The latest issue of Rolling Stone updates the rag’s “The 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time” list of 2003 with a new crop of six-string deities. They didn’t rank ‘em, but they did prominently feature three: John Mayer, Derek Trucks, and John Frusciante. And like good little apostles, all three have divine praise for Jimi:

John Mayer: As for Hendrix, all guitar players feel that way: “I’m not him” … The songs on Axis are an extension of beautiful guitar playing. You can almost hear Hendrix looking at the guitar as he plays, going, “I wonder what that does?” There is an element of discovery. Are You Experienced? is like a rough draft. Axis sounds like the colors on the cover.

Derek Trucks: I almost feel like pedals are a cop-out. I hate to say it’s always that way. Guys like Hendrix use them as their voice. But I’ve never had the urge.

John Frusciante: I’m an Electric Ladyland guy. His music always sounds perfect to me, because he’s bending sound, taking care of music in every dimension. Where most people think of it in two dimensions, he’s thinking of it in four. I don’t think there’s a better guitar player in history. He’s not something that can be improved on. And there’s the spirit that goes into it. He creates a place where you can be high and hang out and lose yourself. He’s bringing out aspects of sound we didn’t know were there. I feel there are people moving ahead on that front, but they’re not so much guitar players — like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher. They continue the work of Jimi Hendrix started, but not on guitar.

  

The rest of RS‘s picks come with cute descriptors. Jack’s is the best.

The Avant Romantic: Nels Cline (Wilco)
Blues-Rock Warrior: Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule)
Skynyrd Art-Theorists: Jim James & Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket)
Prog-Metal King: Adam Jones (Tool)
Van Halen Meets Bootsy: Kaki King
Four-Armed Monster: Mike McCready & Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
Iron Man Of Hip-Hop Guitar: Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
Space Guitar Heroes: Chuck Garvey & Al Schnier (moe.)
The Extremist: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Mars Volta)
Dark Side Of The Moon Explorers: Ed O’Brien & Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
Stoner Metal Ruler: Matt Pike (Sleep and High On Fire)
The Crawling King Snake: Jack White (The White Stripes and The Raconteurs)

We’ll accept any additions you’d like to make to the new council of Mt. Olympus, as long as it’s not Chris Funk. His chops are lacking, and we have video proof.

Comments (139)
  1. GiantPanda  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 +1

    Michio Kurihara

    • Nick  |   Posted on Dec 12th, 2008 -1

      What about Jake Cinniger of Umphrey’s Mcgee. Can play any style off music from country,jazz, to heavy metal. Incredible player. Must listen to him live.

    • Where in the hell is Trey Anastasio in this latest RS list? Bottom line you little pretenders (Mayer, Frusciante, Trucks, I know you guys are good) Trey can always play what you play any time anywhere, but you couldn’t hold a candle to what he plays. Do you people simply not listen to live music, too caught up with scripted studio arrangements? And don’t give me this “well, if you could hear what they play in private bullshit… I like guitarist with empirically verifiable chops, that lay it on the line night after night. Be honest experts. Have you heard the Jedi known has Trey Anastasio lay waste to your predictable riffs?

  2. Almost sounds like Trucks is dissing Hendrix. If anybody could get away with it he could, almost.

  3. NoTouchingJimi  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    The two best guitar players who will never be matched…Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

    Jimi was the teacher, anyone else is just a student.

  4. Phil  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Mick Barr!! Easily one of the best guitarists playing today.

  5. red  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    No love for any of the Drive-By Truckers? Jason Isbell should be on there at least.

  6. so is or isnt john mayer one of the top 5 guitarists on the planet? can we get an official unbiased ruling please?

  7. Robbie  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Junkyard Page: Josh Homme

  8. Robbie  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Junkyard Page: Josh Homme

  9. WhatAbout  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Stephen Malkmus???

  10. mangrilla  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Jake Cinninger – Umphrey’s McGee. He’s one of the most ridiculous guitar players on the jam-band scene.

