Top 25 Favorite Guitarists countdown thread! (Top 2 featured!!)

[KevShmev]

I wasn't trying to be pedantic about the names, but with so many players out there, I'd rather not assume when it comes to shortening names or nicknames only.

Anyway...25 lists now, 247 guitarists listed.

[Glasser]

Mine are almost 100% personal preference

This. Technicality had nothing to do with it.

Mine are based on song writing skills and just overall what pumps my nads, my Temple Balls.

Actually, for me it's almost all down to how much their music has my reaching for my air guitar!

You reach for your air guitar and Glasser reaches for his nads. 

Yes, I reach for my nads while Luke shreds air guitar.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Some of the criteria that factored into my ranking in no particular order.

Influence
Popularity

I can see why you'd factor those in if this was a "best" list, but since it's "favorite", why are those categories important to you?

[TAC]

I wasn't trying to be pandemic about the names,

I hope you compiled the list with your mask on!

[wolfking]

Not sure I'll get this done.  I'll try.

[Glasser]

Not sure I'll get this done.  I'll try.

You're on my list if you completed the song "I Still Remember Someone Else". 

[TAC]

Not sure I'll get this done.  I'll try.

[Glasser]

Not sure I'll get this done.  I'll try.

The list or song? 

[wolfking]

Neither mate. 

I'll put 25 names down.  Just struggling to find the motivation to do it.  Will be a very generic list.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The weird thing is that I have much more investment in my vocalist list than my guitarist list, even though I'm way more of a guitarist than a vocalist.  Maybe it's something about being more interested in what I can't do myself, so I find it more impressive. 

[wolfking]

The weird thing is that I have much more investment in my vocalist list than my guitarist list, even though I'm way more of a guitarist than a vocalist.  Maybe it's something about being more interested in what I can't do myself, so I find it more impressive.

Yeah I think I'm with you there.  I can't sing but play okay and had more interest in the vocalist one.  Weird one.

[KevShmev]

Neither mate. 

I'll put 25 names down.  Just struggling to find the motivation to do it.  Will be a very generic list.

So, in other words, a TAC list.

[Glasser]

Neither mate. 

I'll put 25 names down.  Just struggling to find the motivation to do it.  Will be a very generic list.

So, in other words, a TAC list.

So far my list is a yawner. But I like what I like. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

There are definitely more garden variety choices on my guitarist list than my favorite vocalist or theoretical top 25 bands lists.  And less stylistic diversity. 

[nobloodyname]

I've got 20 names on my list and I'm really struggling for another five

I mean, there are tonnes of worthy guitarists missing but this is favourites, not the most worthy.

[twosuitsluke]

I've got 20 names on my list and I'm really struggling for another five

I mean, there are tonnes of worthy guitarists missing but this is favourites, not the most worthy.

I mean, for me personally, with certain bands I love I have both guitarists on my list. Actually, I have both guitarists from 5 bands looking at my list 

[nobloodyname]

Yeah. I could put all three Maiden guitarists on the list but... it'd be on the basis they all happen to play in one of my favourite bands

[twosuitsluke]

Yeah. I could put all three Maiden guitarists on the list but... it'd be on the basis they all happen to play in one of my favourite bands

I get that, but for me my favourite bands are my favourite bands largely due to their guitarists.  That's not to say all the guitarists in the list are just from my top 10 bands or something.

[wolfking]

Neither mate. 

I'll put 25 names down.  Just struggling to find the motivation to do it.  Will be a very generic list.

So, in other words, a TAC list.

 

[nobloodyname]

Yeah. I could put all three Maiden guitarists on the list but... it'd be on the basis they all happen to play in one of my favourite bands

I get that, but for me my favourite bands are my favourite bands largely due to their guitarists.  That's not to say all the guitarists in the list are just from my top 10 bands or something.

Yup, perfectly valid.

I guess it comes down to what defines our favourite guitarists. For some that'll be their technical wizardy, for others it'll be because they're excellent songwriters, for yet others it could just be their attitude or the guitars they play... there are myriad reasons.

[TAC]

Yeah. I could put all three Maiden guitarists on the list but... it'd be on the basis they all happen to play in one of my favourite bands

Nothing wrong with that.

[lonestar]

Yeah. I could put all three Maiden guitarists on the list but... it'd be on the basis they all happen to play in one of my favourite bands

Nothing wrong with that.

I was very close to having two guitarists from the same band as well.

[Dublagent66]

Yeah, I was tempted to do that as well but didn't.  If this was a top 50, would probably have to resort to that. 

[TAC]

Neither mate. 

I'll put 25 names down.  Just struggling to find the motivation to do it.  Will be a very generic list.

So, in other words, a TAC list.

Hah!
I didn’t think my list was all that generic. It’s certainly not filled with technical wizardry, but it’s comprised of people whose music I enjoy the most.

[wolfking]

Scratched up a quick list and sent.

[Kwyjibo]

List sent. While compiling that list, I realized that all my favorite players are fogeys. Damn I'm old. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Sent!

Can't wait for the writeup and score.  When does hangman begin?  Oh wait, wrong thread...   

[Evermind]

Sent!

I was surprised how heavily influenced my list was by the music I grew up with.

Also it's going to be fun following the thread. If I don't actively listen to the band, I struggle to remember who their guitarist is. I spend 40 minutes today trying to remember who is the guitarist of Rush. I'll probably end up asking "who?" for like half of the reveals.

[nobloodyname]

I submitted a list in the end, too.

[twosuitsluke]

How many we up to Kev?

[TAC]

I submitted a list in the end, too.

That’s right where Kev likes it. 

[Glasser]

I'll have mine in later, sorry Kev. Thanks for doing this.... Again. 

[Animal]

Speaking of the most decisive factors to include a guitarist in the list, for me it was mostly players that I spend most time looking up to, imitating and trying to find inspiration in both their technique and music. That said, I did include a number of players just because I especially enjoy "the guitar factor" in their music, even if I never felt compelled to try this type of playing myself.

Breakdown by geography.

UK  11
Spain 2
France 2
Czech Republic 3
USA  5
Japan 1
Sweden 1

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Geography is complicated.  For example, Marty Friedman was born in Washington DC, but he's lived in Japan for over two decades now.  Is he American or Japanese?  Van Halen is consider an iconic example of an American band, but Eddie and Alex were born and raised in the Netherlands for the first decade of their lives, so is Eddie American or Dutch?

[KevShmev]

I submitted a list in the end, too.

That’s right where Kev likes it. 

Only when you're the pitcher, sweetheart.