Who's the most underrated guitarist of all time?

[Rose]

Maybe they didn't create the legend of such Guitar gods as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, or Eddie Van Halen...but which of these geniuses has been the most overlooked as a guitar player and why? Let's hear some feedback...(write-in candidates are accepted)

[Greg]

Absolutely Prince. He's genius. You know, he took a long break and he stayed out of the spot light, making a perfect candidate for under-appreciated or under-rated guitarist.

I saw him doing an unplugged show the other night. Fantastic! And then on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Amazing!

I would have liked to see him in concert when he was just in Chicago for the Musicology tour. Sold out really fast.

You know back in the eighties, I might have been embarrased to admit I was a fan (but sadly enough I had no shame to confess my enthusiasm about Air Supply.)

I think Prince might have fallen into the categories of "chick bands" at the time. Most guys, just wouldn't say," Prince rocks! Put on some 'Purple Rain'!"

hmmm... that wouldn't be another reason that he's under-rated, would it?

Well those times are over.... "Prince rocks! So put on 'Purple Rain'!"

[Low End Groove]

I voted for George Harrison, being the glue and best instrumentalist for The Beatles. Though, I agree Prince is very overlooked too and rarely do I see his name thrown around in discussions like this, but it's about time. A few names to throw around for overlooked would be the late Curtis Mayfield, Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, Robin Trower, and even Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues. I do grow rather tired of the recycled Mount Olympus of Guitar Gods, (Van Halen, Page, Hendrix, Clapton, etc.) and I'm sure most everyone else is too.

[musicman]

I just wanted to Add Tommy Emanuel to the list....

Eric.

[Low End Groove]

He's more of a contemporary jazz guitarist, so I don't know about that. If we are expanding our field beyond rock, then I'm fine with it.

[canderson]

Phil Keaggy...

Take a listen to this guy!

He's at the top of the list for me. I've been listening to Phil for years now...Yeah, he's a Christian Artist...but you've got to hear him no matter what your belief may be.

He is like a part of the guitar...or should I say the guitar is a part of him. If you get the chance to see him live...don't pass it up! I can't place him in a particular style...he has so many different styles...I think he can play just about anything. He has also morphed over the years and all for the better.

Take a listen. You'll be glad you did.

[Barrett-tone]

Trey Anastasio, he's a total genius. hard to say he's overlooked when they get 50,000 at every Phish show...maybe overlooked by his rock peers because of his quirky pop and jazz style but he's awesome.

I saw Korgan live a few times in Chicago. Man he can rock, especially in the old days when i think the best Pumpkin tunes were laid down.

The Edge basically invented the delay pedal, so what can i say...he's an anthem rock god and a major influence to 1000's of players.

Richards and Harrison are old school, the best of their time and still respected today.

I have to vote for Prince though. He's so well noted for the big picture, the entire production of his music...and greatly overlooked for his guitar playing. Did you see him at the Hall of Fame show? Man, that was just a taste of how he can rock on the axe.

Later,
B-

[pikengren]

rick emmet from triumph.

[MambaJack]

I'd nominate Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult to the list. His licks were always razor sharp, clean and unique.

And while I'm thinking about it, Mick Taylor who did some of the Rolling Stones best guitar work and then vanished when he quit the band.

[eyemkramer]

Nobody came up with Gary Richrath? Not the Cronin-ized version, but the crunchy, whining, pre-80s version. He was not only fast, but had a style all his h

[eyemkramer]

Technology... aargh... Gary Richrath--the rocking one, not the ballad-driven one. He's not only fast, but has a unique style and definitely a unique tone. Check out the live version of Golden Country or the end or Lightning. Definitely the most underrated. His rep was injured by Cronin's whining and legal shenanigans and by Cronin steering the band into commercial pop/ballad territory.

As for Keaggy, he has Clapton's vote. I think it was Clapton who, when asked what it was like to be the best guitarist on the planet, said, "I don't know; Go ask Phil Keaggy." And Keaggy does it with only nine fingers.

[stacpoolemusic]

from the list definitely either Prince or George H. I'm not a Prince fan, like alot of black artists they are so all over the place because of their fantastic enthusiasm, but they lose 'direction'. However have to admit his genius. George was underrated, as his writing shows him to be more of a guitarist than perhaps his playing with the Beatles showed him to be.
But my personal fav is Peter Frampton. He was the ultimate 'honest' guitarist. simple yet melodious, busy and harmonic, knew how to create good old rock and roll.
Lyle S.

[lokakuunmaa]

Outside the list definitely Tony Iommi. In Black Sabbath he did the work of two.

[profitnow]

I'll go with Gary Richrath. I love the live version of Golden Country.

Charles
http://www.musicforte.com/member/profitnow

[Desire]

I would agree with Canderson on Phil Keaggy. I had the previlege of seeing him here in Toronto in Mar/93 at a local church I was attending. The guy was nothing short of amazing. He came on and did the whole show (approx 1.5 hours) with just an acoustic, no drummer, no other giutars, no bass! He held the crowd for the whole time and had them on their feet. Pretty amazing feat I would say. Also too I don't know if any are aware of this but the pinky finger of his fret hand is a stub finger, it's missing the end from the first joint just below the nail. If you listen to him you would never know it.

Cheers,
Desire