Who is your Guitar Hero?

[jte]

Hero as opposed to favorite or "best"...

Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Duane Allman for starters- I got a guitar for Christmas when I was about 13 or so, messed around but finally started taking lessons about a year and a half later. But about the time it got hard and my fingers hurt, and I'd discovered girls and cars I was ready to quit. But all on the same day...
A. My guitar teacher loaned me some records he thought were important. Among them were "Completely Well" by B. B. King and the greatest hits album by Cream.
B. My cousin sent me a cassette (this was around 1971) with "Retrospective" by Buffalo Springfield on one side and the Blind Faith Album on the other.
Needless to say, my whole worldview changed that day. I went back for my next lesson and was messing around with an electric guitar (something I'd never done at the store before) and my teacher asked why. I said "I heard this song called "Crossroads" and I want to learn to make those kinds of noises!"

The Clapton thing lead directly to Allman via "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs". When I heard Boz Skagg's recording of "Loan Me A Dime" from the Duane Allman Anthology I was hooked. I spent two years with "The History Of Eric Clapton" and "The Duane Allman Anthology" on my record changer (remeber those?). Reading up on Duane's and Eric's influences lead me to the King Family (Albert, BB, and Freddie), Robert Johnson, and then I was totally shaken again with Howlin' Wolf. In the meantime the whole Buffalo Springfield/CSNY/Poco/Byrds thing was rattling around in my head too, which lead me to Jefferson Airplane where "Embyronic Journey" had as much impact on me as did "Somebody To Love" and "Greasy Heart". Which of course lead to Hot Tuna!

So, after Duane, Eric, Stephen, and Neil it's Jorma. Then as I grew older and heard others, I came to really respect a few guitarists for their focus and determination. Neil Young STILL hits my heart with his naked emotion- hearing him rip (literally) the strings off Old Black in a fit of passion (e.g. the SNL clip of him doing "Keep On Rockin' In The Fee World") is so much more interesting than the zillion gnat notes a minute of the '80s shredders. "Quah" by Jorma Kaukonen still is one of the finest acoustic guitar albums ever. But now one of my heroes is Jeff Beck. Discarding the need for a vocalist allowed him to fully find HIS voice, and it's the most inspirational voice I've heard on guitar in my life.

John

Later

 

[bluesypicky]

Awwww...... I just found that little string of kind comments.... Thanks fellows!
How flattering to be thrown in the mix with the "real" Heroes! :lol:
And yes Coastie, this guitar is sweet, but the one used in the original take of the same tune isn't bad either.... 8)

jte: I'm with you on Jeff Beck. :wink:

 

[fused]

I don't have any well known guitar heros....
I have many unknowns... At least in the world stage...

In fact, to achieve my latest goals, I had to attempt to ignore and forget all of my heros....

Maybe thats what makes me somehow unique?

I try not to sound like anybody else... Just wanna sound like fused...

Ok ok... Theres some Vai, Satch, Negri, Carlton, Beck....in this old man previously known as fused.... Awe man, now I'm trying to forget me too :lol:

 

[idealassets]

-On LTG there seems to be quite a contrast in styles, mainly acoustic vs. electric. Then there are blues vs. folk, and on and on.

In view of that, I have a new lineup that I think covers all styles and both acoustic/ electric. My fav's, as always are not the "hottest" guitar players. So now I've voted 3 times.

1. Jorma
2. Roger McGuinn (no mention yet)
3. Neil Youg
4. Steve Stills

Craig

 

[Graham]

So many great ones already mentioned.

I'll add Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Reynolds particularly blows me away!

Two Step

Dreaming Tree (There is an ad at the beginning of this one. Written for one of Dave's band mates, Stefan Lessard, that lost his daughter to SIDS. 7/8 timing.)

Lie in Our Graves

 

[adorshki]

I try not to sound like anybody else... Just wanna sound like fused...

Now THAT'S true wisdom! FOLLOW YOUR OWN MUSE! BE TRUE TO YOUR INNER VOICE!
Nothing wrong with loving our heros, but in the end do we really want to sound "just like them", or are they the great inspirations for us to find our own voice?
THANKS fused. WISH I'D SAID THAT! :lol:

 

[bassmyf]

I know there has only been 66 posts in this thread as of yet, but am I really the only Richard Thompson fanatic here????

 

[fab467]

I try not to sound like anybody else... Just wanna sound like fused...

Now THAT'S true wisdom! FOLLOW YOUR OWN MUSE! BE TRUE TO YOUR INNER VOICE!
Nothing wrong with loving our heros, but in the end do we really want to sound "just like them", or are they the great inspirations for us to find our own voice?
THANKS fused. WISH I'D SAID THAT! :lol:

The problem is I do sound like me... :lol:

 

[fronobulax]

but am I really the only Richard Thompson fanatic here????

Possibly. I had to Google him. I remember hearing about Fairport Convention and Richard and Linda Thompson but I can't recall anything that either act performed or recorded.

 

[jte]

Richard Thompson....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAS4ltt7DzI

He takes this song, gets to the meat of it and utterly blows away the connection to Spears. Yeah, people laugh at the very beginning, but it only takes a few seconds to get past that and to hear Thompson treating the song's intent and not the commonly perceived media baggage. A brilliant example of how to do covers- reinvent it and find something new to bring to it, rather than lovingly regurgitate a specific recording.

John

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

:lol: :lol: That's from a musical tour thru history show he presents, 1000 Years of Popular Music...a bit different than his usual material.

