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GMC Forum _ Bands and Guitarists _ Instrumental Rock Poll - Who Is The Greatest? Read Before Voting.

Posted by: JVM Aug 2 2008, 03:13 AM

It is high time we cleared this up guys. When I say "rock instrumentalist", that conjures up a wide variety of players who could be included. But I'm going to impose a lot of criteria on who makes it into this poll. Basically, I mean "shredders", if thats what you want to call them. Satch and his ilk. So here are the criteria:

1) Must be known primarily for their instrumental rock guitar work. So, on one hand no Kirk Hammets, and on the other no Greg Howe.

2) Must have at least two albums released. Sorry, Guthrie.

3) Must be alive, relatively famous and somewhat recent, active in the last 10 years.

So these are the criteria. No Jeff Beck and guys like him. Don't get me wrong, I love Beck, and he fits most of the criteria but he just doesn't play the same kind of thing as the guys I'm thinking of. I will include Buckethead because I think he mostly fits within the same type of music, and I know is very popular. Let me know if I missed anyone.

Posted by: Tjchep Aug 2 2008, 03:46 AM

Andy timmons, and Andy timmons

Posted by: skennington Aug 2 2008, 03:50 AM

Hmmm.... Gonna have to think a bit on this one befor voting. Might want to include Malmsteen, Batio, Cooley and please include Chris Impellitteri, if we are talking about shredder's. smile.gif

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 2 2008, 04:01 AM

How the heck was John 5 not on the list?!

Posted by: Slammer Aug 2 2008, 04:14 AM

None of those guys are the "Greatest". What I mean is... it's Virtually Impossible to pick who is the Greatest. It's all subjective and gonna come down to People picking there favorites

As far as my favorites go, Gotta go with EJ. And PG a close second.

BTW JVM, you've got to hear the song "Pavilion" from the Venus Isles record (If you haven't already) probably my new Favorite Eric Johnson song ohmy.gif

Posted by: Rated Htr Aug 2 2008, 04:18 AM

Between the choices you gave for me, respectly...Vai and Johnson

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 2 2008, 05:07 AM

I voted for Paul Gilbert ad him again on tone, but I don't really know about tone.

Paul is gangsta...

Posted by: JVM Aug 2 2008, 06:47 AM

QUOTE (skennington @ Aug 1 2008, 10:50 PM) *
Hmmm.... Gonna have to think a bit on this one befor voting. Might want to include Malmsteen, Batio, Cooley and please include Chris Impellitteri, if we are talking about shredder's. smile.gif


I would argue that none of those guys except perhaps Batio fit the criteria, though I should have probably added Batio. Apologies. The rest though, not in the same vein as the other guys IMO.

As for John 5, I would say he is primarily known for being Marilyn Manson's guitarist, not primarily known as an instrumentalist.

There's tons and tons of people I could have added to the list, and even some of my favorites are missing (Thomas Blug for example) but you have to draw the line somewhere or you'll end up with a massive list. I would say these guys are the most well known in their genres, though I do agree Batio should have been on the list... I'll add him.

For the record, my votes went to Gilbert and Timmons, respectively. I love all the guys on the poll and more, but Gilbert always managed to get me. Some of the other guys can be too technical, a little cheesy sometimes maybe, etc but Gilbert always comes through for me. I think it's his attitude. He's hilarious and a really nice guy too. I mean listen to "Terrible Man", I can't get through the song without laughing, yet the whole record melts my face too!\

Also, I mean... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9QL0Jkb_GU. Freaking incredible.

As for tone, I decided a while back that it was Timmons, no question, hands down.

QUOTE (Slammer @ Aug 1 2008, 11:14 PM) *
None of those guys are the "Greatest". What I mean is... it's Virtually Impossible to pick who is the Greatest. It's all subjective and gonna come down to People picking there favorites

As far as my favorites go, Gotta go with EJ. And PG a close second.

BTW JVM, you've got to hear the song "Pavilion" from the Venus Isles record (If you haven't already) probably my new Favorite Eric Johnson song ohmy.gif


As you said, it's impossible to pick who is the greatest. I suppose you could say I'm not really interested in that, I just want everyone's opinion on these guys. I think these guys represent the (deservedly) most famous in their genres respectively. It's not meant to include everyone nor is it meant to be the be all end all of guitarist polls either.

It's just that these guys are the most common ones brought up among rock instrumentalist discussions. They're the fan favorites, kind of a battle of the champions.

Posted by: SensE Aug 2 2008, 07:23 AM

This topic is really tough and subjective. All those guitarists on the list are "the greatest"! Perhaps there is no The greatest. Michael Angelo Batio is well known for his melting speed. Vai is well known for his tremolo playing. Eric Johnson is really good in unique blues phrasing..Really Tough.

By the way, Why Marty Friedman is missing on the list? He has released instrumental albums if I'm not mistaken since 1988. The lastest 1 was released in 2006. wink.gif blink.gif

Regards.

This topic is really tough and subjective. All those guitarists on the list are "the greatest"! Perhaps there is no The greatest. Michael Angelo Batio is well known for his melting speed. Vai is well known for his tremolo playing. Eric Johnson is really good in unique blues phrasing..Really Tough.

By the way, Why Marty Friedman is missing on the list? He has released 5 instrumental albums if I'm not mistaken since 1988. The lastest 1 was released in 2006. wink.gif blink.gif

Regards.

Posted by: JVM Aug 2 2008, 07:31 AM

QUOTE (SensE @ Aug 2 2008, 02:23 AM) *
This topic is really tough and subjective. All those guitarists on the list are "the greatest"! Perhaps there is no The greatest. Michael Angelo Batio is well known for his melting speed. Vai is well known for his tremolo playing. Eric Johnson is really good in unique blues phrasing..Really Tough.

