Mount Rushmore of Guitarists

Redlester

Flanging_Fred said:

Segovia
Django Reinhardt
Robert Johnson
Hendrix
VH

Almost there. 

Mount Rushmore is for Presidents who not only set the tone, but who established the course and influenced both events and those who came after. 

For that reason, if you replace Johnson with Tony Iommi (who changed not only guitar but effectively altered popular culture) you are there. 

That gives you Segovia- who defined modern classical guitar but which established solo guitar more generally as a popular instrument...
...which leads to Django who made wider ripples in music generally and showed the guitar could dominate in jazz...
...which brings us to Hendrix who realised the potential of the electric guitar and was the epitome of the guitar hero who had massive cultural relevance...
...which gives us Iommi who innovated musically to the a degree that is created a whole new genre of music that in turn influenced pop and wider culture generally....
...and brings us to Van Halen who incorporates elements of all of the above plus who had had the 'double first' of exerting a massive influence on both the technique and technology of the guitar. 


And the common thing among all of them is that their reach was global. 

Danny1969 said:

I forgot the Edge, JOHN MARTYN who basically invented a new way to play the guitar and as far as I'm concerned he's as entitled to his use of delay as much as Hendrix was entitled to his use of fuzz and wah  .... definitely one of the game changers in the way the guitar is played. 

No charge. 

HAL9000

I think it needs to be those who are (or were) larger than life and also pretty much instantly recognisable even to non-players. Sadly I suspect the man in the street could walk right past Clapton or Gilmour and never realise.

For recognisable by the man (or woman) in the street I’d say...

Jimi Hendrix 
Chuck Berry
Keith Richards

Then I’d add complete the quintumvirate with Clapton and Gilmour just because I can  ;-)

Sassafras

If it's recognisable you want, how about Wilko Johnson?
Once seen, never forgotten.

richardhomer

An impossible ‘ask’, really - but I’ll have a go:

Chuck Berry
Freddie King
Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
EVH

That said, the list could also include/substitute T Bone Walker, Chet Atkins, Peter Green, Andy Summers, Richard Thompson, Gary Moore and many others....

Gassage

Gilmour

Davey G

Gilmour, DJ

Dave Gilmore.

Sorted.

pintspiller

Chuck Berry
Pete Townshend
Ron Ashton
Johnny Ramone

maltingsaudio

And on the other side of the stairs

George Martin
Tony Visconti
Mutt Lange
Sam Philips

stonevibe

Lil Wayne

If you are going to deface an ancient Indian site, then he is the man to do it.

blobb

Zappa

Philly_Q

Leslie West in his heyday.  And no room for anyone else.

Jimbro66

Sassafras said:

If it's recognisable you want, how about Wilko Johnson?
Once seen, never forgotten.

Looking down from the mountain with that manic stare of his, ha ha.

There have been countless guitar innovators/influencers but my list is

Charlie Christian

Django Reinhardt

Merle Travis (acknowledging his Mose Rager influences)

Hendrix

James Burton

EVH

Maybe with all of them applauding Jeff Beck

Boromedic

This is a nightmare as it's clouded by personal tastes and opinions, like personally for me I'd put James Hetfield on there or Dave Mustaine. They were the pioneers and trailblazers of my start into heavy music. Is that influence as great as EVH, Clapton, Hendrix or the earlier pioneers like Hank, Chuck and Scottie Moore for example, definitely not but I'd pick Hetfield for sure. 

It's really, really difficult! Lol

StefB

Quickly turned into a 'who are your favourite guitarists?' thread as usual.

fields5069

Chappers.

/thread

Van_Hayden

Tricky challenge. 

Segovia - consolidated the development of ‘classical’ guitar 
Charlie Christian - popularised electric guitar
Django - an entire genre owes it all to him
Jimi Hendrix - changed the electric guitar musically/culturally for ever. 
EVH - reclaimed the electric guitar for a new generation 

All changed the direction of guitar globally. 

Blaendulais

This thread reads like the comments on the Guardians obituary of EVH.  Thats worrying.  Are we all guardian readers

koneguitarist

For impact and influence I would pick 
Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Hank Marvin, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen. 

No others come close with influence the vast guitar playing public. 

Whitecat

A four-headed Michael Angelo Batio

BeardyAndy

Almost all of the guys listed so far would put their playing down to Robert Johnson, Lead Belly etc...

enjo

In terms of influencing the masses to pick up guitar I'd go:

Hendrix
Clapton
EVH
BB King
Lennon
Slash