Here he is fingerpicking one of his that he's known for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o

In electric band mode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5GshY7C ... re=related

and back to folk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79O0yfCi ... re=related

There's plenty more.

His acoustic is a Lowden.

And here's a priceless 3 part video instructional which has a little something for everyone here...includes some of your favorite guitarists...everybody say 'thank you, Mr. Thompson' :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ2pmCuA ... er&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMPSFxUp ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSj2Nf7l ... re=related

 

[jmac]

George Harrison

Not a great rock in roll guitarist back in the early Beatle era, but his playing on "till there was you" is beyond anything a guitarist in a pop band was playing. Likewise, his nylon string guitar work on "and I love her", given the era he was recording in, is inspired.

By using the electric 12 string Rickenbacker, he help usher in the folk-rock sound, and the countless recordings made in the 60's that used 12 string electric (arguably) can be traced back to him.

Then he brought the sound of the sitar to western music. How often has that sound been used in the decades that followed? Too many times to mention.

Eventually, (by Abbey Road) he had become a confident, competent lead guitarist (not to mention the first musician to use the synthesizer as more than a noise maker).

As a solo artist, his slide guitar work is as good as any studio pro, and his coupling of acoustic guitar with slide guitar lead became a regular sound on am radio hits through the mid seventies.

His later solo records are hit-and-miss as far as songs go, but he handles almost all of the guitar work himself. Like the "corporate rock" bands of the era, the playing is flawless, but unlike guys like Tom Schultz, it doesn't sound over-processed, and for the most part a novice guitarist can't play exactly the same just by having the right effect pedal.

Its too bad he didn't have faster fingers back in the early sixties, or later when he had become a confident guitarist, revisited his rockabilly roots with some great playing. If so, I think he'd have more respect. But if you see beyond those short-comings, you have (perhaps) of the most influential musicians in the rock era.

 

[adorshki]

George Harrison...
But if you see beyond those short-comings, you have (perhaps) of the most influential musicians in the rock era.

Oh there's a LOT of George Harrison fans around here. Helluva composer too. Technique? He knew EXACTLY how many notes were needed to what HE wanted to say. No more, no less.
Master of the pop single solo. More in 8 bars than some guys say in 128 these days.
The message: "How not to bury a good song with a bunch of noise".

 

[fab467]

George Harrison
Not a great rock in roll guitarist back in the early Beatle era, but his playing on "till there was you" is beyond anything a guitarist in a pop band was playing. Likewise, his nylon string guitar work on "and I love her", given the era he was recording in, is inspired.
By using the electric 12 string Rickenbacker, he help usher in the folk-rock sound, and the countless recordings made in the 60's that used 12 string electric (arguably) can be traced back to him.
Then he brought the sound of the sitar to western music. How often has that sound been used in the decades that followed? Too many times to mention.
Eventually, (by Abbey Road) he had become a confident, competent lead guitarist (not to mention the first musician to use the synthesizer as more than a noise maker).
As a solo artist, his slide guitar work is as good as any studio pro, and his coupling of acoustic guitar with slide guitar lead became a regular sound on am radio hits through the mid seventies.
His later solo records are hit-and-miss as far as songs go, but he handles almost all of the guitar work himself. Like the "corporate rock" bands of the era, the playing is flawless, but unlike guys like Tom Schultz, it doesn't sound over-processed, and for the most part a novice guitarist can't play exactly the same just by having the right effect pedal.
Its too bad he didn't have faster fingers back in the early sixties, or later when he had become a confident guitarist, revisited his rockabilly roots with some great playing. If so, I think he'd have more respect. But if you see beyond those short-comings, you have (perhaps) of the most influential musicians in the rock era.

+1...If you look back in this thread you'll find George is my #1 choice!

 

[jmac]

Hey fab 467,

I thought I had looked through them all, but obviously I missed your post.

SO....Let me agree with you.

jmac

 

[fab467]

Master of the pop single solo. More in 8 bars than some guys say in 128 these days.
The message: "How not to bury a good song with a bunch of noise".

Agree. He made the most of his solos with catchy, inspired playing!

Jangly 12 string in magnificent mono...

 

[fab467]

Hey fab 467,

I thought I had looked through them all, but obviously I missed your post.

SO....Let me agree with you.

jmac

jmac:

Not to worry. This is a long thread..... :shock:

But it's nice to discover that great minds think alike!

 

[Beat_Dominator]

Yeah Harrison isn't known for his "chops" and it's not really fair. He just didn't really exist in the same world as most guitarists.

I am surprised though, thought we might see a few more jazz people here, did anyone mention Django? He was Les Paul's hero :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

Here ya go Fabby....a very recent recording...... and they played this great ol' tune in Shreveport. Just incredible that these guys still do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkq64lCWOhE

West

 

[fab467]

Here ya go Fabby....a very recent recording...... and they played this great ol' tune in Shreveport. Just incredible that these guys still do this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkq64lCWOhE

West

West:

Thanks for the video. These guys still sound great! I saw them in I believe 1979 and again the next year @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and they were fabulous. I have a memory of 'new' lead guitarist John McFee playing his butt off while running maniacally up and down the aisles at SPAC!!
And they were loud, particularly at the 1980 show. My ears were ringing for days afterward, really! Shoulda brought ear protection... :lol:

It's so cool that they can continue to play at that skill (if not volume) level 30 + years later.... 8)