Who is your Guitar Hero?

[fronobulax]

Well, I'll throw out Frank Zappa while acknowledging there is a reason "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar" was a good title and theme for a series of albums.

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)

Small world. They hauled (my) school classes to SPAC to see the New York City Ballet when it first opened. I saw the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra a lot and sang in a chorus in a couple of concerts conducted by Eugene Ormandy, all at SPAC. I remember seeing Jefferson Airplane and B.B. King and numerous other bands, that aren't important enough to remember 40 years later, at SPAC before I left the area in the mid-'70's. I find it amusing that the Doobie Brothers clip you posted is from Wolf Trap which is local now.

 

[powerwagonjohn]

I am in for FZ, Ry Cooder and Jerry Garcia but my infulances are many and a top pick could and will change daily! I will be seeing Jeff Beck in a couple of weeks and I bet that week he will be on top of my list. Next month I will see Robin Trower and then I can guess who my pick will be that week. This comming Dec. the wife and me are going on the Rock Legends cruse with ZZ top and a couple of my all time biggest influances, Johnny and Edgar Winter. Plus the cruse will have a dozen other great bands. So much great music so little time!!!
PS: any one here going on the cruse?
Thanks John

 

[dreadnut]

I saw the Doobs in '73 at San Diego Sports Arena, REO opened the show, it was a rocker of a concert! My best bud in the Navy was from Visalia, CA, he said "Yeah I know Tom Johnston, he went to my school and my sister's dating him." I'm thinkin', yeah right...then his sister married Tom (and some years later they got divorced.) At any rate, one of my favorite all time bands, saw them at a smaller local venue a couple years ago but they didn't do my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF6vl8mP2Ic

 

[adorshki]

Well, I'll throw out Frank Zappa while acknowledging there is a reason "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar" was a good title and theme for a series of albums.

Another one I neede to be reminde d about!
That guy is in the same class as Hendrix and Beck. And undoubtedly in the same wing in the great palace upstairs. :wink:

 

[bluesypicky]

That guy is in the same class as Hendrix and Beck.

Agreed. On the creativity front, those 3 have opened the doors for many, and many more to come.

 

[geoguy]

I think I'm too old to have a guitar "hero", but over the years I've especially enjoyed listening to music from:

Duane Allman
Jerry Garcia
Guy Van Duser
Johnny A
Richard Thompson
Tommy Emmanuel

Have had the good fortune to see almost all of them perform in concert at least once (Duane Allman being the one exception).

And we'll see Jeff Beck this weekend in Boston, with Imelda May . . . that should be a good time.

Jeff & Imelda - Sitting on Top of the World

(edited to add a better link)

 

[idealassets]

As of today, 3/24 here is a tally of LTG votes:

1. Richard Thompson
2. Duane Allman (3 way tie)
Jerry Garcia
Jorma Kaukonan
3. John Cipollina (10 way tie)
Eric Clapton
George Harrison
Warren Hanes
Leo Kottke
Carlos Santana
Steve Stills
Merle Travis
Dan Tyminski
Doc Watson

Its instersting that there is a folk artist in #1, and a combination of mainly blues or psychodelic for #2 & #3. Perhaps that's indicative of who owns, or likes Guild out there in guitar-land. -Craig.

 

[Walter Broes]

There are too many guitar players that I love to list, but "my heroes" as in people who's music I've picked apart and tried to steal some of their licks and tone would be Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Merle Travis, Grady Martin, James Burton, Link Wray, Johnny Guitar Watson, T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Duane Eddy, Scotty Moore, Hollywood Fats, Jimmie and Stevie Vaughan, Pops Staples, Mickey Baker, and Muddy Waters.

And while I never sat down with his records and tried to steal his licks, Dave Gonzalez of the Paladins was a big inspiration for wanting a band that mixes up almost all the American music people refer to as "roots music" with some kind of cool Rockabilly aesthetic about it - and I obviously agree with his taste in gear, though I actually prefer the slightly more plain-jane looks of my X175's to his Deluxe X500's.

Some other current players I like a lot are Buddy Miller, Marc Ribot, Jim Campilongo, Eddie Angel, Deke Dickerson, Gordie Johnson, Rick Holmstrom, and Rick Miller of SCOTS.

 

[adorshki]

Its instersting that there is a folk artist in #1, and a combination of mainly blues or psychodelic for #2 & #3. Perhaps that's indicative of who owns, or likes Guild out there in guitar-land. -Craig.

You mean there's HIPPIES on this here board?! :shock: :lol:

 

[fearless]

Its instersting that there is a folk artist in #1, and a combination of mainly blues or psychodelic for #2 & #3. Perhaps that's indicative of who owns, or likes Guild out there in guitar-land. -Craig.

