Who are your favorite five guitarists of all time?

**bobby d** · 01-14-2014, 12:16 PM

Too many, but some of my favs throughout my life.

Benson
Pass
Burrell
Montgomery
Emily Remler

Other than Jazz
Buzz Feiten
Chet Atkins
Jerry Reed
Les Paul
Jimi
Ronnie Earl
Albert Collins

**jdaguitar2** · 01-14-2014, 11:22 PM

Wes
Benson
Green
Martino
Gambale

**jazznewbie1319** · 01-15-2014, 01:05 AM

My second post on this site and admittedly i have just started to dig into jazz - that said my favorite guitarists of all time at this time would be:

1. Django Reinhardt - he is the guy that got me started in my study of Jazz

2. Tal Farlow - Ever since listening to him for the first time he has climbed the ladder very quickly that guy was incredible

3. Jim "The Reverend" Heath (from The Reverend Horton Heat) - not a "jazzer" per se though he has really tasteful style that encompasses a lot of styles that I am into.

4. Stevie Ray Vaughn - such a great blues player - makes it hard to listen to a lot of guys that came after him.

4. Joe "Jack" Talcum (The Dead Milkmen) - my first guitar idol or influence or whatever.

5. Wes Montgomery / Kenny Burrell / Joe Pass - the three i have gotten into listening to recently and am less familiar with but really love their sound especially Pass

Others would be

Brian Setzer

Charlie Christian

John Fruscante

Leadbelly

Chuck Berry

Big Bill Broonzy

Reverend Gary Davis

Chet Atkins

Luther Perkins

Robert Johnson

Dave Murray / Adrian Smith

Joe Strummer

The Edge

George Thorogood

==========================

I'm curious to see what the list looks like in the future however when i am more familiar with some of the greats i am discovering.

**imjoe** · 01-15-2014, 04:43 PM

I don't know how far you guys go back, but I think that you omitted the very best and nicest guy of them all.
Please listen to Johnny Smith on " You Tube".
He was a superb guitarist and one of the nicest people on the planet !!
Best of all: He possessed "humility".

**guildmann** · 01-15-2014, 05:21 PM

how could we forget Johnny Smith! the one the best ever

**silverfoxx** · 01-16-2014, 05:07 PM

Hi,
I don't think Johnny Smith has been forgotten, he was a truly great player,
I suggest that most contributors have shown their personal favourite Jazz
guitarists, the original question asked for five players.
There are dozens of legendary players from Django to Allan Holdsworth, you
could carry on ad infinitum.
The greatest influences on most of us ordinary mortals, are the ones who
spring to mind when a question like this arises. One regular contributor stated
that our tastes change as we age.. it is quite true as I was very intolerant of
certain styles in my youth but age has mellowed and broadened my listening.

kind regards
Silverfoxx

**imjoe** · 01-16-2014, 10:20 PM

Hello Silverfoxx:
I probably date back to a time line before many members in the Forum.
Other than being the consummate guitarist in all venues of guitar, be it
jazz, classical and so on, Johnny Smith was eager to help other players
regardless of their advancement level on the guitar.
Many years ago I wrote him a letter asking that he explain the best way to practice the material in his
book. He took time from his busy playing schedule to answer my letter.
He went into detail explaining a way to get the most value from the book, including
a way to improve learning jazz guitar in general. I wrote him that I didn't mean to impose on his
busy schedule. His answer was that it was his pleasure to offer me assistance.
I think that his humility is what propelled him forward to becoming one of the best guitarists
of his time.
Best regards, Joe

**ChuckCorbis** · 01-16-2014, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by imjoe

Hello Silverfoxx:
I probably date back to a time line before many members in the Forum.
Other than being the consummate guitarist in all venues of guitar, be it
jazz, classical and so on, Johnny Smith was eager to help other players
regardless of their advancement level on the guitar.
Many years ago I wrote him a letter asking that he explain the best way to practice the material in his
book. He took time from his busy playing schedule to answer my letter.
He went into detail explaining a way to get the most value from the book, including
a way to improve learning jazz guitar in general. I wrote him that I didn't mean to impose on his
busy schedule. His answer was that it was his pleasure to offer me assistance.
I think that his humility is what propelled him forward to becoming one of the best guitarists
of his time.
Best regards, Joe

Beautiful post. Thanks Joe.

**silverfoxx** · 01-17-2014, 04:57 AM

Hi Joe.
Thank you for your response, it is truly inspirational when great
players take time out for people like ourselves.
I too have been fortunate in a similar respect. My own Tutor ,who
had a Masters degree in Music,(Jazz ) taught me when I fell on hard
times , for free until I was able to get a job again,He also introduced
me (here in the UK) to Barney Kessel, & Joe Pass & Tal Farlow.
Joe was a super cool guy, totally unflappable, we had a seminar at my
Tutor"s house & Joe gave us each individual lessons. the things he
taught that day still remain with me.
We all appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet it would seem,
I am very glad I joined this Forum just a short while ago it has had
a rejuvenating effect, even though there has been very little time to pursue
my guitar playing for the last several years.

my very best wishes to you Joe
Silverfoxx.

**Jazz_175** · 01-26-2014, 07:52 AM

John Scofield
Pat Metheny
Wes Montgomery
Jim Hall
Jimi Hendrix

**princeplanet** · 01-26-2014, 10:29 AM

1. Wes Montgomery

2. Is
3. There
4. Anyone
5. Else?

**lebarbier** · 01-27-2014, 06:06 PM

1-Tal Farlow
2-Django Reinhardt
3-Charlie Christian
4- George Barnes
5- Junior Barnard
...Yep, That will do it.

**bob dullam** · 01-28-2014, 12:05 PM

Mine are(house hold names):
1.Tal Farlow
2. Lenny breau
3. Wes M.
4. Joe pass
5. Pat martino
6. George Benson

I collect as many vids, books, etc. of these guys as I can find.

some of my lesser famous favorites.
1. Peter Mazza
2. Joe diorio
that's it for now, but am constantly listening for guys with something I like.

**janepaints** · 01-28-2014, 01:13 PM

Tastes and 'what's stuck in my ears' change & shift...and five is too limiting...but in no particular order

1. grant green
2. SOME john mclaughlin
3. charlie christian
4. SOME tom verlaine/richard lloyd (television)
5. SOME sonny sharrock
6. SOME bill frissell
7. SOME leni stern
8. boogaloo joe jones
9. guitarists in james brown's combos
10. robert wilkins
11. bert jansch
12. django
13. howard alden
14. andy summers
15. wes montgomery
16. all the guitarists i've heard on african pop/jazz recordings
17. SOME james blood ulmer

oops, almost forgot...only learned of him recently, but first impression is "WOW!": ernest ranglin