Who is the Most Underrated Guitarist?

[Digam11]

Nils Lofgren :AOK

[Dr Git]

1) Paul Gilbert

2) Guthrie Govan

3) Nick Moroch

[padavis]

Doc Watson.. maybe not he's pretty well respected but the others for sure!!!
Cody Kilby
Tim Stafford
Ron Block
Ray Flacke

[mbruffey]

I haven't read all 10 pages but Scotty Anderson
Ditto on Scotty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au67PyVSHPg
LMark

[Rdahmen]

vernon reid

[arfalax]

Jimmy Messina....Fender clean God

Michael Hedges....acoustic freak of nature who was brilliant and inventive

Bob Weir....vastly underrated contribution guitar wise to GD's sound, he has a devilish style of rhythm with lead mojo

Son Seals....great Chicago blues guitarist

[oh.my]

Did anyone mention Tom Verlaine yet?

[rosscoep]

Marc Ribot!
Sonny Sharrock
Derek Bailey
Jim Campilongo

[Jon C]

probably someone none of us has heard of.

[Uniphasian]

David Grissom

[jcoggins7]

+1000 David Grissom

[demiruyar]

Erkan Ogur

[dorianadams]

Rick Derringer
Kenny Vaughn
Denny Diaz

[dayn]

me.

[tonecat]

Rick Vito - former Fleetwood Mac, Bob Segar, Jackson Brown
Drew Zingg - with Boz scaggs and Steely Dan check him out (youtube)
Neil Schon - his early involvement in Santanas band (amazing)
Buzz Feiten - innovative exciting and a sense of humor

[Gasp100]

+1 Neal Schon
+1 Trevor Rabin
+1 Michael Hedges
+1 Andy Summers
+ Alex Lifeson
+1000 on Ty Tabor of King's X

[wrxplayer]

Keying on the word "underrrated," I'd have to say Paul Kossoff, Peter Green, Joe Walsh, Tommy Bolin, George Harrison, the Edge, Ritchie Blackmore, John McLaughlin, Django Reinhardt, Martin Barre.

[zoso19]

zappa

[A-Bone]

vernon reid

I'll second that idea. I'd put him on the short list of criminally underrated players with Marc Ribot, Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo...

[wrxplayer]

I love Tommy Bolin! Great songwriter and guitarist- Both Teaser and Private Eyes are still in rotation on the disc changer. He spread himself a little thin during those days he was doing his solo stuff and playing with DP at the same time. A shame we never got to see him fully develop.

If you're not familiar with it, check out Billy Cobham's Spectrum album. Great guitarwork by Bolin on it.

[anibas]

Who deserves more props, press, respect, awareness? To make this list, the guitarist must have chops, be a stylistic influence on players, and not have gotten wide recognition or reward from the general public. I will start off with:

Danny Gatton
Alan Holdsworth
Charlie Christian
Johnny Smith
Ernie Isley
All of those guys deserve better,and I would add Jimmy Herring and Ty Tabor as well.

[Alabama Blues]

Luther Allison. Listen to "Cherry Red Wine" on Live in Paris and marvel how he stays on the edge at all times. Amazing.

[bluesmain]

Cool thread.. so many great players

[bluesmain]

Remembering Luther Allison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfUxaEVP9N8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOcNlQ-FGbw


Luther Allison. Listen to "Cherry Red Wine" on Live in Paris and marvel how he stays on the edge at all times. Amazing.

[SgtShaK]

The Most underrated?

That would be me... I not very good, but it would still be cool to get "credit" for trying ;)

[mfolet]

Terry Kath from Chicago and Rick Witkowski from Crack The Sky.

[Bodhisattva]

Did anyone mention Tom Verlaine yet?


+1 on Tom Verlaine!

Richard Lloyd too for that matter

[Birddog]

As a die-hard REO fan (flame me, whatever), I gotta say Gary Richrath. If you listen to Hi-Infidelity and especially the pre Hi-Infidelity days, he did more with a Marshall and Les Paul than many of his contemporaries. He tried really hard to keep rock & roll alive during the dark (disco) years. The band is known for their power ballads, but had some really ballsy guitar playing 'back in the day' thanks to Gary. I remember hearing an interview where he said "we're one of the last rock & roll bands", and he was right. Wonderful tone, and tasteful playing.

(His replacement, Dave Amato, is no slouch either).

[jbbusybee]

I always thought Ian Crichton from the Prog group Sags was great in fact he was a big influence in me picking up a guitar in the first place. I never hear him mentioned even by guitarists!

[Bodhisattva]

Mick Box from Uriah Heep is one that i haven't seen mentioned very much.

[pickaguitar]

Jason Hayes

[david henman]

...jack white, absolutely.

-dh

[smorgdonkey]

Steve Morse...absolutely incredible.

[BluesRocker]

Terry Kath from Chicago and Rick Witkowski from Crack The Sky.

Wow... Crack The Sky ! Haven't heard them mentioned in years, what a great band of the mid-to-late 70s...

Per the topic, how about Roger Steen of the Tubes?

As for a more recent mention... Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) of Ween.

[Cvt]

Is this most under rated or most unkown.....I have not heard of half these guys being posted. I am young but not that young. By the way who provided the ratings?...a certain magazine named after a tumbling rock tried the top 100 players of all time and guys like EJ and Steve Morse I don't think were even on the list. Jack White Whaaa? your kidding....is that like Kurt Cobane as #3 in Tumbling Rock mag? what is the criteria for a great player? we may as well post what is the most under rated religion...no?

Howza bout:
1. Doyle Bramhall
2. Derek Trucks
3. Dan Huff
4. Joe Bonamassa
5. Mike Landau
6. Tommy Emmanuel
7. Vince Gill
8. Brent Mason
9. Josh Smith
10. Jeff Snider
11. Doyle Dykes
13. That guy filling in for Don Felder??
14. Tony Furtado
15. Andy Mckee
16. Tuck Andress
17. Kelly Joe Phelps
18. Jeff Kohlman
19. Shawn Lane
20. John Mayer...I'll stop!!