  11. Sarah T  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Robbie Robertson.

  12. gm  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Jeff Lang – he’s more blues than rock n roll, but arguably, the ony true rock guy here is Frusciante (and some would argue he’s not even really rock, I’m sure). Having seen both Mayer and Trucks live (though not Mayer since ’01), Lang’s more reliably transcendental based on guitar chops alone. Plus, the last time I saw him, he broke a string during a solo, then used the broken string to bow-scratch the rest. Pretty fuckin’ rock n roll.

  13. bdm  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    monte montgomery

  14. brent  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    yeah, i agree. where’s josh homme??

  15. mode7  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    JACK WHITE FTW

  16. jake  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    graham coxon

  17. wow.. wow.. ok.. this list is horrible… to put Robert Johnson as number 5, and to not have Django Reinhardt on the list at all… wow.

    Also.. if the list if “of all time” maybe it should include, I dunno.. a dude named Niccolo Paganini? eeer… Fernando Sor? Segovia? Paco de Lucia? I mean, they really want to claim “of all time???”

    Also, Eddie Van Halen at #70 is pretty retarded… and where are the Slayer dudes??? Do these people even listen to music?

  18. matt erler  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    I think there’s a disappointing lack of indie and shoegaze on this list. Stephen Malkmus is a good selection, and you could make a case for Birgisson from Sigur Ros.

  19. Andres  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    What about Dave Knudson from Botch/Minus the Bear? I read somewhere mentioned as the Eddie Van Halen of hardcore/indie-rock

  20. dan b  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    um this is an interesting list. i’m confused as to how Prince couldn’t crack the top 100 guitarists cos that dude has got chops. completely and absurdly underrated on the guitar, although i recall Eric Clapton mentioning that he thinks Prince is one of the top five or ten on his list.

  21. I must be Nostradamus..

    http://2walls.com/Music/ranking_the_impossible.asp

    oh yeah, and the Pixie Hicks won too damn many awards last night

  22. anon  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    MARTIN TIELLI?

  23. frankie  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    prince, lindsay buckingham, john frusciante, porl thompson

  24. frankie  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    j mascis murders, too!

  25. connie  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    I’m a huge U2 fan, but Prince is a way better guitarist than the Edge.

  26. This list also seems to be missing Four critical guitar players

    1.Joe Satriani – He taught Steve Vai, Charlie Hunter, Kirk Hammett, and Larry LaLonde to play guitar.

    2. Steve Vai -The guy played for Zappa when he was 19

    3. Eric Johnson – Watch his concert on Austin City Limits and argue otherwise

    4. Danny Gatton – This guy was the guitar players player. His body of work is incredible. His work is on you tube as well. Sadly he killed himself before he really “made” it.

    • Robert  |   Posted on May 23rd, 2009 0

      Danny Gatton is listed. He is at 63. The mystery is why Link Wray is listed at 67, far below the likes of George Harrison. I was half-expecting Duane Eddy to be in the top ten .. but he wasn’t listed at all! Cliff Gallup, Eddie Cochran and other greats are listed, but too close to the bottom of the list.

  27. Elliot  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Any top 100 guitarist list that doesn’t include Buckethead at least SOMEWHERE within it, has no credibility.

  28. Ah, yeah I can’t stand his music, but I agree with Dan above about Eric Johnson. Say what you will about Black Flag and the Minutemen, I love ‘em, but great guitar players? I think that there are a lot more “great” guitar players that would rise above them. Hell, even Prince isn’t on there, and after that Halftime show, I’d toss him up there in the top 30.

  29. dude  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    No Prince is outrageous. No Steve Vai is blasphemy.

  30. chris  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Dirty Indie Bluesman: Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys

  31. jimm  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    stop with the fucking skynyrd/mmj comparisons…it’s such a cop-out get a fucking brain and think of creative descriptions

  32. Bob's Waffles  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    How did Jack White beat George Harrison? Was this contest based on current popularity, and not skills on the chop? I think I’m gonna send Rolling Stones this t-shirt: http://teesmybody.com/funny-t-shirt/congratulations-idiot-t-shirt.php

  33. Joey Santiago of the pixies? Nick Drake?

    Are there any women on the list?

  34. Dirk  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Whew! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that the glaring omission of Prince was more than just an oversight. Thank you responders!

  35. jonemmerling  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    kubler.

