There were only 2 guitar players in the world...

[SANDMAN5]

There was Stevie Ray Vaughan..and then there's everybody else (IMHO)
"Rude Mood"

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood (Long version!)

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Wham! (1983) Live at the El Mocambo



Hard to believe it's almost been 20 years since he left. I remember where I
was when I heard the news....on my way to work to tell them my unit had
been activated for (what became) Desert Storm.

[robin]

Ever listen to Joe Bonamassa,Jimi Hendrix

[Rowdy]

He sure did have some flixible fingers  made a cool sound 

[Scanner]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck? 

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

[Wingman]

I don't deny that Jeff and Duane and Hendrix (I would add Claption) were/are originals and monster talents, but to say that SRV wasn't an original is just plain trying to pick a fight. I can hear an SRV tune playing in the distance and I can instantly know that it is Stevie playing. The Texas twang that he played was his own signature sound. He played on heavy gauge strings for a fuller tone and tuned them down a half step to be able to get the bends he needed. He played with his heart and never seemed to be reaching to make his Fender guitar sing in a totally unique voice. He was an original to all of his die hard fans.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Who's the best? Silly yet pointless arguement.
I watch guitar hero videos on YouTube, now there's some unfettered talent!

[Wingman]

You are so right Michael, the 4 button thing really kicks my ass! 

[Popeye]

Stevie is and always will be my favorite.  There are many greats out there and enjoy listening to them but just more partial to Stevie.

I am jealous of anyone who can play the guitar.  I can play a radio.

Popeye

[Michael K (Az.)]

You are so right Michael, the 4 button thing really kicks my ass! 

Funnily enough, that game REALLY KICKS MY A$$! Stupid thing has nothing, I repeat, nothing to do with music. It really brings out my "inner dumb $hit"!!

[SANDMAN5]

Who's the best? Silly yet pointless arguement.

In case some of you didn't notice, there's an "IMHO" in my post.
And ,yes, I've listened to just about every guitar player mentioned
and I still say Stevie Ray is my favorite.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Who's the best? Silly yet pointless argument.

In case some of you didn't notice, there's an "IMHO" in my post.
And ,yes, I've listened to just about every guitar player mentioned
and I still say Stevie Ray is my favorite.

Please don't misunderstand, I'm all for pointlessly silly or sillilly (made that one up, I guess) pointless arguments. I have them constantly with my self.
I've always had a thought that most posts here in the sandbox stem from subjective i.e. IMHO's. It's all good.
But really, nothing beats a strenuous workout on that plastic guitar hero fretboard.

[dreamaker]

Stevie is OK, some people think people are good because they are popular. But to say who is the best is like saying which cloud in the sky is the nicest. Sometimes it is about the love of the music, not being a rock star and marketing goods. So some people don't know they even exist because they are use to having people telling who is good.  Myself it is a hard call, I kind of like Bluesy/Boogie/Rock. I guess I enjoy Ry Cooder, Robert Johnson, Clapton, Rory Gallagher, also a good Bassist can makes the song to.

Dan

[valkmc]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck? 

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

Johnny Winters was my favorite in my younger days, near the end of his playing days I saw him in a bar in Miami, he was so wasted he was lead on to the stage and handed his guitar and he still smoked the place. Half way through his brother Edgar joined him and they put on a great show.

[X Ring]

I'm in agreement with Bashful Bob.  Stevie used acoustic strings on a '59 Fender Strat.  Before and even after he went out with Double Trouble, he was constantly being asked to perform on other artists albums and go on tour with them.  No less an artist than BB King has stated Stevie was the best guitar player ever lived.  Here's a clip from Austin City Limits showing him and Double Trouble playing Riviera Paradise

Riviera Paradise

Marty

[musclehead]

Who's the best? Silly yet pointless arguement.
I watch guitar hero videos on YouTube, now there's some unfettered talent!

hehe I liked the south park 'guitar hero' episode where cartman says' guitars with strings are for old people'

van halen, vai, vaughn, hendrix, roy clark, junior brown, who's the best? I dunno,  I don't play and couldnt carry a tune in a excavator, so my hats off to all musicians

[dreamaker]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck?  

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

Johnny Winters was my favorite in my younger days, near the end of his playing days I saw him in a bar in Miami, he was so wasted he was lead on to the stage and handed his guitar and he still smoked the place. Half way through his brother Edgar joined him and they put on a great show.

