Opinions of most underrated or overrated guitarist of all time

Gotta go with Slowhand for the overrated... BORING.  Or the guy from Aerosmith.

Is Johnny Marr underrated?  If not, then I will vote for Frank Zappa who was a self taught virtuoso of many original techniques whose inventions were often attributed to others later on such as Vai and Satriani.  Many dont even know he played.  A true master of the instrument.

If Zappa is only underrated in my circles, I vote for Vernon Reid.

Pat,

After that brilliant post for the bloke that could write a song about anything,and who had perfick pitch.

I will say Moon Station.

She can play.

Stu

Under-rated - Prince, Bill Frisell (not fast, but what he plays is sublime), John Martyn

Over-rated - Clapton - so boring

Stu,

Moon station??  You know I will check out anything you suggest....  But who, what??  I googled to no avail.

Your Porcupine Tree suggestion was nice.

-p

Clapton is not overrated,

 He is one of the top ten greats of the  electric.

IMO we have just had too much same old same old from him.

Give the bloke  points for just  being alive.

There is nothing he can play now that will be outstanding.

He has done it all;.

So many now will call him boring. 

Pat,

I  dont  belive you had to even think about looking Moon up on the internet?

Its Franks daughter man,

Stu

Clapton's early stuff was decent; he hasn't done anything noteworthy in decades, and even that early stuff is easily bested.  Like I said earlier, I like him alright as a musician and a guitarist even, but the whole "Eric is God" thing escapes me - he wasn't that innovative nor technically amazing.  He was good...but not great - but many people hold him in that level of esteem...hence IMHO overrated.

Isn't it Moon Unit  Zappa?

It is - but she also goes by Moon Zappa as well...

Gotcha.  Moon Unit.  "Moon Station" threw me off.  Come on Stu!!!  You know I know EVERYTHING about Zappa's world.

For a blues guitarist he is OK.  Passable.  Nothing groundbreaking there.  As a guitarist in general he is as ordinary as possible.

Maybe his songwriting and bands were pretty good (D and the Dominos!!).  But I find nothing special about his playing.

Care to direct me to a particular track where he shows his genius??  I am always down with being shown to be wrong.  I dont require or desire to dislike him.

-Patrick

...and who the hell overrated the Edge?

Some folks who have impressed me and are rarely mentioned (ie: underrated):

Doug Lancio, Randy Jacobs  and Sonny Landreth.  They are no where near guitar gods, but they know how to "support'" and seemingly always play the perfect fill or solo at the perfect time.  They have the technique, but what they excel at is style.

Jeff A

Having taken up guitar (and now playing really really badly) late in life, it gave me a different insight into where the real talent is...so:

Underrated (definition: my wife has never heard of them):

Gordon Giltrap, Eric Roche, Michael Hedges, Ry Cooder (especially by the Rolling Stones!), Todd Rundgren

Overrated

Ritchie Blackmore, EVH, John McLaughlin (technically brilliant but what's the point!), the Edge (disagree with the other guitarist out there - sorry)

Worth their rating

Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Santana, Dave Gilmour, Jimmy Page, John Martyn and Brian May

......give me a beer and another hour and my list will probably change completely!

MartinC

Overrated - Joe Bonamassa and John Mayer

Underrated - David Gilmour - there was a poll on guitarists where he came in the 40's or something. Top 3 material for me.

No tell a lie, Gilmour came in at no 82.

http://www.rollingstone.com/mu...of-all-time-19691231

Well as expected this is really just a who is my favourite guitarist thread - I can't believe anybody thinks Ritchie Blackmore is overrated - not only is he a great guitarist to listen to, but he has also been the leading light in three of the greatest bands ever; whereas most of the established bands just produced more of the same, Ritchie created Blackmore's Night with Candice and a series of quite wonderful albums. Ritchie was also responsible for the greatest guitar riff ever. All in my humble opinion, of course. 

Dave Gilmour wasn't even the best guitarist in Pink Floyd. (Ducks for cover). 

He's OK though. 

Albert Lee and Nick Drake are my favourite guitarists. 

I guess people just like what they like. 

Rolling Stone eh ... wouldn't take any notice of that, it is to music what a motorway service station is to fine dining. Possibly the most pointless magazine ever published with nothing useful to say about anything (like a printed version of X-Factor). Quite useful for bonfire though. 

There you can't get more opinionated that that 

All the best, Guy

Underrated (or maybe not rated at all) blues players Shane Pacey and Eben Hale - Bondi Cigars, Lez Karski - Nervous Investors.

Overrated - the Emmanuel wankers.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree about the Edge but I certainly agree with your comments about  Snowy White.

DJL

I suppose you're right "that he sounds exactly like the edge" and that many guitarist use effects, I just believe that others use them to enhance their sound but they can also play without them.  SRV for instance could effect with the best of them but could play with a beautiful pure tone when the need arose, and live he played both the rhythm and the lead parts without backing track brilliantly.and way beyond the Edge's competency. Its a shame SRV didn't get more recognition while he was alive but of course this happens to many musicians.  With the likes of SRV in mind I'm afraid we'll have to continue to disagree about the merits and capability of the Edge.   

DJL

Could the Big man play before he found this?

Yes he could,

Did it make him a better player?

I dont know,

But you had to know what you were doing in the first place to make it work for you.

And MAN did he make it work for him.

One of the Beatles said It AINT EASY.

Stu.

John Fogerty is an underrated guitarist

Not mention organ, sax, fiddle, drums, harmonica, piano, bass and vocals

Nothing flashy and no axeman status - just good old fashioned toons 

Brian May.... Cats sound better under the moon light on a night out!

Underrated .... Steve Hillage