Are these guys rated yet I am sure most have heard of these guys...if so I never hear their names with the likes of Page, Beck, Van Halen, Hendrix etc....so maybe it is who is the most unkown players??? maybe...dunno!

[datguytim]

Blackbyrd McKnight
Elliot Easton
Dr. Know (Gary)
Ron Wood

[Scooter]

Sonny Landreth

+1000

[Sniper-V]

I'm a big fan of Kyle Cook.

Killer Chops!

Great tone in the fingers!

[buddatron]

Eddie Hazel !! Oh Maggot Brain

David Lindley.

Jerry Douglas.

Bruce Cockburn.

Tony Rice.

[HoboMan]

Burton Averre

[Paul Conway]

Leroy Bonner
Tawl Ross
Garry Shider
Bruno Speight
Teenie Hodges
Phelps Collins
Alfonzo Kellum
Tony Maiden
Joao Mota
Djelimady Tounkara
Diblo Dibala
Bartolemy Attiso
The guys in Jaojoby (sorry - no names recalled....)
Debashish Bhattacharya
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (such a great songwriter and arranger, too..)
Chuck Prophet
Robert Quine
John McLaughlin

[Mike Duncan]

Gibb Droll.

[elroostars]

Brendan Obrien...check out some Dan Baird solo records
and while I'm at it....
Dean DeLeo, Butch Walker, and Rich Robinson/Marc Ford....not guitar-heroes, but supreme rock guitarists still doing it the old fashion way...with taste, good gear, and feel.

[Mojosupreme]

I agree Marc Ford is such a tasteful player with awesome tone.
His solo work is great. Excellent song writer.

[Fixxxer]

brad whitford

[Guitarnotsoguru]

OK. I was reading one of the "Guitar" magazines top 100 of all time and no mention of Steve Lukather of TOTO. Come on. This guy is totally underrated. He probably has been on more albums than you know moreso than anyone else.

[charley]

+1 on Bobby Weir

[Kalalau Hiker]

Gibb Droll.

+11111
I saw Gibb TOTALLY tear it up opening for, and then playing with Marc Broussard ... it was DEF a WHO the FxxK is THIS guy moment!

VERY soulful and NOT a SRV clone.

His own CD I got - didn't like as much... was very nice ... but live he slayed.

[eddie101]

God, by just looking at this thread alone, one can pretty much ascertain that it is SO HARD to make it in music business. :jo

[Slideman]

Buck Dharma! -- Melody, Feel and Speed rolled into one -- not to mention he's been making music/albums for over 35 years with BOC.

[cameron]

Roy Wood get lots of credit for being a great songwriter, and amazing multi-instrumentalist. Lots of people forget that his main instrument is guitar, and that he's a really great player.

[Rosewood]

I don't even know if he IS under-rated but I just have to say Jack Pearson, never seen anything like him.

[supar6]

I'd add Chris Duarte as well to that list.

[joeysmac]

I'm under-rated...for sho

[Rossl]

John Stowell
Joe Diorio
Lenny Breau
Harry Leahy
Ted Greene
Reggie Young
Sam Brown
Hubert Sumlin
"Pops" Staples
Michael Gregory Jackson
Blind Willie Johnson
James Burton
Magic Sam
Mick Goodrick
Attila Zoller

+1 on Johnny Smith & Lindsey Buckingham, definitely

About two dozen more guys are going to pop in my head as soon as I send this....

Harry Leahy, was a great person AND player. Was luck enough to study with him for 2+ years. The best part of the lesson was listening to him play some examples of the lesson

[jjboogie]

Al Anderson of The Wailers who still tour....that dude is sick!
Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac
Bruce Conte who did a lot of early Tower of Power stuff....phenomenal player
David Spinozza New York Session cat who has worked with tons of folks!
Sean Costello kid prodigy...unbelievable player
Oliver Wood of King Johnson and The Wood Brothers finesse and soul
Danny "Mudcat" Dudek..... finger picking and slide....Great gut bucket blues player
Jimmy Vivino who plays guitar for The Max Weinberg Seven....Conan Obrien's Band

I know there are tons more who could easily be named.....those are a few off the top of my head.....please check them out when you have the time! You won't be dissapointed

[pedalcr8z]

Haven't read all 21 pages.........sorry if they've been mentioned........

Paul Simon & Stephen Stills come to mind in the acoustic world.

[digthosetubes]

Who deserves more props, press, respect, awareness? To make this list, the guitarist must have chops, be a stylistic influence on players, and not have gotten wide recognition or reward from the general public. I will start off with:

Danny Gatton
Alan Holdsworth
Charlie Christian
Johnny Smith
Ernie Isley

Pete Townshend. Man oh man.

[shredtrash]

Doug Aldrich
John Sykes
Audley Freed

[Monroe]

Pete Townsend
Elliot Easton
Cliff Gallup
Rick Derringer
Keith Richards
Hiram Bullock
Jennifer Batten
Michael Katon
George Harrison
John Lennon
Steve Miller
Mick Ralphs
Mick Taylor
Danny Baker (Unknown Hinson)
Sorry if I repeated any... now how about a list for most over-rated???

[JSeth]

Mick Abrams (original Jethro Tull / Blodwyn Pig)
Jim Messina
Roy Buchanon
Jim Hall
Tuck Andress
Ed Bickhart
David Bromberg
Amos Garrett

[teleman55]

Keith Richards
Mike Bloomfield
Vince Gill
Steve Jones
Paul McCartney

[JMarck]

Julien Kasper
Josh Smith

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Buck from BOC :BEER

[GregoryL]

Curtis Mayfield
Daniel Lanois

[Flying v]

David Rawlings who plays with Gillian Welsh.

[randy alameda]

:BluesBros
Tim Pierce, LA studio cat, "world's greatest unknown guitarist" ...moved from Albuquerque to LA, and to quote him he "never gets to see the Sun"

[Axemeister]

Audley Freed
Richard Fortus

[johneeeveee]

Elliott Smith
Most people just think of him as a great songwriter, but when he was at the top of his game he was one badass guitar player.

