# Greatest Guitar Solo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752 "2000-11-04T23:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/41 "2000-11-06T03:44:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nineiron \* > **And, if you’re one of those people who tend to poo-poo the 80’s as being devoid of decent rock music, obviously this will mean nothing to you.** I am and it does. Sorry. I’m simply left unimpressed by Mr Van Halen’s work. Any influence he might have had on other guitarists in the 80s or 90s leaves me similarly unimpressed, as none of them are much good, either. There has been nothing new and interesting that has left me with my jaw hanging in **so** long. It’s just sad. Mark Knopfler had potential with his use of the guitar to accent and augment the vocals, like Muddy Waters, but he’s just rehashing the same crap now. Vaughan was just getting better, but that shows the folly of trying to get to the hotel quickly. Just like Buddy Holly–and try moving your hands fast enough to do all your strumming on the downstroke like him. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/42 "2000-11-06T04:11:32Z")
Well, obviously not everyone loves Eddie, but he was innovative, anyway. I admit that some of the solos got a bit repetitive after three or four albums, but what he did, essentially, was to take the instrument and find an entirely new way to play it. I also admit that many of the guitarists influenced by VH were lame and relied too heavily on the tapping and hammering thing. And no, I don’t have a CD collection full of 80’s hair rock, in case you’re wondering. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/43 "2000-11-06T04:39:40Z")
Don’t get me wrong–I thought the '80s had a lot to offer in Pure Pop, a style I have always appreciated, although you can’t beat '60s French Pop for the purest expression of ephemeral music. I have just always been bored by the lightweight “rock” ranging from Journey and Boston through Aerosmith and Van Halen. It’s just so, how can I say it?, GIRLY! When my daughter started to like Aerosmith for their (gaaaak!) BALLADS! and Metallica for its work WITH AN EFFING SYMPHONY! I knew that I would never hear GOOD rock on the radio again. Especially when my boss, who is twelve years younger than me, started playing a station that just seems to play those bands. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/44 "2000-11-06T04:41:00Z")
And Brian May is innovative. Eddie Van Halen is derivative. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/45 "2000-11-06T04:41:21Z")
I think history will show Eddie Van Halen to be a guitarist with a highly original style who unfortunately spawned a lot of mediocre imitators. He, along with Hendrix and Chuck Berry, are probably the most imitated guitarists ever. Besides they style thing, I think you’d have to admit that at least on a technical level, EVH is masterful. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/46 "2000-11-06T04:46:28Z")
What, no Yngwie? Shame. Guy’s fast, but loves to mix in his classical work. Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/47 "2000-11-06T04:47:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JCorre \* > \*\* > I’d also like to give honerable mention to Dave Navarro for his work on the songs ‘Three Days’ ‘Whores’ and ‘Ocean Size’ \*\* Navarro is awesome! Although 'Nothing Shoking" isnt shocking anymore. “Damnit Ted just admit it!!” I second the nomination for Vai/Cooder Crossrads solos. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/48 "2000-11-06T04:57:18Z")
Can I add another one? For those who love ‘widdly diddly’ stuff, but also need some passion behind the music, as well as speed, check out Funkadelic’s **Maggot Brain** from 1971. What an amazing band - if only disco had followed on from them, instead of the lightweight nonsense it ended up becoming. HenrySpencer ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/49 "2000-11-06T04:59:12Z")
Funkadelic is a neglected masterband. ---
**Author:** ![T140](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@T140](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T140)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2000, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752/50 "2000-11-06T05:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ogre \* > \*\* > Oh, and T140, welcome. You and I may be the only representatives on this board from Alabama. So, whar ya from, son? 🙂 \*\* Thanks, I’m in Birmingham. By the way Dick Dale will be at the Nick near the end of Nov. If you want to hear someone SHRED a guitar check him out, back in the early days he used to literally set his amps on fire because of the heat build up in the tubes from his powerful playing, plus he uses strings from .016 - .060, it’s no wonder he melts picks. P.S. The velcro Pygmies really are cheesy, but it could be worse they could Vallejo “are you happy to see me or is that a Vallejo in your pocket” (for local folks that is a short joke by the way) Later… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-guitar-solo/39752.md?page=2)