Self-Proclaimed Best Guitar Players - Who are they?

[Donny Osmond fan]

Over the years, I've heard and heard tell about guitar players of the Great Rock Age who proclaimed themselves the best ever, or best in the world.

I did a search or two, and there's no easy to see list.

Let's make one

First entry: Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple

View attachment 1103664

Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, BB King, John Stamos, Chet Atkins, Charlie Pride, James Burton, Chuck Berry, George Benson, Barney Kessel, Roy Smeck, and Jerry Reed.

 

[ElvisNixon]

I love the fact that I have no idea who that is
ps: please don’t tell me. It seems fitting…

He’s gotta be good to wear a poodleskin hat like that.

 

[rz350]

I'll just say Jimi Hendrix, I listen to everything he plays....

 

[Engine Swap]

He’s gotta be good to wear a poodleskin hat like that.

Yeah, I can’t figure out the Davy Crockett angle..

 

[ZackyDog]

I'm pretty good, but your guitarist is (way?) better than me. --- Jimi Hendrix to Walt Parazaider of Chicago.

Terry Kath was the original guitarist for Chicago.

 

[Hodgo88]

Similarly I love me some Chet and some Tommy but the idea of someone being a Certified Guitar Player always cracked me up

 

[Milspec]

I would toss in Roy Clark. The only thing greater than his ability was the size of his ego regarding that ability.

 

[Peegoo]

I always wondered how you pronounce his name. Now I know, and I will pronounce it that way henceforth.

He's Yngcredible!

 

[ElvisNixon]

Whenever anyone including journalists and tv commentators would ask if he thought he was the greatest guitarist or they implied he was, Chet Atkins would always say that Lenny Breau was the best guitarist to ever exist.

 

[RodeoTex]

Chet Atkins with his "certified guitarist" BS. He certified himself and Jerry Reed and a couple others.
Of course he brought in the countrypolitan thing and left us with Nashville Pop.

 

[Dan German]

I would toss in Roy Clark. The only thing greater than his ability was the size of his ego regarding that ability.

Interesting (and disappointing). Not that I did any research into it, but I never heard that about him. I met him as a kid, and he was the nicest guy ever.

 

[brookdalebill]

Whenever anyone including journalists and tv commentators would ask if he thought he was the greatest guitarist or they implied he was, Chet Atkins would always say that Lenny Breau was the best guitarist to ever exist.

Lenny was as inspiring as he was tragic.
He was astounding before he was 20.
He was championed by other great players, like Chet, Tal Farlow, George Benson, Andy Summers and Ted Greene.
I absolutely love his playing.
His approach was very Bill Evans-like.
He was murdered while in his early 40’s.
A terrible loss.

 

[ElvisNixon]

Chet Atkins with his "certified guitarist" BS. He certified himself and Jerry Reed and a couple others.
Of course he brought in the countrypolitan thing and left us with Nashville Pop.

Oh, I’m not defending Chet’s certification and his mixing of elevator music with pop country while he was president of RCA records Nashville.

He humbled up in his elder years.

 

[NoTeleBob]

Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, BB King, John Stamos, Chet Atkins, Charlie Pride, James Burton, Chuck Berry, George Benson, Barney Kessel, Roy Smeck, and Jerry Reed.

I don't think BB King belongs in there. A very humble guy. His Master Class is out on youtube. Go through it and tell me he's not one of the most humble guys to ever play at a stellar level.

 

[TeleTucson]

Another negative thread for pooping on accomplished artists. Seems to be an increasing trend on this site.

 

[msalama]

I don't think BB King belongs in there

Me neither. I've never met him myself, but a musician acquaintance of mine has and he's always said BB's just the nicest guy ever.

 

[ZackyDog]

Chet Atkins with his "certified guitarist" BS. He certified himself and Jerry Reed and a couple others.
Of course he brought in the countrypolitan thing and left us with Nashville Pop.

But Chet gave credit to his idols like Les Paul.

 

[ElvisNixon]

Lenny was as inspiring as he was tragic.
He was astounding before he was 20.
He was championed by other great players, like Chet, Tal Farlow, George Benson, Andy Summers and Ted Greene.
I absolutely love his playing.
His approach was very Bill Evans-like.
He was murdered while in his early 40’s.
A terrible loss.

Lenny was otherworldly. He recorded what’s now known as the album “Boy Wonder at age 15. He absolutely nails several Merle Travis stuff on an acoustic and Chet using an electric.

In addition to your list above, He also had a huge influence on Danny Gatton and they played together a lot when Danny lived in Nashville for a somewhat brief time. Danny would always find a way to mention Lenny just about every time I saw him live.

There’s a live record with Tal Farlow and Lenny called “Chance Meeting”. Granted; Tal was getting older, but it was a massacre. Tal was really thrown off his game by Lenny’s jazz chops. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tal Farlow.

Boy Wonder:



Chance Meeting (Lenny and Tal do Cherokee). There’s also a great 45 minute or so documentary about Tal and Lenny sitting around jamming and talking music on YT if you’re interested.

 

[rz350]

Oh sorry, Jimi said on the Dick Cavett show that he was the best guitar player sittting in the chair at that moment.....

He didn't think he was that good...

 

[msalama]

Oh yeah, Ace Frehley. A hack guitarist with an ego the size of a whale.