[Guitar Slinger6]

Wherever you rate this guy, even if it was #1, he'd still be underrated


Johnny Winter

I seen Johnny about 17 years ago. He toar it up! Humbuggin, Illistrated man, Divin Duck,.. the guy is awesome.

[johneeeveee]

David Rawlings who plays with Gillian Welsh.

Oh... Hell yeah! Gillian is great, but without Dave, I wouldn't find her material nearly as interesting. He is the consumate embellisher.

Thanks for the reminder - jv

[JSeth]

more...
Dave Mason
Robben Ford
Derek Trucks
Lowell George
my friend Greg Leisz (guitar/pedal steel/dobro)

[zep41]

Glenn Schwartz. Possibly the best guitarist I've ever seen. Its a shame he ist mentioned in the same sentence as Clapton, Hendrix, Beck, Page, and Allman.

http://www.clevescene.com/2004-12-08/news/lord-of-the-strings/

[Dan-o]

Todd Rundgren

[Dan-o]

Todd!

[Ed DeGenaro]

Ray Gomez!

[erplander]

Martin Barre
Denny Diaz
Ernest Ranglin
Ed Wynne
Phil Miller
Dean Ween
Habib Koite
Gary Green
Ralph Towner
Steve Tibbets
Brett Kull
Jimmy Robinson
Glenn Phillips
Reverend Horton Heat

[Faustine Amps]

Ray Gomez!

Yeah! I haven't kept up with his career lately but I was really knocked out by his playing back in the seventies with Stanley Clark and Jochim Kuhn. His modal solo on "School Days" was one of the coolest, most twisted solos I had ever heard at the time (76 or 77?)!

Another guitarist who isn't necessarily underrated (at least not by those who've heard him), but certainly under-exposed is the great Aussie guitarist Brett Garsed.

Regards,
Tim

[Goldstrat]

1.Donald Roeser- aka "Buck Dharma"
He is from Blue Oyster Cult and I think he was doing the shred fast stuff sooner and better than most of the famous hairband guys.

2.Bernard Allison- He has some nice Blues licks and so does his dad Luther.

3. Jimmy D. Lane- another unknown blues player. His dad was Jimmy Rodgers and he grew up hanging out with Muddy, Hubert and many other great Bluesmen.

4. Derek Trucks- until the recent Crossroads festival. That guy is amazing with or without a slide in his hand.

5. Steve Gaines-one of the best but way to short of a career.

[xxooliver]

Steve Hackett -always plays for the song, and has so many tricks up his sleeve.
George Benson -yeah, he's had huge success, but what an amazing player!
Bruce Cockburn -understated and very inventive technique.
Amos Garrett -his solo on "Midnight at the Oasis" may be the tastiest ever.
Lindsey Buckingham -how does he do it?
Denny Diaz
Grant Geissman
Django Reinhardt
Franco Mussida

[JMG]

Ricky Wilson of The B52s.

[Rocco Siffredi]

Eric Gales and Barry Richman

I gotta agree with you on Barry. The guy is a freak on guitar who can cover so many styles. Super nice guy to boot.

[joek86]

Larry Reinhardt (aka El Rhino)
Loved him in Captain Beyond!

Joe

[joek86]

Mel Galley------Trapeze------You Are The Music, We're Just The Band

[solphilcox]

Chris Cain
Jim Campilongo
Doug Pettibone
Audley Freed
Scotty Anderson

just to name a few

[TheRockDoc]

Did someone else mention Roy Clark? 'cause I will if no one else anty-ups :)

[FlyingDutchman]

Tom Morello...The Nightwatchman

[G&L Player]

Carl Verheyen
Sonny Landreth
John Norum
Reb Beach
James Honeyman-Scott from the Pretenders
Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier from Moe
Jimmy Herring
Dan Toler
Greg Howe
Vinnie Moore
and the guy I could listen to all day, but never really seemed to breakthrough in the US
Michael Schenker - Lights Out in London Live....jst fantastic tone and feel.

[Evilmusician80]

Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem ) wicked player and melodic too !
Jagor Tanna -I Mother Earth -awesome player ,writter,and his use of effects is mastery !
There are lots great guitar players out there check some different stuff out!

[G&L Player]

Ed Bickert
Ronnie Earl
Warren Demartini
Jake E Lee
Jerry Cantrell
Jimmy Bruno
Nori Bucci
Reb Beach
Bill Hullet
Scotty Anderson

[Digby]

Frank Zappa. And before you dare say he was widely acknowledged, spend a day asking people you know what they think or know about him, let alone his unique and idiosyncratic guitar playing. You'll mostly get "Oh, the "Valley Girl" guy?"

+1 for Lyle Workman

Andy Partridge of XTC. Widely known, especially in Britain, but not for his guitar playing.

Same with Glen Difford of Squeeze. Saw them live some years back and the guy was really impressive.

[mtmartin71]

People either love or hate The Edge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Edge). But no one can deny that he created a new vocabulary for the guitar. Never when you are listening to him do you think; "I wonder who this guitar player is?" And never a wasted note.

Always plays to the song and not to his ego.

Marty Willson-Piper (http://www.myspace.com/martywillsonpiper) from the Church. Jangly, melodic and awesome. Listen to the way they weave on the song "Reptile" (from Starfish) - there isn't a single guitar chord played in the whole song. It's a Rickenbacker and a Vox but it doesn't sound Beatle-y at all!

Danny Ott. (http://www.guitardoctorwest.com/) He should be a household name. But he ain't. I've only seen his name in print once and it was in the Orange County Weekly's "Best of Orange County" issue. It was #1 - Junior Watson, #2 Dick Dale, #3 Danny Ott, #4 Rusty Anderson, #5 Matt Barnes. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Whether he's playing a flying V or a Gretsch C.G. He is simply amazing.

I think The Edge is underrated by fellow guitarists who probably frown on his economy of notes, but I don't think he's underrated by the general music fan. Didn't he win every "Best Guitarist" award from Rolling Stone for most of the 80's and early 90s?