  36. dannygutters  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    Leo Kottke.

    Neil Young does more with his guitar with half the notes than most do with double.

    Trey is one of the few pedal guys who is inseperable from them, not just a guy with chops and with pedals.

    I’d say big bill broonzy but you’d laugh at me because you don’t know any better.

  37. jeffrey Smith  |   Posted on Feb 12th, 2007 0

    why is Prince left off of all these list? Did they not learn a thing at his RRHF induction ceremony… or the Super Bowl Half-Time Show? Let’s see half these folks shred in the rain like he did!!

  38. dj  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Appreciate an informed opinion, but hate the obnoxious self-aggrandizement that often comes with them. Key to the highway for you, dannygutters.

    Magic Sam? Earl Hooker? Elmore James?

  39. chulahoma  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    “Dirty Indie Bluesman: Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys”

    God bless you, young man.

  40. Greg  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Rolling Stone is officially a joke in my mind! No wonder I haven’t picked up a copy in years. How can they leave Prince off of the list?

  41. ghostface  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Whoever said Kubler, couldn’t be more right.

  42. nates  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    matt ward… for sure

  43. SINCE THERE IS NO MENTION OF JOHNNY MARR ON THIS LIST, THIS LIST IS NULL & VOID……

  44. Chris  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    You absolutely can’t leave Prince, Johnny Marr, Porl Thompson or Robert Smith off this list … also, Steve Vai & Eric Johnson.

  45. No Prince, no Lindsey Buckingham, no Johnny Marr and no J. Mascis. Banish the list!!! BANISH I SAY!!!!!!!!!!

  46. Greg  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Bonnie Raitt, Lindsay Buckingham

  47. Hugh  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    No Matt Sweeney?

  48. I think that they were trying to establish a difference bewteen giants of 60-90 and 90 to present. That being said, this is a pretty paltry list because the following amazing, creative and talented guitarists failed to make the line up:

    *issac brock of modest mouse (listen to their first few EPs and albums, the man cannot be matched)
    *doug martsch of built to spill (best performance was w/the tree people in early 90s. cover of bigmout strikes again)

    and because they seem to reach back into the 90s. Why not Guy Piccioto and Ian MacKaye of Fugazi. Hellooooo “Repeater” “The Argument.”
    BERNARD BUTLER OF SUEDE?????????????

    This is further proof that the magazine is sliding backwards towards irrelevance and disgrace.

  49. Chris  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    That list was already pretty stupid back in 2003, when they put Eddie Van Halen at #70. It’s pretty much been established for the last 15 years that he’s all-time Top 5.

    Oh, and Danny Gatton is in there, btw. Ironically, he’s higher than EVH, at 64.

  50. hater  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    I mean, seriously, do guys ranked WAY too low (Trey, John McLaughlin, Van Halen, etc.) owe Jann money, or something? Or is it more that Ry Cooder and The Edge have incriminating photos of him?

  51. jed2  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Frusciante wipes the floor with most of these Blues Hammer bozos.

  52. liv  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    matt bellamy.

  53. artmusiche  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    You guys just don’t GET IT!

    Everything on the list was bought by a MAJOR CORPORATION!!!

    Perhaps even Stereogum’s coverage of the list!!!

    Don’t get upset over something that was made by a bunch of CEO’s. You don’t get mad when your McDonald’s french fries are cold. You just accept the fact that a major corporation can’t possibly do everything right when the bottom line is $$$. Like the Grammys: EVERY ARTIST WAS ON A MAJOR LABEL. EVERY GRAMMY IS BOUGHT.

  54. Vyral  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Graham Coxon. I was actually flat out surprised he wasn’t include on this list.

  55. j.n.a.  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Speaking from contemporary artists standpoint I believe these folks deserve mention.

    1. Graham Coxon should certainly be in the top 20.
    2. Anita Robinson from Viva Voce! That woman owns it.
    3. Rick Bain. None of you have probably heard of him but if you had you’d agree.
    4. M. Ward is amazing.
    5. Gaz Coombes from Supergrass.

  56. ycontrol  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    nick zinner

  57. brad  |   Posted on Feb 13th, 2007 0

    Has anybody ever heard of Chet Atkins? Not really my cup of tea but he is easily better than 90% of the people on this list.