When I was a young punk just entering the bar scene I saw Johnny Winter. Now I have a question for the Winter's people.  The song that Johnny sang that was big for him was "Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo"  hope I spelled it right, written by Rick Derringer. At that  time Johnny Winter sang that song.  

Now when you hear that song you only hear it by Rick Derringer in the MotorCity. I haven't heard the Johnny version in about 35 years. Can anyone expand on that.  Actully Johnny Winter did it better then Rick did.


Dan

[MAD6Gun]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck? 

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

Give me a break. Johnny Winters and Hendrix were great players but Stevie was NOT like them.

Who is the best Guitar player? That is a good question. It is a matter of someones taste. But as a guitar player myself I look for guys that have great technique and speed. Stevie had both.

Here is one of my favorite SRV Songs.....

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Scuttle Buttin'

[ricoman]

They all learned a bit from Chet Atkins.

[Skinhead]

Stevie was a great guitarist.  (can't say much for his choice of headgear, see reply #16)

[SANDMAN5]

Stevie was a great guitarist.  (can't say much for his choice of headgear, see reply #16)

 

Yeah, Stevie Ray had some fashion miscues.!!!

[hotglue #43]

Yep... Chet Atkins was hard ta beat!!!!! When I was a kid my folks to us to a concert with Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph....all on stage and jammin.WOW!!!!!!..GREAT!!!!!!!!  Still like the way they made music!.....

[valkmc]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck?  

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

Johnny Winters was my favorite in my younger days, near the end of his playing days I saw him in a bar in Miami, he was so wasted he was lead on to the stage and handed his guitar and he still smoked the place. Half way through his brother Edgar joined him and they put on a great show.

When I was a young punk just entering the bar scene I saw Johnny Winter. Now I have a question for the Winter's people.  The song that Johnny sang that was big for him was "Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo"  hope I spelled it right, written by Rick Derringer. At that  time Johnny Winter sang that song.  

Now when you hear that song you only hear it by Rick Derringer in the MotorCity. I haven't heard the Johnny version in about 35 years. Can anyone expand on that.  Actully Johnny Winter did it better then Rick did.


Dan

Since you asked, I went to the closet and dusted off the old albums and found Rick Derringer's All American Boy album and The song tittle is Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. Johnny Winter did do a version
that was great, it was on his 1970 album titled Johnny Winter And. Derinnger played on the album.

I got the opportunity to see Derringer in the late 70's and winter was playing for him, great concert.

TRY This:

Johnny Winter -Rock'n Roll Hoochie Koo

[f-Stop]

Hey HG, don't forget Merle Travis!  Chet Atkins says that's who inspired him.  Got to meet both those guys while taping an Austin City Limits many moons ago...nicest people you could ever meet.

By the way, asking who is the best guitar player is like asking which is the best tire or best oil to use for your Valkyrie.  As for Stevie Ray, well I think he most definitely ranks with the greats.  I was working at Austin City Limits when that Riviera Paradise video was recorded and that taping stands out as one of the best over the 15yrs I worked there.

By the way, there is a Stevie Ray statue near downtown Austin.  It's on the hike and bike trail that goes around Lake Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake).  You can't ride your motorcycle up to it, but it's a short walk from the parking lot off of South First and the lake. 

If anyone is ever in the area drop me a line.  I'll take you to the statue and there are plenty of nearby places to have a cold one, too!

[dreamaker]

Duane Allman? Jeff Beck?  

Stevie was great, but for me he was a combo of Johnny Winters and Jimi.  Great player, but not an original.

Johnny Winters was my favorite in my younger days, near the end of his playing days I saw him in a bar in Miami, he was so wasted he was lead on to the stage and handed his guitar and he still smoked the place. Half way through his brother Edgar joined him and they put on a great show.

When I was a young punk just entering the bar scene I saw Johnny Winter. Now I have a question for the Winter's people.  The song that Johnny sang that was big for him was "Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo"  hope I spelled it right, written by Rick Derringer. At that  time Johnny Winter sang that song.  

Now when you hear that song you only hear it by Rick Derringer in the MotorCity. I haven't heard the Johnny version in about 35 years. Can anyone expand on that.  Actully Johnny Winter did it better then Rick did.


Dan

Since you asked, I went to the closet and dusted off the old albums and found Rick Derringer's All American Boy album and The song tittle is Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo. Johnny Winter did do a version
that was great, it was on his 1970 album titled Johnny Winter And. Derinnger played on the album.

