Is Jeff Beck the greatest guitarist of them all?

[Mord]

 Robin Trower was a third rate Hendrix imitator.  And, no, i have no numeric data to back that up. He may very well be a 5th rate Hendrix imitator.

[ChristineBCW]

Hep, at least you admit you have no evidence and aren't interested, and yet you dismiss Rolling Stone mag rankings then display even less, here.  You simply cannot prove greatest or best.  I am merely wondering what's wrong with your character so that your claim of "favorite" is so belittling to you?  What's wrong with a "favorite" listing?  Why do you hide behind a pretense of some universal numerically-provable factoid?

[Hepcat]

Most influential and well know in terms of guitarists.

Keith Richards.....first and foremost.

1. Eddie Van Halen(Let's all be honest. Prior to 1978 and the debut of Van Halen(1978)self-titled album. The guitar world changed, because of Eddie Van Halen. Literally thousands of guitarist copied or wanted to become the next Edward Van Halen.

2.Randy Rhodes, 'Nuff said( Ozzy Ozbourne)

3.Tony Iommi(Black Sabbath) Because of his finger accident in a foundry, Iommi's guitar tone also influenced
the future of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.

4. Jimi Hendrix

5. Jimmy Page(Led Zeppelin)

6. Eric Clapton(Cream)

7. Stevie Ray Vaughan

8. Ace Frehley(KISS...and yes, believe it or not Ace also inspired thousands of would-be guitarists)

9. Darrell Abbott(Dime Bagbag Darrell, Pantera)

10. Yngwie Malmsteen

Actually I prefer Rolling Stone's list from November 2016:

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Jimmy Page
4. Keith Richards
5. Jeff Beck
6. B.B. King
7. Chuck Berry
8. Edward Van Halen
9. Duane Allman
10. Pete Townshend
11. George Harrison
12. Stevie Ray Vaughan
13. Albert King
14. David Gilmour
15. Freddie King

I'd want to drop Eddie Van Halen because I just don't like his style of music, and I'd like to sneak Peter Green and Mike Bloomfield in there somewhere although I admit that their time in the limelight was far too brief.

[Hepcat]

Hep, at least you admit you have no evidence....

I did no such thing. In fact to this point I've provided infinitely more evidence than none. Granted I admitted that the evidence I've been providing is "limited", but limited is still a far cry from none. How though can whatever evidence be anything but limited regardless of how much I provide? Quite simply there can never be enough evidence when it comes to making subjective assessments, particularly in the field of music.

...and aren't interested....

You're right. Your requests to "...list every guitarist that has 100 or more other professionally successful guitarists listing them as influences. Show the numbers that qualify all guitarists as receiving highest respect-levels from all other guitarists." were so far beyond ridiculous that they could only merit immediate dismissal. Why would any rational man even consider such a Sisyphean task?

...and yet you dismiss Rolling Stone mag rankings....

Huh?! When/where did I dismiss Rolling Stone magazine?

...then display even less, here.

Of course I displayed less! I don't exactly have their staff. I'm not in the music mag publishing business.

You simply cannot prove greatest or best.

Yeah, so? I never asked anyone for "proof". Quite simply I know that subjective assessments of quality are not susceptible to proof. "Proofs" are in fact the exclusive purvey of mathematics (which incidentally I like). But that doesn't constitute reason to avoid discussing any questions of "greatest" or "best", especially on a discussion board.

Why do you hide behind a pretense of some universal numerically-provable factoid?

I neither hid behind any pretenses nor did I post any. What I posted was a simple poll. Whether any "factoids" come out of it remains to be seen - although you're not helping in this regard.

...so belittling to you? What's wrong with a "favorite" listing?

Huh?! When did I say I have a problem with listing favourites? By what stretch of logic did you leap to the conclusion that I find the word "favourite" belittling? I've used the word "Favourite" in the title of thirteen threads I've started here including one on the Rolling Stones just four below this one in the Music forum. In fact you yourself have recently been posting in another poll where I've used the word "Favourite" in the title:

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=13957.150

Plus another three on this front page alone:

http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?board=24.0

In fact I've started a whopping sixty polls on this board almost all of which use either the word "favourite" or very similar terminology. A quick minute and a half with the Search function would have provided plenty of evidence that the word is very dear to me indeed. Yet despite your previous willingness to make impossible demands on my time, it seems you couldn't even be bothered to do a quick Search....

I am merely wondering what's wrong with your character....

Many things I'm sure, but going out of my way to be a pest isn't one of them. Moreover a poll on Jeff Beck's place within the pantheon of guitar greats isn't exactly the most appropriate place to air our respective character flaws.

[Wicked Lester]

A great guitarist you never heard of. Brent Middlemiss 90's stoner band Datura.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr7TDJdbZnQ

[LugosiFan25]

The greatest (anything) of all time is whomever or whatever you enjoy the most. If Jeff Beck is the greatest guitarist of all time to you, that's cool. Not everyone has to agree. It's all subjective.

That's all that really matters.

[Mord]

 If you mention Keith Richards or Johnny Thunders (as influential), you also must include Chuck Berry. Listen  to any Berry guitar solo, and think of how many musicians are just amped up versions of that.

[Wolfman]

Least talked about, when lists of greatest guitarists come up: Tommy Bolin. If you never heard of him, look him up.

JP

[Hepcat]

If you mention Keith Richards or Johnny Thunders (as influential), you also must include Chuck Berry. Listen  to any Berry guitar solo, and think of how many musicians are just amped up versions of that.

Bo Diddley would be in the same vein:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeZHB3ozglQ

[Hepcat]

Beck's Bolero (with Jimmy Page adding slide guitar) and Morning Dew from Truth by the Jeff Beck Group:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlAAledRd_Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK86g9HONDA

And then a live take on Morning Dew by a later incarnation of the Jeff Beck Group with different members:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_EfBuscB8o

[Hepcat]

People Get Ready with vocals by Rod Stewart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC_j_dzkaVE

Mustang Sally by Buddy Guy with Jeff Beck guesting on guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TYWYDqr-TA

[Dr.Cyclops]

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

[Hepcat]

There you have it! Alice Cooper says Jeff Beck is the greatest.

[Wicked Lester]

IMO NO one can match Jimi Hendrix but very close is Gary Holt of Exodus and Rick Hunolt also Exodus. Exodus THE greatest thrash/Death metal band Ev-Er.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUdt53zcRtY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVf3wYkhnOk

[Dr.Cyclops]

It might be just me but comparing Metal Guitarists to Beck is like comparing Butchers to a Surgeon.