Most underrated, rock guitar players

[Ripp]

Not looking to hear about SRV, Clapton, Jimi. Who do you think are the guitar gods that others don't know are gods!!

I know there are a few pretty good 6-string players on this forum, plus many more who, like me, really appreciate the guitar but can't play it worth a lump of poo, so I think this may be a lively discussion...


The two who come to mind right now are Mark Knoffler of Dire Straights semi-fame, and Mike Campbell from the Heartbreakers. Both great players but rarely/never mentioned.

[wigger thomas]

I understand that Peter Frampton's playing was a highlight of David Bowie's tour a few years ago.

How about Dave Mason?

[RepublicanSS]

George Harrison?

Ted Nugent?

The Guitar player for Violent Femmes?

Tony Mars or whomever played for the Clash?

[Teamfubar]

I have two.

1. Brian May of Queen.

2. Tim Reynolds.

[S. cerevisiae]

George Harrison?

Underrated? Not by many folks I know.

Ted Nugent?

More overrated in my book.

whomever played for the Clash?

That would be Joe Strummer or Mick Jones

My votes would be Rick Danko and Billy Corgan

Oh, and Wigger T :)

[ironspoke]

I have two.

1. Brian May of Queen.



You beat me to the punch on this one.

[wigger thomas]

Underrated? Not by many folks I know.



More overrated in my book.



That would be Joe Strummer or Mick Jones

My votes would be Rick Danko and Billy Corgan

Oh, and Wigger T :)
I actually got a job because I couldn't play guitar:D

Danko was a bass player. Robbie Robertson played guitar for The Band. He was very solid.

Roy Buchanon was one of the best ever hands down.

[davkatreb]

Roy Buchanon was one of the best ever hands down.
Agree with meatloaf on that one. Can't see how he fits into the "underrated" category, though. The man has been worshipped as a master for more years than I'd like to count.

I saw the man live at Frostburgh University somewhere around 1974. If you'd have tossed a grenade in that auditorium I doubt there'd have been a guitar player left alive in the greater Cumberland area. Jeeze, I saw EVERYBODY I knew.

Oh, and +1 to Brian May.

[K-Man]

Great guitar player (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0KR8PUefTw), not to mention singer/songwriter and innovator....

[Ripp]

I have two.

1. Brian May of Queen.

2. Tim Reynolds.

I agree 100%!

And Dave Matthews is pretty damn impressive himself.

[S. cerevisiae]

Danko was a bass player. Robbie Robertson played guitar for The Band. He was very solid.

My bad...I always confuse those two. I know which is which, but always screw up their names.

It only occured to me because I watched THE LAST WALTZ this morning in TCM. My fave number is them backing Van Morrison.

Can we extend this to underrated mandolin players? I'd throw Levon Helm into that category just for S&G.

[RepublicanSS]

I don't know many people that name George Harrison right off the bat, I'd make the argument that the Beatles as a group overshadowed any individual successes for the most part, then following the team of Lennon/McCartney didn't help things.

Ted was a favorite when we skated empty pools and ramps in the late 70's and early 80's. Guess you had to be there.:D




Underrated? Not by many folks I know.



More overrated in my book.



That would be Joe Strummer or Mick Jones

My votes would be Rick Danko and Billy Corgan

Oh, and Wigger T :)

[RepublicanSS]

Oh yeah, the guitar player for the Cult.:cool:

[davkatreb]

I've always considered Ted to be mediocre at best.

[wigger thomas]

Can we extend this to underrated mandolin players? I'd throw Levon Helm into that category just for S&G.

How many people know who the best mando players are?

Best I've seen hands down is Sam Bush. The late great John Duffey of the Seldom Scene "turn up the monitors i'm going to the Winnebego" And David Grisman can certainly hold his own.

[north20]

I'm not enough of an expert on the subject to truly rate anyone; I either like the music or I don't.

But one guitarist that stands out for me, simply due to the style and sound he employed, was Edge from U2. Always sounded as if he was restraining something alive as much as playing a guitar.

[nogearshere]

prince....

[wigger thomas]

prince....

Prince can play a pretty wicked lead. And a lot of folks may not realize it. He's a bit sloppy though. I'm sure he could have been one of the best w/ his talent though.

Agree with meatloaf on that one.
Hey Doofka :

[jh4rt]

The two who come to mind right now are Mark Knoffler of Dire Straights semi-fame, and Mike Campbell from the Heartbreakers. Both great players but rarely/never mentioned.

Damn Ripp. I read the title of the thread and immediately thought Knopfler, then I open it to find you have already stolen my thunder? Shoot.