  58. maya ford  |   Posted on Feb 15th, 2007 0

    allison robertson of the donnas!!!

  59. Jeff  |   Posted on Feb 23rd, 2007 0

    if you go back to 92′ and listen to Phish , you will see that Trey Anastasio may be the best of all time, and it’s not easy to say that, i’m old school, grew up on Zeppelin, Hendrix, SRV, Floyd, the Grateful Dead, Allman Bro’s, and seen over 500 concerts, but if you listen to phish from 92-98, you will understand

    Also, anyone know a guy named Jimmy Herring, he is unreal, please go see Widespread Panic, he just took them to a whole new place

    its great to see Chuck and Al (moe.) make this list because they are so good

    Michael Kang can play whatever he wants, if he wants to that is

    also, see Umphrey’s

  60. Here’s a partial (in both senses of the word) list of neglected greats whose playing I’ve really enjoyed over the years:

    - Johnny Marr of The Smiths
    - Bernard Butler of Suede
    - John Squire of The Stone Roses
    - Graham Coxon of Blur
    - J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr
    - Andy Gill of Gang of Four
    - Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd
    - Johnny Thunders of The New York Dolls
    - Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols
    - Mick Jones of The Clash
    - Paul Weller of The Jam
    - Noel Gallagher of Oasis
    - Curtis Mayfield
    - Bobby Womack
    - James Honeyman Scott of The Pretenders
    - Curt Kirkwood of The Meat Puppets
    - Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

  61. stephen  |   Posted on Mar 13th, 2007 0

    What. No Chet Atkins, Steve Vai, Malmsteen, Jerry Reed, Brad Paisley, Lindsey Buckingham, Prince, Dimebag, Ace Freeley, Ted Nugent, Billy Gibbons, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, Joe Satriani, Brent Mason, Jerry Douglas yes it is still a guitar, if this is an all time list all of these deserve a spot on there and like it or not Chet should be at no.3 or 4 at least. What great guitar player doesn’t have the utmost respect for Chet Atkins, come on how could he be left off. And like it or not country is a genre that has produced many great guitarists. Somebody make a list that isn’t a joke. Oh yeah what about some of the classical players also. Regular people may have never heard of them but people who love guitar certainly have. Maybe by placing their names on a list younger people may look them up and actually be more inspired by their insane musicianship. Crap like Rolling Atone should not even be read. It is basically becoming a tabloid.

  62. stephen  |   Posted on Mar 13th, 2007 0

    What. No Chet Atkins, Steve Vai, Malmsteen, Jerry Reed, Brad Paisley, Lindsey Buckingham, Prince, Dimebag, Ace Freeley, Ted Nugent, Billy Gibbons, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, Joe Satriani, Brent Mason, Jerry Douglas yes it is still a guitar, if this is an all time list all of these deserve a spot on there and like it or not Chet should be at no.3 or 4 at least. What great guitar player doesn’t have the utmost respect for Chet Atkins, come on how could he be left off. And like it or not country is a genre that has produced many great guitarists. Somebody make a list that isn’t a joke. Oh yeah what about some of the classical players also. Regular people may have never heard of them but people who love guitar certainly have. Maybe by placing their names on a list younger people may look them up and actually be more inspired by their insane musicianship. Crap like Rolling Atone should not even be read. It is basically becoming a tabloid.

  63. adam shove  |   Posted on May 12th, 2007 0

    female poster queen alison robertson (the donnas)

  64. dan  |   Posted on May 24th, 2007 0

    j mascis??? the guy is indie rock royalty. he’s a never-ending solo.

  65. hub  |   Posted on May 29th, 2007 0

    Whoever wrote this list is a mainstream suck up. John Butler is way more talented than John Mayer, just listen to Ocean. Eddie Hazel didn’t make the list either. Ridiculous. Don’t know what I expect from Rolling Stone, oversized toilet paper wad.

  66. george v  |   Posted on Jun 20th, 2007 0

    “Whoever wrote this list is a mainstream suck up.” This statement couldnt be more true. Does John Petrucci ring a bell. Other than Jimmy page, Petrucci is the greatest guitar player alive. This is a ridiculous list.

