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A fresh 100 best
Compiled with the help of over 50 musicians and industry figures the list still features the guitarist's guitarist Jimi Hendrix in the number one slot, but blues legend Robert Johnson has been dropped from the top 10, as have Ry Cooder and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Allman Brothers Band guitarist Duane has also dropped from number 2 to number 9, while Keith Richards has climbed from tenth place to fourth.
Here's the list...any suggestions?
Top 100 Guitarists of All Time (2011 version):
1.Jimi Hendrix
2.Eric Clapton
3.Jimmy Page
4.Keith Richards
5.Jeff Beck
6.B.B. King
7.Chuck Berry
8.Eddie Van Halen
9.Duane Allman
10.Pete Townshend
11.George Harrison
12.Stevie Ray Vaughan
13.Albert King
14.David Gilmour
15.Freddy King
16.Derek Trucks
17.Neil Young
18.Les Paul
19.James Burton
20.Carlos Santana
21.Chet Atkins
22.Frank Zappa
23.Buddy Guy
24.Angus Young
25.Tony Iommi
26.Brian May
27.Bo Diddley
28.Johnny Ramone
29.Scotty Moore
30.Elmore James
31.Ry Cooder
32.Billy Gibbons
33.Prince
34.Curtis Mayfield
35.John Lee Hooker
36.Randy Rhoads
37.Mick Taylor
38.The Edge
39.Steve Cropper
40.Tom Morello
41.Mick Ronson
42.Mike Bloomfield
43.Hubert Sumlin
44.Mark Knopfler
45.Link Wray
46.Jerry Garcia
47.Stephen Stills
48.Jonny Greenwood
49.Muddy Waters
50.Ritchie Blackmore
51.Johnny Marr
52.Clarence White
53.Otis Rush
54.Joe Walsh
55.John Lennon
56.Albert Collins
57.Rory Gallagher
58.Peter Green
59.Robbie Robertson
60.Ron Asheton
61.Dickey Betts
62.Robert Fripp
63.Johnny Winter
64.Duane Eddy
65.Slash
66.Leslie West
67.T-Bone Walker
68.John McLoughlin
69.Richard Thompson
70.Jack White
71.Robert Johnson
72.John Frusciante
73.Kurt Cobain
74.Dick Dale
75.Joni Mitchell
76.Robby Krieger
77.Willie Nelson
78.John Fahey
79.Mike Campbell
80.Buddy Holly
81.Lou Reed
82.Nels Cline
83.Eddie Hazel
84.Joe Perry
85.Andy Summers
86.J Mascis
87.James Hetfield
88.Carl Perkins
89.Bonnie Raitt
90.Tom Verlaine
91.Dave Davies
92.Dimebag Darrell
93.Paul Simon
94.Peter Buck
95.Roger McGuinn
96.Bruce Springsteen
97.Steve Jones
98.Alex Lifeson
99.Thurston Moore
100. Lindsey Buckingham
Source: Rolling Stone 
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Artist Biography
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in music history, and one of the most influential musicians of his era. After initial success in Europe with his group The Jimi Hendrix Experience, he achieved fame in the United States...
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Comments
Not a bad line up, pity we will never see a fair few of them. Jimi was the only player I would have sold my soul to see.
Robert Johnson dropped? Clapton in second? They're joking!!
Ry Cooder is at 31, not dropped completely
Jimi at one, I don't think you will find many who will argue with that. And I don't have a problem with Clapton at two. But the rankings of the rest leave me a bit cold.
...a grand list to be sure but one obviously devoid of the countless great jazz, classical and country guitarists...no "Greatest Guitarists of all time list" can be complete without Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Earl Klugh, or Django Reinhardt (and a bag-full of other notables).
Interestingly enough, Frank Zappa makes the list and whilst FZ was a true musical genius, his guitarists from the 70's and 80's (Adrian Belew and Steve Vai) don't make the list. Arguably, they learned everything they know from FZ and have gone on to become exceptional guitarists in their own rights (see the liner notes for "You are what you is" where FZ acknowledges Vai - "stunt guitar" or "impossible guitar parts").
Belew in particular is an innovator on guitar and should be included on this list with other innovators such as Robert Fripp, Mick Ronson, Les Paul, and Robert Johnson.
Some on the list I just don't understand (but I'm not here to start a fight)...that said, it's hard to argue with the top 3 (in terms of rock 'n' roll guitarists)...!
Some great guitarists there but yeah with no jazz or classical kind of useless IMHO.
They should perhaps have qualified the scope of the list a bit more...leaving out some of the Jazz and Classical greats hardly makes it a definitive list!
They dropped Richard Thompson from 19 to 69? Oh well, I do recall there was some controversy in him being at 19 - mainly from metal heads and hard rockers - along the lines of 'who is he?'
I thought 19 was about right. At least he is still on the list, though as jazz and classical guitarists are missing (even those like John Williams who crossed genres) you do wonder at the value of the list.
@Styx1954
I missed the previous list (missed/avoided - it's open to interpretation)...and I agree 100% that Richard Thompson should be much higher on this list but then "the list" doesn't include Bob Brozman or Harry Manx or, if I may be a little parochial, Tommy Emmanuel or Jeff Lang.
IMO, BB, HM, TE & JL could play circles around at least 1/4 of "the list" without an effects-pedal in sight.
...oh well...back to drafting my own list...!!!
Who complied this? Very weird. There are heaps of people that would not even consider themselves great guitarists - John Lennon great song writer but better guitarist than Rory Gallagher? He would not think so. . and Mike Bloomfield at 42.... get a grip!
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