[Yngtchie]

Django ReinhardtUnderrated? :confused:

[bjjp2]

Can't remember if I posted already in this 3 year old thread, but off the top of my head:

Marshall Crenshaw
Johnny Thunders
Ace Frehley
John Fogerty
Alex Chilton
Debbie Davies
Andy Gill
Bob Stinson
Mick Jones (Clash)

[Digby]

Ace Frehley


There is a reason why in this case...

Digby

[Gas-man]

Can you be "Under-rated" if you have appeared on the COVER of various guitar magazines?

John Fogerty was on the cover of Guitar Player last month, for example.

Reb Beach used to grace the cover of Guitar For the Practicing Teenager.

People's understanding of "under-rated" befuzzles me sometimes.

[KBR]

Albert Collins and Kenny Blue Ray

[ripvanwinkle]

some underrated players on my list:

Mike Campbell
Elliott Easton
Billy Corgan
Mark Kendall
John Frusciante
Ty Tabor
Mark Knopfler (maybe a stretch)
Neil Schon (probably a stretch)

[bjjp2]

There is a reason why in this case...

Digby

See, that's the mark of a truly "underrated" guy.

[Captain Midnite]

Billygoat. He lives in my town. 70 years old, Telewhacker, Line 6 amp, excellent country player and singer and for decades. Maybe we need a separate thread for local heroes....

[Guitar Slinger6]

Bonnie Rait

[playon]

...and Kenny Blue Ray

:rolleyes:

[OldSchool]

Albert Collins and Kenny Blue Ray


I gotta admit........my man Kenny is pretty underrated! Definitely one of the most recorded Musicians on TGP anyhow.

But my award for most underrated Guitarist goes to Peter Green. People don't give him 1/2 the respect he deserves. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon14.gif

[torgeot]

Dave Meniketti

[Gas-man]

I gotta admit........my man Kenny is pretty underrated! Definitely one of the most recorded Musicians on TGP anyhow.



And humble.

:Spank

[OldSchool]

Dave Meniketti

Ya think? I LOVE Y&T. But I bought his solo blues CD and was less the inspired. He tried to pull off a Gary Moore Rock /Blues thing but it came out as more of a wank fest to me. His tone was too metal to pull off any blues.

[OldSchool]

And humble.

:Spank


They don't come anymore humble my friend. Its called a Joke..........:nono

[gtr777]

my list would be:
Audley Freed
Neil Geraldo
Gary Richrath
Elliot Easton
Tim Pearce

[Category 5]

Jimmy Thackery - technically there with anyone, great song writer and has paid the dues. Still innovating and writing great tunes. A guitar player's guitar player.


DonR

[fiddler]

Jorma Kaukonen

Doc Watson

[jrm]

David Rhodes

[GA19RVT]

Gotta be Dave Gonzalez.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Buck Darhma
Joe Perry
Joe Walsh
Steve Gaines

[playon]

Jesse Ed Davis

[mc5nrg]

http://www.brookhavenrecords.com/Mar11~09.JPG

Necessary mention of
Fred "Sonic" Smith

How about David Sancious?

[Spudman]

Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings

[s2khawk]

Mike from Dada and Neil from benatar...and me

[Home Grown Tele]

Danny Weis
Doug Hastings
Buzz Feiten
Kal David
Steve Hunter
Dick Wagner
Steve Winwood
Ike Turner

and on and on................................

[KBR]

Albert King, Albert Collins, Doyle Bramhall II, John Lee Hooker, Magic Sam,
Otis Rush, Eric Clapton & Peter Green.
All Great Players, Elmo James, too.

[Gas-man]

Hendrix, SRV, Vai, Brent Mason, Andres Segovia...some day these guys will get their due credit.

[PrestonBrick]

philip sayce!

[jads57]

Too many to list but here are a few that come to mind. Buzzy Feiton, Paul Jackson Jr., Cornell Dupree, Lucky Peterson( keyboards too!), Taj Mahal, Jesse Ed Davis, Jimmy Johnson (Chicago bluesman) Drew Zing, etc.

[fenderball]

somebody must have mentioned JERRY GARCIA....and ROBBIE ROBERTSON

[jgnov99]

Without a doubt, Jesse Ed Davis and Peter Green are among the most underrated, but the MOST underrated would be ALL of the Blues guys that came before. Famous, Semi-famous, Local, Unknown, or Infamous, if not for these guys most of the aforementioned players in this thread would have been swabbin' toilets for a living!

[fenderball]

according to the search, this was the first mention of these guys...that kinda saddens me...especially Garcia...did great things...

somebody must have mentioned JERRY GARCIA....and ROBBIE ROBERTSON

[wagnerfan1]

Dick Wagner has been the most underrated guitarist of the 20th & 21st century! His music is known but you may not know him. His feel for melody in a solo is unchallenged.
From Aerosmith, KISS, Steve Perry, John Wetton, Peter Gabriel, Nils Lofgren, Pink Floyd, Burton Cummings and many many more artists you know, his guitar work is on their work. His writing on Ursa Major - a 1 album wonder in NYC in 1972 is one of the finest guitar albums of the classic rock generation.

[StompBoxBlues]

How come no one mentions ME???:rolleyes:

...if I just show up, and am able to figure out which thingy on the guitar plugs into which thingy on the big "makes-it-louder" box, I'm having a fantastic day.

And if I can string together (heh...I said string!) a couple a them there "notes" in a row, it makes a kinda allright sound.

Oh wait...I thought it was OVER rated we meant.

Sorry...my mistake.

[jbird]

Ian Crichton

[Diezelman]

John Sykes (Whitesnake, Blue Murder)
Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem)

:dudePete Lesperance/Harem Scarem...YOU know it, but the world doesn't!:bkw

[torgeot]

Ya think? I LOVE Y&T. But I bought his solo blues CD and was less the inspired. He tried to pull off a Gary Moore Rock /Blues thing but it came out as more of a wank fest to me. His tone was too metal to pull off any blues.

I didn't get that album. I'm always afraid of listening to guys or bands that I really loved stuff they used to do. Realistically I loved that stuff he put out with Y&T and I know they are back out playing again now, but probably would not go see them. I don't think everyone can pull off the blues either. I did like his melodic soloing in Y&T.

