# Greatest Rock Guitarists
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 25, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205 "2005-03-25T14:45:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/41 "2005-03-26T17:15:46Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#):
>
> Sure, Led Zeppelin started it, but Black Sabbath created it.
Huh? I don’t understand this.
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### Author:  [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/42 "2005-03-26T18:23:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> 1. Phil Keaggy - Glass Harp, Solo
>
> 2. Bo Diddley - Solo
I’ve got nothin’ against Christian musicians, but what has Phil Keaggy ever done that he is only half as far down the list as Bo Diddley!? Also, I see Johnny Ramone buried in the also-rans, but where are Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and Gregg Ginn (Black Flag), the other guys who started the whole punk/grunge/alternative thing?
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/43 "2005-03-26T23:19:56Z")
Interesting that the list ranks Stryper’s _rhythm_ guitarist (Michael Sweet) higher than their _lead_ guitarist (Oz Fox).
I also think that Judas Priest’s guitarists (Glenn Tipton & K.K. Downing) should have been ranked much higher.
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### Author:  [@Berserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berserker)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/44 "2005-03-27T15:16:25Z")
I believe Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, and John McLaughlin should all be listed higher. Zappa especially.
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### Author:  [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/45 "2005-03-27T17:19:18Z")
Pete Townshend didn’t even make the top 50? They ranked him _below_ the guys from Guns N’ Roses? :eek:
It was interesting to see Ron Asheton get some recognition – #150, which seems fair.
There is, however, no excuse for their omission of Nigel Tufnel.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/46 "2005-03-27T17:27:51Z")
I’m half tempted to start a thread asking who the Worst Rock Guitarists are, just so I’ll have somebody to compare these guys to. If I had some examples of well-known guitarists who just aren’t really all that good, I could appreciate the greats all the more.
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### Author:  [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-rock-guitarists/296205/47 "2005-03-28T02:13:08Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#):
>
> I’m half tempted to start a thread asking who the Worst Rock Guitarists are, just so I’ll have somebody to compare these guys to. If I had some examples of well-known guitarists who just aren’t really all that good, I could appreciate the greats all the more.
Here’s a [thread on another board](http://www.crf2.com/archive/index.php/t-900.html) on that topic, for starters.
And here’s Pitchfork’s [50 worst guitar solos](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/solos/).
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