  67. mojo  |   Posted on Jun 23rd, 2007 0

    No Johnny Marr?
    No Jeff Buckley?

    Still good to see Ron Asheton up high, though can’t say I think Kurt Cobain is the 12th greatest guitarist…their’s a difference between quality songwriting and actual guitar playing.

  68. GMC  |   Posted on Jul 7th, 2007 0

    David Gilmour. 1st solo.Comfortably Numb. Nuff said !!!!

  69. Daniel  |   Posted on Jul 9th, 2007 0

    Donald Roeser, some of you may know him as Buck Dharma the lead vocalist and guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult. My god The Live version of Don’t Fear the Reaper from the album Then and Now should be proof enough that he deserves to be on there.

  70. sean  |   Posted on Jul 10th, 2007 0

    what about freakin zakk wylde?! he’s the best metal guitarist alive today. go see him live or get doom troopin’ on dvd. and no dimebag, kerry king or jeff hanneman, not to mention stevie vai. a list with david gilmour not in AT LEAST the top 20 has no credibility. the editors from fucking fhm what do you expect?

  71. AQUAninja187  |   Posted on Jul 14th, 2007 0

    What about Mike Einziger of Incubus he doesnt get any love.

  72. JAM O  |   Posted on Jul 17th, 2007 0

    How can this list be valid when Curt Cobain is at 12 and there isn’t even a mention of Billy Corgan?? Have these people forgotten Siamese Dreams’ solo’s wich melted your face off? A better guitar player than Cobain ever was and in my opinion a better song writter as well. Maybe Corgan has to die tragically for us to give him his due, which is retarded.

  73. Coupla head-scrathing omissions here:

    * Bob Mould of Husker Du
    * Ian MacKaye/Guy Picciotto of Fugazi
    * Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins
    * David Pajo of (most notably) Slint and Tortoise
    * J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr
    * Steven Malkmus/Spiral Stairs of Pavement
    * Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins
    * Paul Westerberg/Bob Stinson of The Replacements

    It seems that they thought putting Greg Ginn in would cover the whole of punk/hardcore, and the bewildering inclusion of Kurt Cobain (at 12!) negates the rest of grunge/’alternative’ rock.

    Fricke I’ve always respected ya, but turds like Rob Sheffield can’t tell the difference b’twixt shit and shinola.

  74. Tommy  |   Posted on Aug 7th, 2007 0

    Cheers: I agree with the fellow who cites Buck Dharma for inclusion on this list; as well…how about Ian Gilmour from Saga and Alex Lifeson from Rush? They’re great players (prolific too), and I am only sorry that they have been overlooked. Peace To All.

    Tommy

  75. dankbubba  |   Posted on Aug 10th, 2007 0

    Rolling Stone of course sucks anyway, but this list is more proof.

    How can people forget the legacy of Buddy Holly’s guitar work? Holly was only around for a few years, but everybody knows his sound. It wasn’t all vocals, people.

    Also not on the list:
    Ted Nugent
    Martin Barre (jethro tull)

    Other major disses are Angus Young, Tony Iommi, & Randy Rhoads way down on the list.

    Pete Townshend & EVH not in the top 20

  76. Laura  |   Posted on Aug 11th, 2007 0

    This list was written by people that never played guitar. Sorry.

    The biggest omission? Roy Buchanan. He should have been first on the list. The sounds that man made were totally incredible. His version of “Hey Joe” even blows Jimi away…

  77. James Bowers  |   Posted on Aug 11th, 2007 0

    Eddie Hazel

  78. craig  |   Posted on Aug 13th, 2007 0

    Matt Bellamy-some of the best riffs being made today
    Jake Cinninger-ALL AROUND ONE OF THE MOST TALTENTED GUITARISTS…EVER
    Mike Einziger-deserves to at least be on the list, he is fantastic
    Josh Homme-see matt bellamy

  79. clint  |   Posted on Aug 15th, 2007 0

    JAKE CINNINGER people… has mastered literally every style. not to mention an incredible drummer. go on youtube and check out some of his stuff. ide reccommend mullet over

  80. bassjunkie13  |   Posted on Aug 20th, 2007 0

    WHat about Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Paul Gilbert, and Buckethead? This has to be the worst list ever. Plus Van Halen is no. 80? What the F#@k!!!

