Other than tone....

[NeoFauve]

Ahh, that's great.

Though I just got a touch of GAS for Johnny's Epiphone.

[flintpunk]

Old...Allen Collins & Gary Rossington
New...Brad Paisley
Hard Rock...Randy Rhoades, Angus

Pete Townsend and Ted Nugent for their right hand work.

[dhelgason1]

I love the cord phrasing of Johnny A . Love his tone too .

[rudutch]

Ditto Jim. Here's the real deal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAk_0N85wNk

that's the "origional" huh? interesting

[demioblue]

Yeah, he killed the tune with that battle axe, too. It's a massacre.

There are songs that don't want warrior chops, and "Sleepwalk" is one of them. None of the guys you mention do it as well as the original.

Well, that's a matter of opinion. I kinda liked his version. It was the most enjoyable version for me to listen to so far.

I agree that not all songs should have killer chops, but this is one example I'd say was actually executed quite well.

For me, anyways...

[dfs69]

I've always leaned towards the bluesy type of 80's hair metal bands (I know, I know). I love Tom Kieffer (?spell, Cinderella). 1 guy that I dont know the name of, but always loved the first LP, was the guitarist in "beggars and Thieves" ...Ray somebody, excellent IMHO. And the guy from "Tangier". Still have there first tape and listen to it often. The guy in "XYZ" was awesome too.

Dean

[doctor_worm]

tommy emmanuel...give me everything he's got!

[c solberg]

benson's wonderful scats with his fluid solo lines during the "Quintet" period, Joe Pass' chord melody, chet's fluid melody lines, Ford's meld of jazz and blue and a gazillion other wonderful players from classical to rock guitar.....how could I leave out Dimeola or McLaughlin, both of whose acoustic chops I would donate a testicle to science to have as my very own.

there are so many really incredible players out there to make me feel inadequate even after 46+ years of study and performance.... referrring to an earlier thread: there is no "finish line" in this business, the goal is always out there and it's the journey that counts.

c

[sting7777]

Nuno Bettencourts rhythmic percussive style.

Buddy Guys ability to play what sounds wrong. 3 times in a row and then make it sound right.

SRV's fluidity.

[refriedwhiskey]

I need to add one to mine: Billy Gibbons' pinch harmonics.

[57HANK]

danny gatton is awsome, james taylor's singing and easey going, effortless style tends to make people miss how difficult his guitar playing is to duplicate. jeff beck yardbirds, truth, beckola is still interesting after all these years...

[demioblue]

I've JUST heard my 1st recordings of Robin Trower.

OMG!!!!

I don't know why I never listened to him before. The looseness of his playing!!! The tone!!! The phrasing! The energy! wow...

The only other time I've heard anything else like this, is probably Hendrix, but RT is so much cleaner (newer technology, I think).

[pauln]

Back to Armor Dildo, er Steely Dan (who I am going to see tomorrow night in Tampa) - - - - of course you know Yokohama Steely Dan was a dildo in William Burroughs' Naked Lunch...............

a few years back they had a guy on tour with them by the name of Drew Zing. Unbelieveable taste, played the old material better than Larry Carlton, Dean Parks, or any of the hired guns on the recordings. Phrasing was impeccable. Last I knew he went back to session work in NYC. I think they had a falling out with him on a personal level, because the new guy Jon Herrington doesn't even come close. You can hear his playing on the NY Rock & Soul Review and on some tracks of Alive in America..........

Oh yes, I heard Drew Zing with Steely Dan here in Houston about 10? years ago... played a semi-hollow body... excellent guitarist! I agree that he nails the Dan sound even better than the originals (I guess that makes sense?).

[frank thomson]

i also really like Slash as a rock guitarist

[TT100]

Albert Collins

Dave Melton

Les Paul

[Plugger]

I saw Jon Herington with Steely Dan a few weeks back. His left hand technique was impressive. His right hand technique wasn't too shabby either.

Actually, he's one of the best players I've seen live in a long, long time. I'd like his jazz chops. It's interesting -- he plays as fast as typical "shredders", except what he does actually makes musical sense! Each note actually counts for something. A rare thing. Definitely up there in the top league in terms of both musical sensibility and technical mastery.

-Mark

[jaybee]

If you can't sing the solo, you're playing too fast.

or you haven't practised your circular breathing

[dirtdog]

Jimmy Vaughan
Billy Gibbons
Bob Mould
Malcolm Young
Dave Grohl

[Gravity Jim]

John Herrington is a great, thoughtful, musical guitar player. I saw Drew Zingg on the first Steely D comeback tour and he's an huge monster that eats whole guitar players for breakfast, but Herrington's wonderful to listen to as well.

As for better then Larry Carlton, lemme tell ya... the night I saw them, they did Third World Man, and in loving tribute Zingg played the solo off the record note-for-note, with perfect phrasing (the only time all night the band reproduced a recorded part). The crowd held it's breath while he did, and then went INSANE.

Sure, he's got other-worldly chops, but better music? Can't be done.