention another bloke from Wallington, UK named Geoffrey Arnold Beck. I'm pretty sure they both mainly played Fender Strats. As I recall.

[@DaveAurelio]

There are a lot of great players mentioned here. Its impossible to say who is the best. Joe Walsh wasnt mentioned. Or Buddy Guy. But perhaps one most of you probably never heard of ...Me...would never say the best in the world . But have been told I was one of them by many that saw me play. No one is the best, but again. Lot of great players. Crazy to say but possibly true....

[@andrewmoonbeam321]

He was in the Pink Folyd

[@jayha7071]

Blackmore the most versatile

[@DexterHaven]

Blackmore's play on "Lazy" before the vocal starts is A++ for ear and technique, in my book.

[@renesaenz5463]

He's a legend - WYKYK

[@travelinben1966]

Let's not forget to many,the master of the Stratocaster,Robin Trower.👍

[@Ray-tu4rw]

I thought that was Albert Collins.

[@Ray-tu4rw]

Sorry that was the Telecaster.

[@markdoell1834]

All shred. All one tribe. Rock.

[@VerissimusAurelius]

I love the guitar and there are so many incredible players, but my favorite💙🎶 is David Gilmour.

[@Iceman-xx1kh]

The fabulous players from yesteryear inspire the next generation and that's pretty much it. Different styles make the guitar the best instrument in expression. That's my take. Guitar 🎸 is beautiful ❤️

[@dsmith9572]

Gilmour's style is fresh? He's sounded like a beer commercial since "Wish You Were Here".

[@danguee1]

Let's face it, the greatest guitarists are more like to mainly or exclusively play a strat than any other guitar: Jimi, Beck, Gilmour, Blackmore, Van Halen, early Knopfler, Gallagher, Clapton (though I don't really rate him), SRV etc

[@jpdj2715]

As an unqualified question or answer, and while I have been a fan of some of these, your pointing to a brand/model of electric guitar is besides the point and the list is essentially incomplete. I would say the same thing to Gilmour. He's a good guitarist, really. If you don't exclude "classical" guitar then for "the best" you are missing out. If you don't exclude "jazz" you miss the best guitarists of the past 70 or so years, outside "classical". In the case of something usually classified as jazz, listen to "Friday Night in San Francisco" and you'll hear a musical guitar battle between Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin, and Al di Meola. Here, Al is the weaker, musically, and I would rate him about at Beck's level, musically. That's "wooden" music as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young called it in their "4 Way Street" live album - great guitar playing in there, and music, and very relevant lyrics too. As composer, musician, and guitarist, I would place Pat Metheny much higher than anyone in your list. But he's not in your blues-rock niche. In more experimental music (less melody more flipping) I would rate high Robert Fripp high (of the band King Crimson). But while a lot of his music has a level of virtuosity in its own right, it gets me tired easily. In classical music someone once said that Mozart was a great composer with great taste and Van Beethoven a great composer with bad taste. That's a petit bourgeois opinion. Mozart was the evolutionary genius and more of a court composer, Van Beethoven was the revolutionary independent. Eddie van Halen - partly Dutch, culturally - rose to international fame, when another guitarist, Jan Akkerman, did not break through. Jan was briefly in the Dutch band "Focus" (classical-jazz-rock fusion) and a sort-of viral of Focus is their title "Hocus Pocus" that they played in a pop program with a set format of max 3 or 4 minutes per act. The title would normally take over 7 minutes and the question was, do we get faded away or what? They decided to play in double tempo. Imagine your score says 120 (tempo), and then you need to play it at 240. Jan is the guitar player in there (some of the YT videos are edited shorter). Prestissimo is what the band does here - flawlessly. What a great guitarist. A great musician, composer, and guitarist was Frank Zappa. Play his "The Torture never stops 1 & 2" from his live album "The best band you never heard .." That's music in layers, composition, and a level of complexity, musically, that however still is musical and entertaining. After Clapton had been to a live performance by "The Band" - a groups of Canadians and one USAnian that had been Bob Dylan's band for some time, on his posters together as Bob Dylan and The Band which they stuck to when they went their own way - Eric disbanded his then band Cream, stating that "all the music he had wanted to make already had been made". That concert, IIRC some or all of the Beatles and Stones were present as well. The boys in The Band never understood how good they were (watch their movie The Last Waltz - Martin Scorsese's idea, direction, and interviewer role). There's nice guitar playing in there, but the folk-rock genre does not lead to virtuoso display, just music. In live performances, the history of long solos was that bands did not have enough music to fill a concert with. These solos can become music in themselves (check the drum solo in "In a gadda da vida" by band "Iron Butterfly"). That's both a solid piece of music and a long solo. Many times long solos don't work for me, musically. My fandom with PF goes back to before Ummagumma and long after, but not all the way.

[@hulldanfan]

@@jpdj2715 Fully agree with Jan Akkerman. 77 and still touring, but at his peak was a phenomenon and NOBODY has genuinely played so many different genres of music.

[@pettetread5959]

To quote Joe perry: theres a lot of great guitar players out there, and then there's Jeff beck. A class musician and a class person.

[@stogies3]

lol

[@doriangray2020]

lol beck is the great wyte hope of guitar players.

[@rs5801]

I'll ad 2 more Brit guitarists- Chris Rea, Bernie Marsden

[@eliesalloum8750]

Sorry guys,,,,, but steve rothery is the prophet of guitars

[@En_A_B]

“Greatest fender player of all time” 😂😂😂😂 nice joke!