Not great guitarists who are nevertheless perfect for the band they're in

Stuckfast

Kind of the opposite to the other thread...

Johnny Thunders in the New York Dolls

Keef

Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground

Wilko Johnson

and although I loathe U2, The Edge.

mikem8634

Robbie Robertson? Possibly but can't quite make my mind up. Clapton may have disturbed the balance.

breadfan

David Gilmour in Pink Floyd

mikem8634

It's a difficult one. It depends what you mean by great. If we are talking technical ability with someone like Guthrie Govan representing the pinnacle, then guitarists like Reg and Dave from The Chameleons would be, by comparison, not great. I, however consider them to be both perfect for their band and utterly great.

Shrews

What is a great guitarist anyway?

- Somebody who can make you part with your cash just because of playing guitar?
- Somebody who's technically excellent and universally admired by other guitar players?
- Somebody who can play excellent in any band they're in?
- Somebody who can produce new sounds others struggle to replicate?
- Somebody who has the innovation to use the instrument and other gear to create new sounds?
- Somebody who can sing as well as play?

Could be many more there, that I haven't thought of!

Personally, I don't think Nile Rogers is that great, but he's perfect for any band he's in, isn't he?

Sassafras

John McGeoch wasn't what I'd call a virtuoso but he was incredibly inventive and original so he fitted the Banshees perfectly.
Same with Hugh Cornwell.

Stuckfast

Oooh, good shout.

I'd probably add Mick Ronson and Ron Asheton too.

merlin

Me. 

Freebird

Bernard Sumner .. Twice!

Kilgore

Joey Santiago

bermudianbrit

left-field answer: Passenger. His playing is ok, but it really works when he's got the full band behind him, as that style doesn't lend itself to technicalities, but his guitar still does exactly what his songs need it to do.

Freebird

Robert Smith

DannyP

Carlos Alomar?

Haych

Alex Lifeson

Alvin

Jack Black .   Tenacious D would only be Tenac  without him .

DeeTee

Dare I say Kurt Cobain? Maybe not the most technical guy out there, but some of the most memorable guitar lines in my lifetime, and the occasional melodic solo/fill. Would have been awful for a lot of bands, but fits the music perfectly.

Leiversalone

Mick Mars

Corvus

Steve Jones / Pistols. Basic as you like but rock solid. Rick Parfitt too.

crunchman

Mark Knopfler's brother

Funkfingers

Ray Davies

TTBZ

DeeTee said:

Dare I say Kurt Cobain? Maybe not the most technical guy out there, but some of the most memorable guitar lines in my lifetime, and the occasional melodic solo/fill. Would have been awful for a lot of bands, but fits the music perfectly.

Yep I agree with this. I feel Kurt Cobain always gets a hard time for his playing, but I always thought the solos were perfect for the songs. In Bloom is a brilliant solo.