You mean there's HIPPIES on this here board?! :shock: :lol:

I noticed I was the only one who alluded to anything from punk/reggae-punk era :lol:

 

[idealassets]

Yes,
Of the punk/ grunge genre I suggest (previosly unlisted on LTG):

1. David Byrne, Talking Heads
2. Elvis Costello
3. Kurt Cobaine

Now hows that for "un-Guild" guitarists. But then again check out this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTDZYAicZU&feature=related

I can definately detect that 'Guild sound" played on this innovative version of a prior electric song by Talking Heads.

Craig

 

[fronobulax]

Its instersting that there is a folk artist in #1, and a combination of mainly blues or psychodelic for #2 & #3. Perhaps that's indicative of who owns, or likes Guild out there in guitar-land. -Craig.

You missed Frank Zappa with at least two mentions :wink:

Actually I think what it really shows is the demographics of LTG. I think any web site frequented by devotees of an acoustic guitar are going to favor musicians who also play acoustic guitar. And when those devotees are of a certain age then you are going to get a lot of "folkies". I'd go so far as to suggest that the only reason there are non-folkies on the list is because Guild also made basses and electrics. If we reran the poll and separated the results based upon which types of Guilds are owned and/or which types of music are being played today the results would probably be consistent and predictable. Of course there are players like Jorma whose skill is acknowledged in several genres, but...

 

[fearless]

David Byrne playing a 5-string Guild, no less!

 

[adorshki]

David Byrne playing a 5-string Guild, no less!

I gotta go pull out my VHS of "Stop Making Sense" and see what he used on "Psycho Killer"!
I'm a T-Heads fan too. While Byrne's not a real techno thriller, I really love some of his compositions, especially "Once in a Lifetime", and "Don't Worry About the Government".
Which made me think of MTV and another one of my heroes who did a stint with the Heads, as well as Zappa and King Crimson, and had MTV's very first Video of the Year award:
Adrian Belew with "Lone Rhinocerous".
Back on the grunge front, Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam's no slouch and there's a legitimate Guild connection with Eddie Vedder having frequently sported a Guild acoustic but the model eludes me at the moment.
Lets' not forget Soundgarden's Kim Thayil working out his S-100(s) either.

 

[fronobulax]

I gotta go pull out my VHS of "Stop Making Sense" and see what he used on "Psycho Killer"!

Looks like a Martin unless there is some other brand that has a straight line pretending to be the profile of the top of the headstock.

 

[adorshki]

I gotta go pull out my VHS of "Stop Making Sense" and see what he used on "Psycho Killer"!

Looks like a Martin unless there is some other brand that has a straight line pretending to be the profile of the top of the headstock.

Although you took some of the anticipation out of it, I DO appreciat not having to cue up.
But hey, waitaminnit..you have "Stop Making Sense"?! :shock:
Naaahhh....I bet you just googled for it on Utube. :wink:

 

[idealassets]

Frono, I read about everything that you post. Hopefully soon I might also be a bass player. I'm looking at aGuild starfire II, Rickenbacker 4003, & Ibanez 500 to buy right now. To address the recent LTG votes Zappa is in 4th place tie with (I did not count my double votes):

Chet Atkins
Jeff Beck
Charlie Christain
Ry Cooder
Gary Davis
Doyle Dykes
Tommy Emanuel
Don Felder
Billy Gibbons
Jimi Hendrix
Lonnie Johnson
Gary Moore
Joe Pass
Steveie Ray Vaughn
T-Bone Walker
Neil Young

Certainly not in a "real world" order of whos who in guitars. Read my next post. -Craig

 

[idealassets]

I have recently re-discovered David Byrne due to my quest for songs to play at jams and gigs. In Stop Making Sense the flick opens with him on a Martin D35 (which he makes sound great)

In earlier versions 1975-79 Heads usually used a Gibson acoustic 12 string for lead w/rhythm on a Fender Strat. In later versions both guitarists are using the Strat.

For your viewing pleasure and some wierd stuff check out these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pCZ5E5tn4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnu3TqDKXZY

Craig

 

[killdeer43]

I have recently re-discovered David Byrne due to my quest for songs to play at jams and gigs. In Stop Making Sense the flick opens with him on a Martin D35 (which he makes sound great)
Craig

Interesting to watch/listen to. Too bad the A/V is out of synch. :?

Joe

 

[skinny]

I also have waaayy too many guitar "heros" that I've been influenced by,one way or another, but I'll hopefully add some new ones to the list.
Since I've played blues, and the like, most of my adult life I'll list some usual suspects and then anything goes 8)
The Elder Statesmen: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Robert Lockwood Jr., Hubert Sumlin, The Kings:B.B., Albert & Freddie, Albert Collins, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush.
Some Contemporaries: The Vaughn Brothers, Junior Watson, Duke Robillard, Alex Schultz, Rick Holmstrom, Kid Ramos.
The "others" : Danny Gatton, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Frank Zappa, Brian May, Wes Montgomery, Junior Brown, Buddy Miller,
Chet Atkins, Mark Ribot.
Anyways thats who comes to mind right now, or thats whos on the ipod :lol:

skinny