[-Analog-]

Terry Kath

[vds5000]

Didn't read the entire thread, but Buddy Guy!!! I saw him live this past Sunday - that guy cooks! I think he's like 72 and he can still play with the best of them. His recorded playing is nothing like his live playing, I mean live, he really cut loose. If he would play that way on record, he'd get a lot more recognition.

[sammick2]

undoubtedly robin trower is the most underrated

[gojirin]

Somebody's gotta bring Earl Hooker into this discussion!

[DocLovett]

Chris Whitley RIP...the most inventive and original player. 21st century Blues, like no other player, EVER.

[Frankee]

Johhny Marr
Prince

[cdickey]

Dave Davies of Kinks fame
John Cipollina the great Quicksilver Messenger guitar dude
The guy playing guitar for Moby Grape
The Outlaws guys
Lucky Peterson
Steve Howe

[teanett]

prince.
great solos and his rhythm playing is plain disgusting.

[Berlebster]

Who deserves more props, press, respect, awareness? To make this list, the guitarist must have chops, be a stylistic influence on players, and not have gotten wide recognition or reward from the general public.........

Really difficult to answer due to your "stylistic influence" part.

But i'll say : Carlos Rios ( but as with jay Graydon they are studio guys so in the shades & i don't know about stylistic influences ).

Scotty Moore

I am not the only one to think about : Ollie Halsall, Andy Powell and the Other guy playing the strat from the beginning, Martin Barre (of course, i think we might start a poll, ), I think about another english guitar player who was on the verge to have a great carrier but he died onstage while holding a microphone, so it's a little offthread.
I don't remember his name but he was the guitar player in Stone the Crow with singress Maggie Bell.

Anyways in USA there is such a lot of great unknowns , i can't think of any.

[BenH]

Bill Harkleroad
David Tronzo
Miroslav Tadic
Robert Fripp
Phil Manzanera
Tommy Emanuel

[jumpnblues]

I might be...problem is I deserve it!!


Tom

[pickaguitar]

Dean DeLeo

[majorledhead]

Mike Campbell
Rory Gallagher
Steve Stevens
Majorledhead

[jakob]

Philip Sayce...

[stratdev]

Kenny Ladner, aka Kenny "Blue" Ray

[heavysoul]

Craig Ross
Mike Cambell
G.E. Smith
Noel Gallagher
Paul Weller

[Bassomatic]

prince.
great solos and his rhythm playing is plain disgusting.

Prince gets a lot of respect from the musos I know. I'm a fan, but if anything I think he's a tad overrated as a guitarist.

[Bassomatic]

Majorledhead

Got clips?;)

[buffbiff21]

Adrian Vandenberg
Ronni LeTekro
Akira Takasaki
Michael Schenker
Gary Moore
John Norum
Downing/Tipton (the fathers of speed metal, yet ignored to this day by the guitar mags)

[joe324]

Brian May?

[Evilmusician80]

Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem)and Canadian too! :AOK

[Frankee]

Did I see a Roddy Frame way back there? Wow. Blast From The Past.

[nnick]

John Kimbrough

[B_of_H]

was: michael houser (I saw him live for years before I started to understand how genius he was). rip

[stratman34]

For everything he's been a part of... Brent Mason.

[WILLIEKENDRICK]

Sonny Landreth
Audley Freed
Scotty Anderson
Barry Richman
David Grissom
Jerry Reed

[GUITARFORCE]

Adrian Vandenberg
Ronni LeTekro
Akira Takasaki
Michael Schenker
Gary Moore
John Norum
Downing/Tipton (the fathers of speed metal, yet ignored to this day by the guitar mags)


Man...for hard rock/metal guitarists....you hit the nail on the head, i couldn't have listed a better group myself. It is funny, because I mentioned the Tipton/Downing team as being most underated in this same type of thread in another forum.

Le Tekro, Schenker, Takasaki ......ROCK!!!!:dude

[Teleman]

George Harrison. Never seems to get the kudos he deserves. Very tasteful player.

[Strat335]

Mel Galley, Barry Richman, Allan Haynes among others.

[elgalad]

Warren Haynes.

I know he gets plenty of props from other guitarists, but he gets pretty much nothing from the general public.

[The Last Rebel]

I'm going to say Otis Rush and Freddie King. Never really recognized for their contributions towards blues and rock.

[Roadeye]

Stanley Jordan comes to mind - That guy shoulda been huge - Plus, he has a totally original technique.

[chrisr777]

Most people remember him for pop and his singing.

But Peter Frampton was killer with Humble Pie and is still kicking it out.

[edwarddavis]

prince

[Solomon]

Charlie Sexton

Tim Reynolds (Dave Mathews Band)

[dcooper]

grady martin I'm not a country fan but he was great

[TwinandTwang]

Steuart Smith. If you have only seen him with the Eagles you have little idea of how musical he is.

[guitaraddict]

Alex Lifeson, Andy Summers.

[gproud5150]

keith Scott

+1,000,000,000

[Clifford-D]

Doyle Bramhall II
I think Doyle II has gotten more exposure than anyone I can think of with his skill level.
In other words I think he is good but not good enough to stand next to Trucks
or Clapton.
He was born into it.
He's a very lucky guy.

[Clifford-D]

The late George Harrison. Enjoy!
I think many people are missing the point of this thread.

George Harrison - come on, he's one of the most famous players
with some of the most memorable solos. Is he Shawn Lane, no.
So...was that the point?

As is the case with 2/3 of the postings on this thread, most people are quite famous
and have made a decent life for themselves.

When I see names posted like
Django
Buchanon
Vince Gill
Leo Kottke
and so on....

These are all players that made it and experienced "big time" and still do.

I think for every high profile player that gets the golden ticket, there are a dozen
that for whatever reason don't make it.
Maybe they don't "walk the room" well, or don't have the "look" or are "depressed"

Some unlikely people are so very good that other people take them on.
I think someone like Lenny Breau could fit that bill. He was great and seemed
removed from the "machine". A bit lost. imo.
Jaco could be another better example.
People did their best to take care of them.
People like them get lost.