  81. E-1  |   Posted on Aug 24th, 2007 0

    There are so many Great blues guitarists out there, (including those who have passed away)it’s too big of a task to actually choose the very best of them all.
    SRV, Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, Albert King… these are guys who could play directly from their souls, improvising until the cows come home and make you yearn for more. They have(had)that magic in their fingers that comes straight from their heart, manifesting the feeling in their music that conveyed to the listener as though it is being played just for them. When the listener is totally enveloped by the tone, the mood and the depth of the music and moved by it in a way that is surreal… that’s what undoubtedly makes a great guitarist GREAT.
    Just listening to SRV’s long solos in a room without distractions is testament that he could make you FEEL what he’s playing and find yourself somewhere in that mystical world of sound called THE BLUES.

  82. zxcvs<vd  |   Posted on Aug 26th, 2007 0

    petrucci, satriani, vai, malmstein, etc…

  83. What about the Hendrix of acoustic guitar – Michael Hedges??? He was likely the most innovative and influential acoustic guitarist of all time!

  84. andy  |   Posted on Sep 1st, 2007 0

    this list, as well as the original rolling stone list, was compiled by a consensus of lion-maned crusty guitar center/sam ash salesmen..

    how is johnny marr not on this list? bernard butler? john squire?

    lets give some props to guitarists who could craft fine melodies and harmonies and not just a bunch of sweep pickers and blues scale jockeys.

  85. Jason  |   Posted on Sep 10th, 2007 0

    If you want to hear great guitar playing listen to Mick Barr, Ron Jarzombek, Christopher Arp, Wolfgang Zenk, Daniel Mongrain, Muhammed Suicmez, Erik Rutan, Fredrik Thordendal, Peter Lake, Steinar Gundersen, Al Di Meola…..the list goes on, some you’ve heard off many more you never will hear…who’s the greatest is debatable of course.

  86. captain kickass  |   Posted on Sep 14th, 2007 -1

    jimi hendrix is the most overrated guitarist of all time. He only had one hit and the only reason people reckon he’s so good is because he died.

  87. This list sucks corporate dick.

    #1. Hendrix
    = #4 = Petrucci
    = #4 = Vai
    = #4 – Satriani

    Frusciante? are you shitting me?

  88. “jimi hendrix is the most overrated guitarist of all time. He only had one hit and the only reason people reckon he’s so good is because he died.”

    Id argue with you, but you’ve already made it clear that you have the musical understanding of a chair. Id love to hear you play Guitar. Maybe your playing is more sterile than Frusciante’s…because your lack of appreciation of Hendrix’s musical expression hints that it is!

  89. *srra*  |   Posted on Jan 17th, 2008 0

    has anyone heard of SONNY LANDRETH? AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  90. Rodders  |   Posted on Jan 19th, 2008 0

    No Robert Cray or Josh Homme. Why?

  91. dude  |   Posted on Jan 25th, 2008 0

    Top 3 of all time- Hendrix, page, SRV

    Top 3 today- John fru, omar lopez, john mayer

    • Wow, not at all. SRV was the next gen blues for sure, but he was not what people say he was. Page was a studio genius to be sure, but sloppy as hell live, and nothing makes up for that.

      Top 3 of all time: Hendrix, Gilmour, Richards
      Top 3 Today: J. Mascis, Omar Lopez, Nels Cline

      Of course, the list for today is personal. I’d only call my all time list law.

  92. What a bullshit list. Why the hell is Joan Jett even on this list? She is great and she rocks but Guitar God? WTF? Youre kidding right?

  93. Brandon Fouch  |   Posted on Jun 17th, 2008 0

    Check out Davy Knowles from Back Door Slam. He’s been called a guitar god in training and he’s only 20!!!