OK... I'm going to say that Tom Petty and Krissy Hynde are tied in my book for all time best rhythm (not lead) guitarists.

Oh, and for underrated lead, I'm going with Chris Shiflet of the Foo Fighters and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots. ;-)

[wigger thomas]

That was Ripp that you quoted. I always heard Knoepler was one of the greats.

[RandomDood]

Angus freakin Young!

[davkatreb]

That was Ripp that you quoted. I always heard Knoepler was one of the greats.
Not to be confused with Knopfler. Get off my site!

[S. cerevisiae]

Angus freakin Young!

OK, if Angus is underrated then so is Keith Richards. I mean they know the same coupla chords, no?

Loud don't count, and these are s'poda be underrated guitarists.

I still vote for Pedro, I mean Wigger.

I don't think anyone knows the best mando players. The Levon Helm comment was just a lark as I had just seen him play alongside Emmylou Harris. He's not actually that good at it. I much rather listen to Sam Bush any day.

[BMAC]

The guy that played for Great White always amazed me.

[davkatreb]

OK, if Angus is underrated then so is Keith Richards. I mean they know the same coupla chords, no?
Actually, many of the Stones classics were played by Keef in open G tuning. As far as I know Malcon's brother has always played in standard tuning.

hopethishelps

[HempKnight]

Not really sure how he's rated. But Walter Becker from Steely Dan gets my vote.
Smoove like butta....:cool:

[davkatreb]

Not really sure how he's rated. But Walter Becker from Steely Dan gets my vote.
Smoove like butta....:cool:
Actually, Fagan and Becker hired studio sharpshooters of prodigious ability to lay down many of those lead tracks.

Denny Diaz played on some of the earlier albums. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter played some sick shit. Pretty sure that was he who played the whacko lead on "My Old School".

But my fave Steely Dan guitarist has to be Larry Calton. Check out the RIPPING solo on "Peg", from the Aja album. The double-stops alone send my jaw to the floor! It's only 10-15 seconds long, but Madre de Dios! It's an encyclopedic display of absolute technical mastery coupled with impeccable taste.

Oh, and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" is more of Larry's work.

Jeeze, and folks think I'm a nerd when it comes to BIKES!:eek:

[danheckler]

I can't believe nobody's mentioned either one of these two. Buckethead is an amazing guitar shredder. Go see him live, you will not regret it. Before his real identity was known, lots of folks speculated that it was Brian May behind the mask.

And as for Frank, well, do I really need to say anything? Just go listen to the solo in "Muffin Man". Holy smokes!

[wigger thomas]

I'd hardly say that Frank is underrated. Buckethhead is obscure but those who know him know that he is one of the greatest ever. Seen him solo and with Praxis.

[bitterfish26]

Not looking to hear about SRV, Clapton, Jimi. Who do you think are the guitar gods that others don't know are gods!!

I know there are a few pretty good 6-string players on this forum, plus many more who, like me, really appreciate the guitar but can't play it worth a lump of poo, so I think this may be a lively discussion...


The two who come to mind right now are Mark Knoffler of Dire Straights semi-fame, and Mike Campbell from the Heartbreakers. Both great players but rarely/never mentioned.z

i am going to agree with you on Mike Campbell due to the fact that i am reading Conversations with Tom Petty and TP explains alot about Mike and how he would just start playing random notes and eventually it would turn into a song or a line or two

[HempKnight]

Actually, Fagan and Becker hired studio sharpshooters of prodigious ability to lay down many of those lead tracks.


I knew they hired on studio musicians,but I always thought that Becker was resposible for most of the lead work. Amazing that all those guys could play in almost identical style

Still, Any SD guitar riff is a work of art, and probably a saving grace for any song it was performed in.;)

[K-Man]

What they said ^^^^^^^^^^, the "bastard son of a preacher man" is definitely worth the price of admission.

[davkatreb]

Amazing that all those guys could play in almost identical style
You seriously telling me you can't hear a difference between Baxter's playing and Carlton's? Damn.

[HempKnight]

You seriously telling me you can't hear a difference between Baxter's playing and Carlton's? Damn.

I guess I really wasnt paying attention so closely. Then again maybe I couldnt tell the difference anyway. I really don't live my life to the fullest sometimes.
Damn.

[ironspoke]

But one guitarist that stands out for me, simply due to the style and sound he employed, was Edge from U2. Always sounded as if he was restraining something alive as much as playing a guitar.

I agree. Just give a listen to "Walk On" from ALL THAT YOU CANT LEAVE BEHIND. The guy has the ability to evoke an emotion (one that corresponds with the lyrics) in that song with just a few well played notes.

