# Guitarists: Whom Do You Admire Most As A Player? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 10, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399 "2021-08-10T19:52:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/122 "2021-08-18T02:06:07Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > But there are cases of brilliant songwriters who are also virtuoso guitarists. Maybe Richard Thompson and Mark Knopfler are the best examples. And there was that Chuck Berry fella. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/123 "2021-08-18T02:16:48Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > But there are cases of brilliant songwriters who are also virtuoso guitarists. Maybe Richard Thompson and Mark Knopfler are the best examples. > > And there was that Chuck Berry fella. - Even extra-terrestrials asked for more. [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLd1OAaWwAAmn1i.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLd1OAaWwAAmn1i.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/124 "2021-08-18T02:17:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If you were in Texas I’d have to go with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Smacking myself for the omission here. SRV was one hell of a Texas-style blues player. If Albert King is giving him props, the man is beyond good. The fact that he played a guitar strung with hawser cables is also worth mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/125 "2021-08-18T02:41:20Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Dunno what they put in the water in Texas Assorted chilies no doubt: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kJSEZeNrKNM/hqdefault.jpg "Johnny Winter Live at Woodstock playing Mean Town Blues - 1969. Johnny Winter Dies July 16th 2014.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJSEZeNrKNM) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/126 "2021-08-18T02:49:08Z")
Kinda surprised I forgot him too. Been a favorite of mine for a long time. He was pure cool. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/127 "2021-08-18T02:52:01Z")
I saw him on his In Step tour stop at The Gorge in July 1990, a month before he died. Still have the t-shirt, shrunken to hell and back, and will never wash it again. It was an unbelievable show! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/128 "2021-08-18T02:59:58Z")
I truly envy you. (in a good way) The day before SRV’s last concert my best friend offered me a ticket. I refused because I had some random family thing. Little did I know… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/129 "2021-08-20T03:50:01Z")
He was amazing. I saw him a few times. The first time I saw him he was playing with the Cobras the early ‘70s. Even way back then he was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/130 "2021-08-20T03:57:09Z")
SRV was incredible. I think Marcus King and Roy Clark Jr are carrying the torch now. Roy: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/x_ZeDn-hHGE/hqdefault.jpg "Gary Clark Jr. - Bright Lights") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ZeDn-hHGE) Marcus King to me is the closest iteration to what would be an SRV guy right now. Rock star clothes, great voice, playing, tone, songwriting…he’s the fucking man. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JGS4K7YI5UI/maxresdefault.jpg "THE MARCUS KING BAND - "Welcome 'Round Here" (Live at JITVHQ in Los Angeles, CA 2018) #JAMINTHEVAN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGS4K7YI5UI) Speaking of fuzzy ass blues, another young guy I dig is Tyler Bryant if you’ve not heard of him. Filthy McNasty tone blues. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K1ACyoGRMAg/maxresdefault.jpg "Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown - Ride") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ACyoGRMAg) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/131 "2021-08-20T04:21:33Z")
Thanks! Nice to see others following in SRV’s footsteps. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/132 "2021-08-21T01:41:30Z")
My long time favorite is Robin Trower. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RzcXny8FE1Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Precious Gift") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzcXny8FE1Y) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/133 "2021-08-21T22:20:54Z")
No one has ever topped Neil Innes. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nkQ0tpQmobc/hqdefault.jpg "'Canyons of your Mind' by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkQ0tpQmobc) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/134 "2021-08-21T22:35:32Z")
I especially liked the way Stevie Ray and his brother played together: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Jhfr7sjLcJg/hqdefault.jpg "Stevie Ray Vaughan & Jimmie Vaughan - Pipeline (2/28/87)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhfr7sjLcJg) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/135 "2021-08-21T22:36:57Z")
Nobody listened to Marcus King? Dude’s legit AF. His tone in the video above is worth your listen alone. His band rocks and so does he. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/136 "2021-08-21T22:41:40Z")
Whenever I think of them playing together, I am forever reminded of this song and the irony it represents given how soon after SRV died in that helicopter. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VU7b65SmZ_s/hqdefault.jpg "Stevie Ray & Jimmy Vaughan - Tick Tock (Family Style Sept.25, 1990)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU7b65SmZ_s) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/137 "2021-08-21T22:53:12Z")
The OP asked “whom do you admire most” so I gave my answer, as Frank is IMO the best and the one who’s abilities and sensibilities I’d most like to have/share. But there are others; they just don’t occupy that position at the top that Frank enjoys. For instance: I saw this album as I was walking thru a Peaches Records & Cassettes in Plantation, FL just as it was being put on the shelves. I bought a copy without hearing it first because I liked the art work and the song titles, It quickly became one of my favorite albums. It took me quite a few years to learn much more about the artist and even more to track down his recorded work (an activity I still enjoy, btw). This album remains my favorite of his and IMO is one of the greatest guitar accomplishments ever. The compositions are wonderful, complex and entertaining; the performance is technically perfect: this is all single-take solo guitar. Taken as a whole, it represents the culmination of a lifetime; there is no other like Bola Sete: https://www.youtube.com/embed/8SMgCwoh_3A?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=OLAK5uy_mUf4SpggNZDbL2v_cCaYuWzUoXUCBQgRo ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/138 "2021-08-21T23:50:31Z")
I know I’ve already posted a few guitarists in this thread but one popped into my head that I have always admired greatly; even before I could play at all. Hank Marvin of The Shadows. My Dad had their greatest hits on vinyl and I pretty much wore it out. The way he makes the guitar tell a story left a pretty deep impression on me. Vid of one of my favourite songs: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gdX70hAUQw8/maxresdefault.jpg "Stars Fell on Stockton (Mono) (2004 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdX70hAUQw8) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/139 "2021-08-21T23:53:20Z")
This is basically what I wished Yngwie would have kept playing after his first album or two: that music played through Marshall amps. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/140 "2021-08-22T00:10:53Z")
I am a terrible guitarist but like my music. Perhaps _Guitar Shop_ by Jeff Beck is a hackneyed choice but I would still claim few could do what he does. For actual listening, though, it’s hard to beat Vaughn. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399/141 "2021-08-22T02:02:00Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > No one has ever topped Neil Innes. “I’ve suffered for my music, now it’s your turn.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitarists-whom-do-you-admire-most-as-a-player/948399.md?page=8)