I think about the pressure put on pros and I say some simply can't deal with it.
They get a real job and keep a low profile. Or take heroin.

I could start generating a list of the great players from my just north of SF area.
No heroin fortunately, just low profile players. Like Bruce Forman. Bruce can hang
with anyone. But no one knows of him.
How is it someone is as good as Forman
but is not super well known and famous and rich??
Choice perhaps??

I think some of the best players are family folk that have good day jobs.

So, players that have smaller bankrolls than Greenday???

Or players that are all about the music and get lost in the business world.



Now we have Youtube and some of these players are finally heard.

[sweetness]

+1 for Luther Allison. He doesn't get the respect he deserves even in the blues community. In my mind, he's just a step below the 3 Kings. Then you add in his amazing soulful vocals, and you've got the complete package. As someone else said, if you want to hear some great stuff, track down Live in Chicago.

[Alister]

I think many people are missing the point of this thread.

George Harrison - come on, he's one of the most famous players
with some of the most memorable solos. Is he Shawn Lane, no.
So...was that the point?

As is the case with 2/3 of the postings on this thread, most people are quite famous
and have made a decent life for themselves.

When I see names posted like
Django
Buchanon
Vince Gill
Leo Kottke
and so on....

These are all players that made it and experienced "big time" and still do.

I think for every high profile player that gets the golden ticket, there are a dozen
that for whatever reason don't make it.
Maybe they don't "walk the room" well, or don't have the "look" or are "depressed"

Some unlikely people are so very good that other people take them on.
I think someone like Lenny Breau could fit that bill. He was great and seemed
removed from the "machine". A bit lost. imo.
Jaco could be another better example.
People did their best to take care of them.
People like them get lost.

I think about the pressure put on pros and I say some simply can't deal with it.
They get a real job and keep a low profile. Or take heroin.

I could start generating a list of the great players from my just north of SF area.
No heroin fortunately, just low profile players. Like Bruce Forman. Bruce can hang
with anyone. But no one knows of him.
How is it someone is as good as Forman
but is not super well known and famous and rich??
Choice perhaps??

I think some of the best players are family folk that have good day jobs.

So, players that have smaller bankrolls than Greenday???

Or players that are all about the music and get lost in the business world.



Now we have Youtube and some of these players are finally heard.

Bravo. Great post.
I'll say it again for the 200th time: If a million people have heard of you, and/or you've played on records that've sold at minimun in the four digits, and/or at least a hundred GrearPage members have heard of you and sing your praises all over the internet, you effing can't be "under-rated."
Just thank god or the universe for your good fortune, and leave the underrated category for those players who really, really are good, and really, really are fairly obscure.

[bjjp2]

Bravo. Great post.
I'll say it again for the 200th time: If a million people have heard of you, and/or you've played on records that've sold at minimun in the four digits, and/or at least a hundred GrearPage members have heard of you and sing your praises all over the internet, you effing can't be "under-rated."
Just thank god or the universe for your good fortune, and leave the underrated category for those players who really, really are good, and really, really are fairly obscure.

See, I don't even think "obscure"=underrated. To me, "underrated" means 1) he's better than the general consensus thinks he is or (i.e. he's "rated" too low) or 2) guys who are well-known for other things but just don't get credit for their guitar playing. So in the first category I would nominate guys like Ace Frehley, Steve Jones, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dee Dee Ramone, Ron Wood and Johnny Thunders. In the second category, John Fogerty, Alex Chilton, and Marshall Crenshaw come to mind.

I agree that I would not consider guys like Danny Gatton "underrated." They're not as well-known as they should be, but everyone agrees that they're great.

[GaryFisher624]

Jake Cinninger (Umphrey's McGee) - maybe the most versatile guitarist on the scene right now and very underrated

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EKHqLIRUopo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3_1ZAHtazNw&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LhC-eoxCWCU

[B_of_H]

Jake Cinninger (Umphrey's McGee) - maybe the most versatile guitarist on the scene right now and very underrated

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EKHqLIRUopo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3_1ZAHtazNw&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LhC-eoxCWCU


I've met and hung out a little with those guys. Him, Brandan and the bass player as well.

nice guys. Very much the musical geeks though: they really know their stuff.

Jake has some great tones for sure. He was playing a strat style guitar through a fuchs TDS I think (this was a few years ago). I was really a hardcore humbucker guy and he made me want to play single coils again that night.

[Diezelman]

Hey guys...this has the potential to be a great thread. BUT cmon....Alex Lifeson, Johnny Winter underrated? Me thinks many TGP ers have not looked or listened beyond the obvious. Maybe the thread should say:

Underrated as never or rarely on the cover of a magazine

I could say Neal Schon is underrated, but most would immediately know he has some of the most recognizable solos out there. For now...I'll just throw Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem) out there. If you haven't heard of him and go listen to him on "Weight of the World" and you'll see why he really is underrated.

[Griz]

Most underrated?

Hard for me to say, since I've probably never heard of him... or her...
:D

[Faustine Amps]

STAN WEST

The most amazing blues slide player I think I've ever heard. He's somewhat of a legend in Southern California, but if there was any justice in this world, the man would be famous!!

Regards,
Tim Gregoire

[Kalalau Hiker]

STAN WEST

The most amazing blues slide player I think I've ever heard. He's somewhat of a legend in Southern California, but if there was any justice in this world, the man would be famous!!

Regards,
Tim Gregoire

here ya go :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9yEW9amWrg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSjAv4uXugY

also - NO ONE knows about Blind Boy SmegmaHopper! :rolleyes:

[mrmuzikhead]

Tuck Andress,....Doug Pettibone

[bluesyjacuzzi]

Anthony Wilson

Ron Eschte

Jesse Van Ruler

[slegros]

Several guys whose playing I really like, and who don't get much recognition for their playing are:

Brian Futter (Catherine Wheel)
Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant)
James Wilsey (Chris Isaak/ Silvertone)
Mike Oldfield

[Neer]

Waddy Wachtel

The word is probably "unsung", not "underrated".

