Best guitarist - Technique and speed...

Dick Heath wrote: Ancient wrote: A favourite of mine is Gordon Giltrap. Technically brilliant AND he makes nice music!   Listen to his new album Secret Valentine, where Giltrap plays the innovative Rob Armstrong plastic-bodied guitar. The acoustic quality puts the lie to prevailing view that plastic guitars are no good. Then check out out the Cool Acoustics site here at Loughborough University, for more details about how this guitar was developed.

I don't have any doubt: Tony MacAlpine is the best (for me). In 1986-87 he defined the genre of shred with Edge of Insanity and Maximum Security.

I don't think I've heard anyone play better than Uli Jon Roth   ..many have demonstrated greater speed and innovative technique, but for absolute mastery combined with feeling there was no one better (when he was with the Scorps he [and Schenker] was probably the best in the world).. check out his Hendrix tribute album Firewind

micky wrote: Tony R wrote: BaldJean wrote:   nowadays I look at it as a bit puerile. it is like "who can piss the highest?" which is how most people view your posts. With your consummate skill on drums and piano and your taste-defining appreciation of music one wonders why you haven't taken the musical world by storm. hahahhahahhahahhaha...  sorry... but ... hahahhahhaha. damn.. .that is what they call in some campaigns.. .the straight-talk express in lieu of a medal... have 5 clappies.. a masterpiece of progarchives put-downs

I'm surprised at the lack of discussion on Shawn Lane. It always saddens me that someone of such supreme talent was so unrecognised outside of jazz fusion guitar circles, and even then, he wasn't exactly as well known as Holdsworth. I'm not much of a fusion head, more of a shred head, but he probably has even more of a following among the shred movement than jazz fusion (Just my guess, from what I have observed). I only discovered Lane last year, after reading about Rusty Cooley naming him as a big influence. Lane's style might not be for everyone, but for those that his playing 'spoke to', it was truly a gift to the music world and the lives his music touched and inspired.

1800iareyay wrote: HughesJB4 wrote: I'm surprised at the lack of discussion on Shawn Lane. It always saddens me that someone of such supreme talent was so unrecognised outside of jazz fusion guitar circles, and even then, he wasn't exactly as well known as Holdsworth. I'm not much of a fusion head, more of a shred head, but he probably has even more of a following among the shred movement than jazz fusion (Just my guess, from what I have observed). I only discovered Lane last year, after reading about Rusty Cooley naming him as a big influence. Lane's style might not be for everyone, but for those that his playing 'spoke to', it was truly a gift to the music world and the lives his music touched and inspired. I agree. Shawn Lane is one of the precious few who could convey emotion while playing fast (the only other I can think of is Steve Morse). People like Vai and Satch can bring the emotion, but they gotta slow down first. It's a crying shame they took down most of Shawn's vids on YouTube (as well as Vai's. All I can find now is the duel from Crossroads).

 ^  well I wouldn't call them horrible -  mind-numbingly repetitive but not horrible - but those videos are pretty useless, especially the "Metal Method" ..  woo hoo!  what a rip-off! 

Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is absolutely amazing IMO and is often overlooked. Any other fans here on PA?

HughesJB4 wrote: Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is absolutely amazing IMO and is often overlooked. Any other fans here on PA?

Well I never liked very fast typical metal bands solos. I hate them (the solos) they they're the best guitarist. I rather prefer technique and improvisation.