guitarists who think (and play) outside the box let's showcase them.

[Blazer]

Well as was shown in my Buckethead thread, not everybody gets him. Sure it's a free world and we all are entitled on our opinions but Buckethead isn't the only player out there who is rather "out there" and some of those players have quite interesting backgrounds and styles which are without a doubt clearly their own.

So whether you get them or not, let's start a thread about those guys who push the envelope waaaay out.

First up here's Primus' Larry Lalonde.

Now Lalonde comes from free jazz and its "anything goes" mantra, he isn't afraid to play through an extensive array of effects (As the intro of this particular song showcases) and play solos that are on the brink of atonality. But in the context of the Zappa-style music and Les Claypool's bassplaying it makes sense.

Then there's Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore of Sonic youth.

Both of these guys love strange tunings (All strings tuned to F#, sure why not?) playing with drumsticks and screwdrivers, rasping behind the bridge and using several overdrive pedals to get screeching feedback on command and yet they effortlessly go from total noise to a beautiful haunting melody with a wave of their hand.

Then there's David "Fuze" Fiuczynski of the Screaming headless torsos

Much like Larry Lalonde, Fiuczynski comes from the free Jazz but he's much more into dissonant chords, microtonality and eastern scales. He also is a fan of weird guitars with frets added in between the stock frets and playing fretless.

And here's another former-Jazz guy, Vernon Reid.

But different from Lalonde and Fiuczynski, Reid is more obvious a rocker but not your average shredder, you can tell that with him it's all about the feel, sure he plays fast but every note has meaning.

Can't forget the amazing Adrian Belew.

Working with Bowie, Zappa, Talking Heads and of course King Crimson, Belew is one of those guys who embraced the weird part of his playing and just completely went to town with it. Does it sound strange, F-ed up, good let's F it up even more.

And then there's Allan Holdsworth...

[tao_of_drew]

Where's Marc Ribot?

[IdahoPicker]

Annie Clark.

[hekawi]

Robert Fripp

[elihu]

Originally Posted by tao_of_drew

Where's Marc Ribot?

You know, Marc's just as good playing in the box. The same goes with Adrian Belew. The question should be is it good? But if you want to talk about your vacation in terms of what train you took to get there that's okay.

[cleanman]

I always thought Mahavishnu Orchestra guitar stuff quite interesting. Then theres Jimmy Page who firgured out if you built a nice box around what you do folks don't realize how outside you really are, I mean odd time rock & roll.

[Breen]

Blazer your post has made me go on a Holdsworth trip the entire night tonight.

The Fuze is one of my favorite musicians ever. I would definitely agree on the Annie Clark post.

[slauson slim]

Cleveland's Glenn Schwartz. Formerly of James Gang and Pacific Gas & Electric.

[Doug 54]

Jerry Donahue thinks and PHYSICALLY moves outside the box with his creative bends

[Collirem]

Nels Cline, Jerry Hahn, Al di Meola, and of course Zappa ......

[fezz parka]

[ianasdfg]

Joey Santiago

[Scantron08]

Originally Posted by ianasdfg

Joey Santiago

Amen.

[bigben55]

Buddy Guy, Hendrix, Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, and Tom Morello all played outside the box. They basically created the box, but looked at from a 2012 point of view, one may easily forget that.

[E5RSY]

Doug Martsch.

[afoolsparadise]

Rick Holmstrom - inspired by tradition, not bound by it.

[adjason]

I'd say Jerry Garcia- the way he could move in and out of the box and play the melody at will makes him a master in my book

[majorbugout]

Sonny Sharrock

[brookdalebill]

John Scofield jumps in and out of the box a lot.

[Suttykins]

Bill Frisell