I got the opportunity to see Derringer in the late 70's and winter was playing for him, great concert.

TRY This:

Johnny Winter -Rock'n Roll Hoochie Koo

I did a quick look on youtube and couldn't find a studio version with Johnny doing it. The ones on youtube that I found don't sound good.

Dan

[Scanner]

Someone said they liked git players with technique and speed....myself, I never cared for guys who play like they get paid by the note. The music is in the spaces between the notes.

I prefer guys with an original sound that you can spot in a second - Jeff Beck, Duane Allman's slide playing, Santana, Frampton (yeah I know, but he was in Humble Pie too), John McLaughlin, Keith Richard, Jimi....

The same with bass players (the bass player in the Johnny Winters video above was steppin all over Johnny IMHO). I've played bass professionally for about 40 years (holy crap), and the true originals are few and far between - McCartney, Berry Oakley, Andy Frazer, Verdine White, James Jameson, Rocco Prestia, Jaco Pastorius, Peter Cetera...

Anyway, that's my take...now, if you wanna talk drummers.....

[1fastbob]

Chet Atkins and Albert Lee are both pretty cursed good.  I guess Chet was good.

Bob

[Michael K (Az.)]

Someone said they liked git players with technique and speed....myself, I never cared for guys who play like they get paid by the note. The music is in the spaces between the notes.

Music between the spaces is exactly right. So ------
Here's an example of musicianship. Enjoy.

Paul Thorn

[GreenLantern57]

Chet Atkins, Les Paul, two of my favorites. Jose Felisicano. (sp)

[fudgie]

What about Slash of Guns & Roses/ Velvet Revolver?

[fiddle mike]

Hendrix was a novelty act. SRV was the real deal, but  I've never heard either of them get over a box guitar.

I'd put Jerry Reed up against either of them.

[Steve K (IA)]

I seen Stevie 3 times.  The last time was the night before the helicopter crash.  It was a two night show.  I took my daughter with me.  The line-up was Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray.  

My daughter was about 13 at the time.  I told her that she will be able to tell her friends that she got to see SRV live before he died.  I got the typical "yea, yea yea" from her.  About a year ago, she is telling me how some guy was talking about SRV and she told him she got to see SRV the night before the crash.    

There are a few out there who are trying to imitate Stevie and all that does is pi$$ me off to where I refuse to listen to them.

There will never be anyone who will "measure up."

[2 Many]

Anybody ever heard of Alvin Lee (10 years after) --he was one of the fastest fingers ever----and Terry Kath-- he was on the first 3 Chicago releases.

Ten Years After live at Woodstock 1969.

[dosnewfs]

My Vote,

Dime Bag Darrell - kept playing till he hit the floor (shot on stage)

[fstsix]

Maybe a little Trout   Walter Trout - Dust my broom

[GreenLantern57]

Hendrix was a novelty act. SRV was the real deal, but  I've never heard either of them get over a box guitar.

I'd put Jerry Reed up against either of them.

For all his craziness, Roy Clark could pick with the best of them. Saw him several times.

[Wingman]

Anybody ever heard of Alvin Lee (10 years after) --he was one of the fastest fingers ever----and Terry Kath-- he was on the first 3 Chicago releases.

I haven't seen a 335 get beat up like that in some time, most guitarist like Walter Trout above, playing is Strat, go for the sustain of the solid body, but there is something about the beautiful tone of a semi hollow body like a big Gibson or Gretsch Falcon (beautiful guitars)

One of my favorites is Tommy Emmanuel; he plays an old Maton Guitar with the finish nearly worn off and no amplifier effects, its all him! 

The Original Video! Tommy Emmanuel - Guitar Boogie & Stevie's Blues - July 2006

[2 Many]

Tommy Emmanuel / J.Shimabukuro: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

and if you add 4 more strings you get this...............

[2 Many]

Ukulele weeps by Jake Shimabukuro

Jake is the best 4 string guitar player in the world

[Michael K (Az.)]

Emmanuel says, "I play for free, they pay me for traveling"!

[Kaiser]

What about Slash of Guns & Roses/ Velvet Revolver?

I got your back on this one.  But, I'm thinking that the two of us are a little too young for this old-timer's debate.  

I'll throw Allen Collins/Chris Gaines into the mix.  One word says it all..."Freebird".

Lynyrd Skynyrd- Free Bird (LIVE) 1977

I also really like Zakk Wylde.

Fudgie - this one's for you:

Slash and Zakk Wylde guitar duel/duet