best guitar player ... if we dare go here

Some of my favorites (not necessarily the best players on a technical basis):
James Burton
Clarence White
Steve Cropper
Neil Young
Syd Barrett
Marc Bolan
Steve Marriott
Ry Cooder
Robert Quine
Mick Ronson
J. Mascis
Wayne Kramer/Fred "Sonic" Smith
Johnny Thunders
Ron Asheton
Thurston Moore/Lee Renaldo
Tom Verlaine/Richard Lloyd
Andy Gill
Eddie Phillips

 

I saw LC a few years ago on a New Year's Eve (maybe 1999 or 2000?). It was a good, fun show. I think it was Wimbish in the band and everybody else was original. Also came out with a new album a few years ago - Collideoscope.

For the record, my favorite guitar player in the world is David Gilmour. Just so incredibly smooth.

 

Wimbish is still in the band.

 

I'll second Joe Satriani
Give Chet Atkins some love
and George Benson

 

Was just in Chicago over the weekend, site of the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival for his substance abuse facility in Antigua. Among those appearing were Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Robert Cray, Hubert Sumlin (influenced a TON of your current heroes). There were many more names there, some not even known for being guitar players (for instance, Sheryl Crow and Steve Winwood), but it was expanded beyond the great 2004 festival which, if you haven't seen it, pick up the DVD and prepare for a lesson in guitar playing from a nice variety of players.

 

And no, I didn't attend. I opted to see a White Sox game (Cubs were out of town) and hit the blues clubs Buddy Guy's Legends (he was there and people were buying him alcohol) and Kingston Mines. Saw a veteran player, Carlos Johnson, on Friday night at Buddy's place and it was solid.

 

Lots and lots of great guitar players.........my favorite has to be Gilmour, though.

 

So many ways to play bt from the mists of time, names that should not be forgotten — most have been mentioned.

Robert Johnson
Doc Watson
Les Paul
Segovia
BB King
Clapton
Stevie Ray

You ought to find something worth listening to from that crew.

 

Only two votes for Satriani?

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=satriani&search=Search
... if you want to check him out.

Also, for the sake that he invented all of the sounds of every album, Tom Morello has to get recognized. He may not be the best guitar player, but easily one of the most inventive.

 

I attended. Unbelievable.

Derek Trucks is incredible. He did his own set and he’s also now in Clapton’s touring band – I didn’t know this – as well as the Allman Brothers. Johnny Winter joined him and played “Highway 61”.

Robert Cray hosted a set in which he was joined by Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, and finally BB King.

Beck’s instrumental set was a highpoint.

Then came Clapton. He was great. Robbie Robertson joined him for one song, then they rolled an organ onstage and Winwood joined him for an unforgettable set of Blind Faith tunes – first “In the Presence of the Lord”, followed by “Can’t Find My Way Home”, and finally “Had to Cry Today”. Winwood switched to guitar for the final two and it turns out that he’s a pretty damn good guitar player as well.

Clapton & Trucks then left the stage and Winwood did “Dear Mr. Fantasy” with the rest of Clapton’s band.

Clapton & Trucks then rejoined Winwood and they did “Cocaine” and “Crossroads”.

Buddy Guy closed the show hosting a final set with almost everybody joining him onstage for the finale.

 

Two that haven't been mentioned:

Jonny Lang
Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars

 

Soundfs like an unreal show. Hubert Sumlin is one bad-ass fucking guitarist. Good to see him still at it. I'm a huge fan of Cray and Vaughan and a bootleg of a Clapton show in China in January has really made me a fan of Derek Trucks.