By the way, Why Marty Friedman is missing on the list? He has released instrumental albums if I'm not mistaken since 1988. The lastest 1 was released in 2006. wink.gif blink.gif

Regards.

This topic is really tough and subjective. All those guitarists on the list are "the greatest"! Perhaps there is no The greatest. Michael Angelo Batio is well known for his melting speed. Vai is well known for his tremolo playing. Eric Johnson is really good in unique blues phrasing..Really Tough.

By the way, Why Marty Friedman is missing on the list? He has released 5 instrumental albums if I'm not mistaken since 1988. The lastest 1 was released in 2006. wink.gif blink.gif

Regards.


Friedman is one of my favorites. I didn't include him for two reasons. One, he is more well known for his playing with megadeth, which is really more metal than rock. Two, if I included him, I'd have to start allowing a bunch of other players like Jason Becker, Yngwie, etc. But feel free to make a greatest metal guitarist if you wish.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 2 2008, 09:44 AM

Satriani and Johnson.

Satriani as "greatest" cause he has had
so many tunes that are almost best seller hits,kind a chart stuff.
Specially with Surfing With The Alien album. biggrin.gif

And Johnson for tone,,,the man HAS a tone. wink.gif

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 2 2008, 10:38 AM

Buckethead, but VERY close to Paul Gilbert (wish i had 2 votes), i just thnk bucketheads pinky is too fast. And i just wanna say i think satch is the best to listen to but i think bucket and paul are the best shredders. smile.gif And Eric Johnson for tone, but i was close to voting for satch.

Posted by: Iluha Aug 2 2008, 11:50 AM

Well you know me... I will follow Satch anywhere so he is the greatest in my opinion.

But tone wise, Andy Timmons gets a vote from me smile.gif

Posted by: Bondy Aug 2 2008, 11:58 AM

Why isnt Muris on there his albums better then most of the listed Artists which i have listened to there so called best albums and they arent a patch on it(Genuine opinion not butt kissing)

Posted by: audiopaal Aug 2 2008, 12:11 PM

Satriani for me smile.gif

Posted by: JeroenKole Aug 2 2008, 12:16 PM

Dude, canĀ“t you just add all of the above as an option? tongue.gif

There is no way I could decide between all those guys. rolleyes.gif

Posted by: SEANCD2005 Aug 3 2008, 01:31 AM

my Vote went to Satriani

Posted by: The Uncreator Aug 3 2008, 02:32 PM

I went for Vai on both, Although Eric Johnson and Batio are a close second.

Posted by: kyldeee Aug 3 2008, 02:36 PM

My vote went to EJ, both smile.gif

Posted by: Daniel Robinson Aug 3 2008, 03:28 PM

Andy Timmons, and............................Andy Timmons!


Daniel

Posted by: JVM Aug 4 2008, 07:36 PM

This is getting interesting... Gilbert had an early lead for playing, but now Vai has matched his count. And Timmons seems to be catching up to Johnson for tone, too.

Posted by: Nick325 Aug 4 2008, 08:00 PM

steve vai and johnson

Posted by: Gus Aug 4 2008, 08:52 PM

Joe Satriani. I saw him live this Saturday. It's even more amazing...

Just to make your list "complete", I think that yngwie malmsteen should be an option on the pool wink.gif

Posted by: Bedlam Aug 4 2008, 09:05 PM

Vai and Johnson.

I saw Vai on G3 a few years back and it was amazing. Eric Johnson's tone is quite awesome, but never got into his playing that much...

Posted by: JVM Aug 4 2008, 09:12 PM

QUOTE (Bedlam @ Aug 4 2008, 04:05 PM) *
Vai and Johnson.

I saw Vai on G3 a few years back and it was amazing. Eric Johnson's tone is quite awesome, but never got into his playing that much...


Or his singing tongue.gif (for me at least). Gilbert is also a pretty good singer in addition to being a great player. Satch and Vai can both sing decently I think, or at least carry a song. Johnson though, can't stand his singing!

Posted by: kjutte Aug 4 2008, 09:55 PM

Saying "sorry guthrie", makes me thing that this ain't about the notes afterall.
and where's Shawn Lane?!

Posted by: JVM Aug 4 2008, 10:30 PM

QUOTE (kjutte @ Aug 4 2008, 04:55 PM) *
Saying "sorry guthrie", makes me thing that this ain't about the notes afterall.
and where's Shawn Lane?!


Let me explain again, perhaps I worded the original post badly. This is not a poll of who is the best guitarist, for as has been remarked a few times through the thread, that question is so wide open and full of opinion that I'd have to make the list never ending.

It's kind of like the Gibson Vs. Fender thread going on right now. Sure, there are other great guitar companies out there with many great guitars (prs, ibanez, surh to name a few) but Gibson and Fender are the big boys. That thread isn't about what is the best guitar out there, it's to use my own words earlier, kind of a "battle of the champions" which is closer to what this thread is about. Don't get me wrong. Guthrie is amazing. So are many other players I left off the list that could potentially be on it.

If I had instead asked, "Who do you prefer - Vai or Satch?" You probably wouldn't have remarked on it. If I had asked Vai vs. Satch, or even Vai Vs. Satch vs. Gilbert for example, then you probably wouldn't have remarked because I hadn't opened the question up to "who is the greatest of all time". Perhaps it was a bad name for the poll, but really I just wanted a "Vai vs. Satch vs. Gilbert vs. Buckethead vs. Timmons vs. Johnson vs. Batio" because those are the guys I'm specifically interested in hearing everyone's opinions on, based on the reasons I detailed in the first post smile.gif

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