[haymaker]

Mickey Melchiondo (aka Dean Ween)

[mwittoesch]

Scotty Anderson

[EXP]

Jerry Cantrell

[NeilYoungFan]

Roy Buchanan.

I can't think of any other guitarist, achieving the sounds that Roy created with his bare hands. (meaning no effects, etc)

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Neil Young!


That guy can write a song and make that guitar come alive. His one note solos compliment his material so well that anything else just isn't right !!! :)

[CarlosJesena]

I agree with Dr. Tweed bucket:

Neil Young :D

[joeysmac]

prince

No kidding...I had no idea he was so rediculous on the guitar. He's got a DVD from the Alladin in Las Vegas that is the jam.

Oh...and Mel Bay is great too...

[calandwen]

1.Tommy Emmanuel,
2.Danny Gatton,
3.George Pittaway, a combo of the 2

[CharAznable]

Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan.

DC Represent!

[Douglas858]

Marc Ford
Robert Cray
The Edge

[KJC]

Mickey Melchiondo (aka Dean Ween)

+1 ----and if he hasn't been mentioned - Jake E. Lee

[shngn7]

Rory Gallagher
Sonny Landreth
Johnny Greenwood
Robert Randolf

[lalaland]

George Harrison.


Huh?
This dude was in the most popular band ever, there are thousands of transcriptions of his playing, there are whole books written about his guitar style.
How is he possibly under-rated?

What about Sonny Landreth?
He's on the cover of Guitar Player.
How is that under-rated?

I don't get it.
:huh

[guitrr]

Jim Campilongo

[shark_bite]

Jim Campilongo

Amen. That guy is the reason I picked up a Tele in the first place.

[Steven_nl]

Hugh McCracken

[mcuguitar]

Carl Verheyen, John McLaughlin, Richard Thompson and Gary Moore.

[Gas-man]

Jim Campilongo

I don't get under-rated when it comes to him.

He gets a lot of pub on the Tele page and any Tele player worth his salt has at least heard of him.

[MisterMitch]

Marc Ribot.
The king in versatility. Anyone who can play like this:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=uGSI8CuH1nQ
deserves eternal recognition (beware somptuous VibroKing tone inside).

[bilbal]

++++ for Bob Weir.

If I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times... Bob Weir is one of the most under-rated guitarist/songwriter ever. His "rhythm" playing is something that no one has ever done. He's so much more than a rhythm guitarist. He creates lines and tones that are unique to each tune and feel of said tune. Listen to any Dead tune and tell me that his playing is simple rhythm...:nono

Bill

[tjmicsak]

Mick Ralphs
Brent Mason
Eric Heatherly
Rich Ekartd
Randy Bachman
Richie Sambora
Martin Barre
Dann Huff
Steve Stevens
Vince Gil
Trevor Rabin

[DocLovett]

:D Me. :roll :nono

[tjmicsak]

Mathius Jabs

[tjmicsak]

Alvin Lee

[shngn7]

Mike Zito

[6Tones]

Jack Wilkins,up right there with the best jazz guitarists

[FeloniousBishop]

This guy I saw play in bar in Austin. Forget the name, that's how underrated he is. Anyway, he's the one.

[forgivenman]

Call me crazy but I never seem to see Jeff Beck get his due.

[JohnJazz]

TERRY KATH from Chicago-just listen to "sing a mean tune,kid" from
the Chicago "live at Carnige Hall" album. Amazing. Even today.

DUANE ALLMAN

PETER FRAMPTON

TAL FARLOW for jazz.

[Gas-man]

Call me crazy but I never seem to see Jeff Beck get his due.

Totally.

And Hendrix.

He's never been given his props.

[fenderball]

most underrated not sure (well, actually, you didn't say he was MOST underrated...)...amazing guitar player in his own right, absolutely...unique and great! AMAZING..BUT WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT, HANGING AROUND WITH JG all his life
love bob weir's playing
also, a coupla country guys...i remember once seeing Glen Campbell blow the roof off...that guy was/is amazing as a player...and Vince Gill can play w/anyone...


++++ for Bob Weir.

If I have said it once, I've said it a thousand times... Bob Weir is one of the most under-rated guitarist/songwriter ever. His "rhythm" playing is something that no one has ever done. He's so much more than a rhythm guitarist. He creates lines and tones that are unique to each tune and feel of said tune. Listen to any Dead tune and tell me that his playing is simple rhythm...:nono

Bill

[jtees4]

An old friend of mine...Glen (last name omitted on purpose). The guy is fantastic and does not know it, which is the best part.

[forgivenman]

Here's why I mentioned Jeff Beck: Everyone cites him as an influence but as soon as you ask the (oh no!) infamous "So what's your favorite album?" or (even worse) "What's your favorite Beck song?" everyone stalls- why? Because he's fashionable to claim as an influence but not fashionable to actually listen to.

This makes him underrated in my book.

[fender tele]

A couple names I haven't seen mentioned:

Steve Wariner. I saw him at the Silver Bullet in Columbia, Mo. (good sized club) sometime in the early 90's. I knew how good he already was, and still I had no idea how good he was. He stretched out on a few tunes & he played things I didn't even recognize.

Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio. Saw them play at the same place. Same result. His tone is killer also.

Someone mentioned Don Barnes of .38 Special. I would add Jeff Carlisi to that.

[FeloniousBishop]

Call me crazy but I never seem to see Jeff Beck get his due.

You mean Rod Stewart's guitar player? He any good?

[Gas-man]

You mean Rod Stewart's guitar player? He any good?

It's hard to say.

You never see anything written about him, or guitar players discussing him.

I did a search of TGP and found nothing.

The only hit was about that skinny little "Beck" guy that does the James Brown dances.

[Shine]

Mike McCready

[bluesjunior]

I've been listening to a lot of John Mayer lately on the Internet Archiv and I think he is a hugely under rated guitar player especially by a certain section of TGP'ers here.:hide

[ChauncyPepper]

Jack White

[badbrain]

Eddie "Magot Brain" Hazel. Check out the Magot Brain album. You will never be the same.

