# Love McLaughlin/De Lucia/Di Meola - Similar Guitarists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562 "2006-09-05T21:52:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FrantzJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@FrantzJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrantzJ)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/1 "2006-09-05T21:52:07Z")
I love the guitar trio of John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia, and Al Di Meola. I’ve also listened to a little bit of their solo stuff, and it’s good too. If I like them, what other musicians might I like? What records should I get? Joey ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/2 "2006-09-05T23:09:27Z")
Ottmar Liebert Strunz & Farah ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/3 "2006-09-05T23:12:31Z")
Oops. Forgot the second half for the question. For Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra, I recommend _Opium_. For Strunz & Farah I really like _Americás_. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/4 "2006-09-06T01:15:08Z")
Second ol’ Ottmar. You might like Acoustic Alchemy’s earlier albums. If you don’t have Di Meola’s old _Elegant Gypsy_ album, hie thee to a record store. ---
**Author:** ![yelimS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/54ee81/32.png) [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/5 "2006-09-06T09:25:49Z")
It’s a bit off, but Django probably deserves a mention. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2006, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/6 "2006-09-06T12:06:32Z")
Bill Connors ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/7 "2006-09-07T03:31:20Z")
I just picked up a John Scofield/Lee Ritenour collabaration called I can see you house from here which I quite like. I have no idea how it compares to those previously mentioned, but would like to get the Dopers opinions as I’m in the early stages of a jazz phase, Larry ---
**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:** [September 7, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/8 "2006-09-07T15:11:38Z")
You might give **Manuel Barrueca** a try, though he trends more to classical. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/9 "2006-09-07T17:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=yelimS] It’s a bit off, but Django probably deserves a mention. [/QUOTE] Fast and tasteful - he is the master; the fact that he only had two useful fingers on his fretting hand makes it all the more amazing. Steve Morse is another superfast player with amazing tech chops who’s playing covers a wide range of styles… ---
**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:** [September 7, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/10 "2006-09-07T18:25:12Z")
**Larry Coryell** was the original third member, before being replaced by Al di Meola. You might like his acoustic stuff - in particular check out _The Restful Mind_ which he made with **Oregon** , a three piece offshoot of the classic lineup of the “New Age” pioneers **Paul Winter Consort** ( but the best of that rather sleepy genre ). It features guitarist Ralph Towner, who is pretty good himself. In my distant youth I was quite the fan of 100mph fusion guitarists ( both acoustic and electric ) like McLaughlin, Coryell and di Meola. Kind of got away from all that stuff once I got out of my teens. Probably should give it a try again just to see how it holds up. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-mclaughlin-de-lucia-di-meola-similar-guitarists/371562/11 "2006-09-07T19:18:39Z")
Another vote for Manuel Barrueco. His CD _Nylon & Steel_ has the added bonus that Steve Morse plays on a couple tracks. I always recommend Steve Morse. The man has chops and plays, as **Wordman** noted, a wide range of styles. A CD might go from a southern style rock tune to a fusion-y piece to a straight ahead classical tune. The amazing thing about Steve is that he plays all the styles equally well. That is not an easy thing to do. For Morse, \*Split Decision \* might be a good intro as it is half heavier stuff and half lighter stuff. For Al DiMeola do pick up _Elegant Gypsy_ as **Chefguy** recommends. Michael Hedges was another great player who does some interesting stuff. Sadly, he died in 1997. His CDs are still available. You might also want to check out the Los Angles Guitar Quartet. Slee