Most Influential Guitarist

[Fresh Tendrils]

I'm not talking about the greatest player, the most creative, or the more technically advanced guitarist. I'm curious who everybody thinks was/is the single most influential guitarist.

[bball_1523]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

probably jimi hendrix, even though I draw just about no influence from him, but almost everyone recognizes guitars with jimi

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

I'm not talking about the greatest player, the most creative, or the more technically advanced guitarist. I'm curious who everybody thinks was/is the single most influential guitarist.

Do you want us to say Robert Johnson?

Anyway, Hendrix, then King Edward Van Halen. No person influenced more people to pick up the guitar then these two, about a decade apart from eachother. Their contemporaries all say the same thing about the first time they heard each guitarist. They had never heard anything like it, they went home and rethought their playing, etc. Read through any current guitar magazine that might do a poll like this with famous guitarists, and the answers that you will see the most are EVH and Jimi.

And just to add, I don't think that the guitar was truly completely realized until Jimi Hendrix. So one could say anyone from Robert Johnson to Chuck Berrry, but it wasn't really until the mid 60's that guitarists realized what the guitar, and more importantly the electric guitar, could do.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen have to be the best.

One guy that doesn't get the respect that he deserves......Angus Young (AC/DC)

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Do you want us to say Robert Johnson?

I want you to say whatever you think, not what I think.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

I want you to say whatever you think, not what I think.

I was just messing with ya. Cool avatar.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

I was just messing with ya. Cool avatar.

Thanks. I didn't have that many options, lol.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

I guess answering just what you asked, I would have to go with Hendrix. Anyone who can knock the likes of Clapton, Beck, Page, Harrison and the other British guitar gods on their backsides the way that he did, and single-handedly inspire the use of feedback and various pedals has to be influential.

[Diadem]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

George Benson, He's the only person I know of who sings directly on key with his guitar.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Personally, I think if someone wants to aspire to be great on guitar, then they should watch/listen to Stevie Ray Vaughn. My opinion: he is hands-down the greatest ever. Obviously there are other valid candidates, and I can definetely see why people have their preferences, but for me, there is no one else...

[SPTO]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Chuck Berry

[Stu]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Just to name a couple that havnt been named yet: Muddy Waters and BB King

[Renogar]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

I don't think there is a single most influential guitarist. There are simply so many guitarists that people draw from. Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn. All have been mentioned and I think you could make a very solid arguement for any of them being the most influential.

I would like to throw in a few of the most influential of recent years. Its sad that the older guys already mentioned aren't listed as influences by the younger generation guitarists (heck, most of them don't even know who the likes of Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters are), but here are three guys who were highly influenced by the above people and have gone on to really shape the styles of current rockers: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn. All have been mentioned and I think you could make a very solid arguement for any of them being the most influential.

I agree, however, all of those you listed have been influenced by the same man: Robert Johnson. Hell, most guitarists are influenced by Mr. Johnson, they just do not realize it.

[Ger]

Re: Most Influential Guitarist

No one has had a greater impact as a guitarist than Jimi Hendrix. end of story.