[Ripp]

Not really sure how he's rated. But Walter Becker from Steely Dan gets my vote.
Smoove like butta....:cool:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Walter played much of the lead in SD songs. I thought (not 100% sure where I picked it up) that the studio musicians they used played most of the leads. Either way lots of really good guitars in SD songs!

[Ripp]

Actually, Fagan and Becker hired studio sharpshooters of prodigious ability to lay down many of those lead tracks.

Denny Diaz played on some of the earlier albums. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter played some sick shit. Pretty sure that was he who played the whacko lead on "My Old School".

But my fave Steely Dan guitarist has to be Larry Calton. Check out the RIPPING solo on "Peg", from the Aja album. The double-stops alone send my jaw to the floor! It's only 10-15 seconds long, but Madre de Dios! It's an encyclopedic display of absolute technical mastery coupled with impeccable taste.

Oh, and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" is more of Larry's work.

Jeeze, and folks think I'm a nerd when it comes to BIKES!:eek:

Opps! I guess I should have finished the thread befoer I posted!!

And by the way. I love AC DC when I'm in the mood, but Angus is nothing special on a guitar!!

I still havn't finished the posts.......hope nobody beat me to this observation.

[tryandgetme]

the day after I finished my handbuilt guitar, I took it over to my brother's place. One of his friends asked to play it, and blew me through the wall. AMAZING guitarist. Underrated? yup, doesn't even play in a band.

Other than that, I'd say the 3 guys that play guitar in In Flames, even the rhythm sounds intricate like a solo... and of course the lead guitarist from Trivium (I don't know anyone's names). Oh, and I was just at this bar a week or so ago, a local band Broken Halo played. Never heard of them before. That guitarist was so good I spent my last $10 for food for the month on their cd.

[Ripp]

I thought of two more. The guys from Union Station. Kinda country, so maybe their not underrated with folks who listen to more of that genre. They did most (maybe all) of the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, they played at Claptons crossroads festival 2004 wich I have on DVD and the two songs that made the DVD are awesome!! I love being able to really see a guitar players hands while he's playing, and watching these guys play is amazing!

[ironspoke]

I vote for Chet from the Eels. The guy plays a mean saw.

And I think this thread is for more than just technical wizards. Someone mentioned Joe Strummer and Mick Jones from the Clash. These guys are by no means virtuosos but they bring an element to their work that is hard to quanitfy.

[Blatz]

Underrated? Not by many folks I know.



More overrated in my book.



That would be Joe Strummer or Mick Jones

My votes would be Rick Danko and Billy Corgan

Oh, and Wigger T :)

Rick Danko played bass. Robbie Robinson played guitar for the Band. He`s got my vote

[ironspoke]

To dovetail with the Guitar theme I just left Target and they are selling a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar AND amp for $199. Is this like Mongoose selling a product at Walmart for $129 and then also selling bikes for $1500 at selected bike shops? I never realized a company like Fender sold a low end product like that. It somehow seems a bit sad. :(

[tryandgetme]

To dovetail with the Guitar theme I just left Target and they are selling a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar AND amp for $199. Is this like Mongoose selling a product at Walmart for $129 and then also selling bikes for $1500 at selected bike shops? I never realized a company like Fender sold a low end product like that. It somehow seems a bit sad. :(

yes. well not quite as bad. I picked up a walmart guitar the other day in walmart, the fretboard was a roller coaster.

my first guitar was a fender squire, $300 including canadian pricing, amp, gig bag, whatnot. This one was made in indonesia. Shitty pickups, shitty build quality, but it played quite nice, the action stayed nice with some tweaks throughout it's life. Then the truss rod broke 6 months later, and that was the end of it. Fender name, but I wouldn't consider it a real fender. It was a GREAT first guitar, because now I know whawt I want in a guitar much better. Spending alot more money on a first guitar might have been a waste, I might want something different in a guitar later on (as was the case).

[K-Man]

Goodbye Eddie.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfGatOUwyMg)

[wigger thomas]

Goodbye Eddie.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfGatOUwyMg)

Nice Eddy Hazel footage !!! Takin' my daughter to Brooklyn to see P-Funk 2/26. We still have Michael Hampton and Bllackbird:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGgZm03tci0

[K-Man]

Nice Eddy Hazel footage !!! Takin' my daughter to Brooklyn to see P-Funk 2/26. We still have Michael Hampton and Bllackbird:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGgZm03tci0

Whoa, that's some good shit, *cough, cough* man.