[alainguitars]

I have to mention in no particular order

Jesse Ed Davis

Rory Gallagher

Toy Caldwell

Albert Collins

Freddie & Albert

Roy Buchanan


This is gonna be like the academy awards acceptance speeches, I hear the band playing so I'll stop.

[bilbal]

most underrated not sure (well, actually, you didn't say he was MOST underrated...)...amazing guitar player in his own right, absolutely...unique and great! AMAZING..BUT WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT, HANGING AROUND WITH JG all his life
love bob weir's playing
also, a coupla country guys...i remember once seeing Glen Campbell blow the roof off...that guy was/is amazing as a player...and Vince Gill can play w/anyone...

I would guess that there is a ton of country sessions guys that smoke that we will never hear about. Actually there are tons in every genre, right?

Whenever this subject comes up, Bob is always the guy I think of. You're most definitely right about the "hanging around with JG" point. Bobby had to be different to even be recognized next to that talent on stage. I always think of Bob as being the kid in the neighborhood that always had to be different to have any attention paid to him, you know what I mean? His approach and style definitely lends itself to that kind of idea. I also think that Garcia's writing was most definitely enhanced by Bob's unique comping and use of chord inversion for different tastes. Some of his lines wouldn't make sense anywhere else but with Garcia.

It's funny you should mention Vince Gill. Myself and the rest of the band were talking about him the other night at rehearsal. That dude is one hell of a player. His effortless style is similar to what Brad Paisley pulls off. I would give anything to be able to play the lines they do with such ease. They both make country picking look sooooo effortless (sorry for reuse of the word). I have been playing for years and can't touch their speed, accuracy, and note choice. I have the greatest respect for them and many other country players... Keith Urban comes to mind, as well as Marty Stuart. They are all simply amazing talents.

[Jimmy James]

Chris Poland
Tony MacAlpine
T.J. Helmerich

[shngn7]

Mike Zito anyone?

[Mr Savage]

John Fahey

[geetarboy]

I know he gets discussed here, but John Scofield should be more well known.

[haymaker]

Mike McCready

+1 Mike is a MONSTER player that definitely doesn't get the props he deserves. His Mad Season stuff gives me chills.

[vai777]

Max Sunyer :bow

[Hootad Binky]

Mick Taylor

Played all the best leads and all the best music when the Stones were at their peak, from Let It Bleed to Black and Blue.

He did the leads on:

Gimmie Shelter
Midnight Rambler
Honky Tonk Woman
Can't You Here Me Knockin'?
Angie
Brown Sugar
Love In Vain
Sway
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Time Waits For No-One
and lots of others

He successfully sued the Stones when they used his song "Waiting On A Friend" without asking him first :) (he had long since left the band by then).

Basically lead the band on bootlegs like "Bedspring Symphony" and "A Brussels Affair."

He replaced Clapton (or was it Peter Green? I forget) on John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in most impressive style. He was only 19 at the time. He's played with Knofler on Dylan's Infidels, and has released solo albums in which he plays most of the instruments (like his first album). Great slide player, usually plays in regular tuning (at 2:36: see following link) Stinging vibratto at 4:47: really making that LP sing :) I had this lead going through my head through most of Grade 11...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmVW94UWgBg

One half of arguably the most successsful guitar duo of all time with Kieth Richards and the general public hasn't heard of him. Saw him in the early 90's he was living in a trailer, driving from town to town. Some skinny woman screeching at him. Got to meet him and chat, though, which was nice...

[mrmuzikhead]

scott henderson
david lindley

[205]

I'm really not into guitar music, as in, Vai, Satriani etc...
So for me the most underated guitarists are not the technically brilliant ones who play a million notes per second but the guys that play for the song with understated craftmanship.
Give me George Harrisson, Neil Finn, Tom Petty, Edge even Jimmy Page any day, not that the last two are underrated but you get my drift.

[lalaland]

+1 Mike is a MONSTER player that definitely doesn't get the props he deserves. His Mad Season stuff gives me chills.

Best 'super-group' ever...

[edgewound]

The "Elliots"...

Easton and Randall.

[TonyVt]

Scott Murawski

[Binaural]

Mike McCready
Stone Gossard
Vernon Reid
Mike Einzinger

[brian b]

Steve Clark
Pete Willis
Phil Collen
Brad Whitford
Rik Emmit
Berton Averre From the knack

[akihiro]

I would have to say Brian May. I credit him with inspiring me to want to play the guitar.

[fusion58]

Carl Verheyen

[H_V_C]

Steve Cropper-I've met a lot of guitarist who don't even know who he is.
George Harrision-not just a songwriter folks
Derek Trucks- (I know he gets a lot of cred, but I think he will be known as one of the all time greats someday

[skydog]

+1 on Tommy Tedesco. Probably one of the most heard, never known guitar players ever. If you ever get a chance to see him on The Gong Show in his pink tutu, you've lived a blessed life! Hilarious, yet you could hear his talent coming through.

[Joe Tone]

That would be me... HAAAAA!

[Joe Tone]

+1 for George Harrison.
Jesus, I think evey fill, interlude and solo that guy did was melodic magic.

Wayne Krantz

+1 for Harrison, like Chet Atkins playing rock.

[seiko]

Maurice Deebank, played on the first couple of Felt LPs, lovely classical picking style and interesting melodic sense. Almost unknown though.

[PeaElAre]

Has anyone mentioned Jake Cinninger yet of Umphrey's McGee. Easily one of the very best guitarists in a working band. Frankly, all the members of that band are amazing at their respective instruments.

[B_of_H]

michael houser is always my answer to this question. The guy didn't really know much from a technical standpoint but ask jimmy herring about trying to cop his licks.

the guy rocked arenas with a very simple and limited musical vocabulary in a genre full of technical geeks.

[B_of_H]

Has anyone mentioned Jake Cinninger yet of Umphrey's McGee. Easily one of the very best guitarists in a working band. Frankly, all the members of that band are amazing at their respective instruments.


exactly why they are not underated IMO. Nice guys too, I hung out with them briefly at wakarusa a few years ago and we had some fun.