Who is the best guitarist?

My friends and I are in an argument as to who the best guitarist is.
I said Robert Johnson, Justin says Van Halen and my sister Alaina says Jimmy Page.

Over all, who do you think is the best guitarist?

 

the guy on the free credit report.com commercials

 

Lol.

I would say Yngwie Malmsteen is the best guitar player ever. I don't know why, but Eddie Van Halen annoys me.

 

There's no way to come up with an objective definition for the "best" guitarist. Why you would argue over subjective aesthetics is beyond me. My personal favorite for pure shred insanity because his band is actually listenable is Michael Romeo from Symphony X. My favorite for the way his guitar contributes to his band is Luca Turilli. Michael Romeo has much better technique but I prefer Luca's music, so what was the point of technique or even trying to come up with a "best" guitarist? Notice how I'm only comparing guitarists will similar playing styles? I could also do a favorite blues guitarist or favorite acoustic folk guitarist but I wouldn't try to compare two players like EVH and Robert Johnson who sound nothing alike and aren't even contemporaries.

Wouldn't the more fruitful conversation be "who is your favorite guitarist and why?"

 

Wes Borland is my personal favorite. I dont think there is such a thing as the best.

 

jimi hendrix, and im surprised no one mentioned him yet!

 

Well perhaps out of the thousands of guitarists I've heard he's not my favorite. He was pretty damn good though. In the top 100 for sure.

 

my top three has always been Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Jimmy Page

 

I agree for the most part, but don't bag on her because she misphrased a question.

 

Chris Arp of PsyOpus is pretty fucking awesome

 

can't go wrong with Hendrix or Page.

 

Well she said that her and her friends had been arguing over who's the best which send me into a nervous twitching fit is all :willy_nilly:

 

Smoke a bowl, you'll be much calmer

 

Or perhaps I could not and spare myself many hours of slow-witted apathy.

 

Speaking for yourself, I assume.

"Reality is a crutch for people who can't handle drugs."

 

yea i know right! i thought it was generally accepted that HE is the GREATEST guitarist ever!

 

yea i know right! i thought it was widely accepted that HE is the GREATEST guitarist ever!

 

Rolling Stone magazine put him at the top of their big TOP 100 GUITARISTS OF ALL TIMEEE!!!!!!!!!omgomgomg list. That's where the fallacy originates from. Most guitarists have much respect for him but it's 2009 and although he practically revolutionized rock and blue guitar most don't consider him their personal favorite. He's up there though.

Of course.

 

Well, I'm sorry Mary Jane doesn't turn you on.

 

undecidable, but my tops would be dave mustaine, david gilmoure, and jimmi hendrix