  94. coxfire  |   Posted on Jun 27th, 2008 0

    What about GRAHAM COXON, the nowadays Telecaster God??? His sound is very unique (just listen for example to that sound at the end of the lines of On your own of blur)…He belongs to the 10 best guitar players of these 20 last years…

  95. U guys are all retarded, stop bringing up guitarists jsut because they are good, there are many good/great guitarists but this list should show the best. THe big mistakes in this list that makes it crap is the fact that there is no SLASH!!!!!!!!!! Ever heard the song november rain or sweet child of mine that is only of few of his awesome songs, Eddie van Halen at 70, wow, No yngwie malmsteen, wow, not Steve vai, wow, kurt cobain are you shitting me he had no where near the skill or recoded material as the other guys I mentioned and there is so many mistakes on this list it gives me a headache,

  96. I agree Jimi was the best guitar player to ever pick up a 6 string. He is the teacher and I/we are the students. Here’s my kick, there will never be another Jimi Hendrix but you are all invited to go Beyond The Experience. Not sure if you remember, maybe before your time but Jimi had a very hard time getting to the next level. His big break. Who knows if not for Chas Chandler we may not have know him the way we know him today. That would have been a dam shame. My problem is that no one will play with me. Why? They run like little bitches. Respectively I am better than Jimi. I just don’t have the nod to play. I have been told on many occasions that I want to be Jimi and all others The Exerience and we just aint gonna do it. Understand that rejection is a part of any business but 30 years of rejection has made me weary. I am so frustrated I just don’t know what to do with myself. You may ask the question if you are that good why have you not heard of me? Well truth is I am feared. Just as they feared Jimi. It’s all Politics. Nothing to do with talent. I can take a no. You sound like crap. Or anything for the most part. But whai I get is NOTHING. I just don’t want to come and go without at least having a chance to say hello if you know what I mean. I have been playing for over 30 years and still dream of the day that I can stand in front of a large crowd to establish myself with a talent that is respectfully “Beyond The Experience”. Playing live is what I love most about being a musician. This is where the magic happens. It puts me in a zone where just feeling all the vibes from the audience turns on my creative instincts as I pull out all the stops. It’s just so very hard finding people to play with. What I long for is someone that has the ability to see the potential in my talents and set me free to find and fulfill my destiny. I have 60 songs and counting that could let me have several years of active stage time and showmanship. I and F (IF) is such a very small word to be, the dividing line between what’s real and fantasy. So be careful of what you/we ask for and have the guts to appreciate what come about. This will make one heck of a movie one day. I just pray to God that I get a chance to see it. Don’t know why he gave this talent to me. And no I am not trying to be another Jimi Hendrix. Hell I am: MORRIS TAYLOR. Please feel free to contact me. Answer me this. Why do people run from me like they do? And remember I am all alone. No PA mixers, no band members, no nothing. Just me. So put me on stage with any of the Rock acts today. Clapton, Van Halen any of them and lets see who is the pound for pound best Guitar God.
    mtcfx001@hotmail.com

    http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=33247408

  97. Some Guy Over There  |   Posted on Nov 3rd, 2008 0

    This list is bull. What about Eric Johnson…Joe Satriani…Steve Vai…Buckethead…John Petrucci…Zakk Wylde…Ted Nugent…both Eddie Van Halen and Prince being severely disrespected by this list…Thanks Rolling Stone. You really know how to make people who actually appreciate and understand music angry and confused.

  98. dustydave  |   Posted on Nov 13th, 2008 0

    Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Vince Gill….great guitarist but somehow country gets overlooked!!!

  99. shadowplay95  |   Posted on Dec 3rd, 2008 0

    I don’t know what criteria you have based your list on or how exactly you can compare Robert Johnson with Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix but if it is based on overall skill, ability, range, entertainment whatever you have missed the boat completely. How RORY GALLAGHER did not make the top 5 never mind the list is unfathomable! Maybe it is to do with sales of your rag or something like that but shit, if you want people to believe in your publication do some professional research. Amend your list and regain some credibility not to mention my custom!

  100. Nicholas  |   Posted on Dec 6th, 2008 0

    How about Mike Einziger from Incubus.
    His guitar tone is just flawless. It always works and defines Incubus’ sound.

    And I agree Josh Homme should be up there.

    But, I am glad to see Adam Jones up there.

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