You'll enjoy the recent vintage P-Funk live (I did), but you'll not get anything that compares with that classic footage.

[wigger thomas]

Here's John Fahey. Holy shit what a picker. And the lady sitting near him is smokin' hot. I think he's got her a little worked up. It reminds me of an old TV clip w/ Stephen Stills playing 4+20 w/ Joni Mitchell sitting near by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93v6eoTjpig&feature=related

[danheckler]

Ooohh yeah! John Fahey is great! Wish I'd remembered him earlier. The Yellow Princess, what a terrific album!!!!

[3zzz]

Is Dylan over rated?
that guy kicks butt, when he's playing guitar and harmonica at the same time, i love that stuff.

[thirtyfour18]

Just stopping by to drop this bomb:

Eric Johnson.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0iww5u6_I&feature=related

[McDuff]

Here's one of mine
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2907013483935152656
RIP

[wigger thomas]

Just stopping by to drop this bomb:

Eric Johnson.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tQ0iww5u6_I&feature=related

That Kid is really nailin' it. But that is not actually Eric Johnson? Correct?

[tryandgetme]

I perform EJ´s cliffs of dover for the first time and it is a difficult song, I try to improvise in the end, some messups did accour in the solo. But EJ use to improvise so hope you enjoy.

so yeah, you're correct, not eric johnson.

also note: I love maple fretboards.

[MACDADDY!]

Richard Thompson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ripp]

This thread has morphed from underated, to obscure but talented! Not a bad thing, keep the ones with links coming!!

[McDuff]

Ah, I didn't notice 'till after the thread is for rock guitar players.

This one isn't either, but he is great anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k53iz1bOAs&feature=related#"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k53iz1bOAs&feature=related#

[blu-haus]

David Gilmour, Joe Satriani, Mark Kozelek, & Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies

[S. cerevisiae]

David Gilmour

You're seriously postulating that David Gilmour, the David Gilmour, is considered by anyone to be underrated? S'pose Eric Clapton could use a few lessons too...

Here's an obscure one... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td1ZlETZVs0&feature=related)

Could be a local fave for those of us >40 yo from SW PA, right 'Spoke, K-Man?

How cool is it htat Art Nardini still plays with Joe G.?

[K-Man]

You're seriously postulating that David Gilmour, the David Gilmour, is considered by anyone to be underrated? S'pose Eric Clapton could use a few lessons too...

Here's an obscure one... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td1ZlETZVs0&feature=related)

Could be a local fave for those of us >40 yo from SW PA, right 'Spoke, K-Man?

How cool is it htat Art Nardini still plays with Joe G.?

I've got Houserockers' vinyl in my collection, from back in the day. I typically don't go for their style of music, but no denying Joe shreds. I hear there's a newly released documentary on his life and music. That would be something to catch.

[blu-haus]

You're seriously postulating that David Gilmour, the David Gilmour, is considered by anyone to be underrated? S'pose Eric Clapton could use a few lessons too...


Underrated, not undertalented.

[BarTender]

Richard Thompson !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right on Brother! I was signing in to say just that and happened to page up once and there he is. The man can play and write a song with the best of them.

[K-Man]

Hey, WiggerT, how did that P-Funk show work out for you?

[wigger thomas]

Hey, WiggerT, how did that P-Funk show work out for you?
It was really good even though Blackbird[other smokin' guitar player] quit.

Michael Hampton played a sick Maggotbrain. My daughter had her arms in the air howling. He also nailed the 'Not Just Knee Deep' solo after being MIA for 2/3 of the song.

Diaper guy[Gary Shider] lead the band through a very tight 'One Nation Under a Groove' into 'Up for the Down Stroke' while George rested.

On George's return,there was a killer flashlight complete w/ a rehearsed spinny dance routine. :D And of course 'Atomic Dog' was in the mix.

The show was at an old Polish Club and they were serving freaky Polish food there all night.

[K-Man]

It was really good even though Blackbird[other smokin' guitar player] quit.

Michael Hampton played a sick Maggotbrain. My daughter had her arms in the air howling. He also nailed the 'Not Just Knee Deep' solo after being MIA for 2/3 of the song.

Diaper guy[Gary Shider] lead the band through a very tight 'One Nation Under a Groove' into 'Up for the Down Stroke' while George rested.

On George's return,there was a killer flashlight complete w/ a rehearsed spinny dance routine. :D And of course 'Atomic Dog' was in the mix.

The show was at an old Polish Club and they were serving freaky Polish food there all night.

Just readin your report put a glide in my stride and a dip in my hip. I'm ready for the Mothership!