100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

Criteria: - This list is intended for those musicians whose primary instrument throughout their careers has been or is now the acoustic guitar. It is based upon their individual originality, innovation, technique & influence within this genre. It does NOT include the Pioneers of Blues, Jazz, Classical, or the Latin acoustic influenced genre's such as Flamenco, or those modern guitarists who have recorded or performed their music in an occaisonal "unplugged" setting.
As with all lists, this is a subjective list and makes no claim of an official nature.
List compiled by and Editor: Rick Varner

1. Michael Hedges
2. Leo Kottke
3. Chet Atkins
4. Phil Keaggy
5. John Fahey
6. Adrian Legg
7. Merle Travis
8. John Renbourn
9. Bert Jansch
10. Tommy Emmanuel
11. Norman Blake
12. Doc Watson
13. Preston Reed
14. Laurence Juber
15. Martin Simpson
16. Don Ross
17. Nick Webb
18. Pierre Bensusan
19. Jorma Kaukonen
20. Sandy Bull
21. John Martyn
22. William Ackerman
23. Billy McLaughlin
24. Doyle Dykes
25. Steve Tibbetts
26. David Bromberg
27. Peter Lang
28. Kelly Joe Phelps
29. Tony Rice
30. Davy Graham
31. Alex deGrassi
32. Monte Montgomery
33. Richard Leo Johnson
34. Gayla Drake Paul
35. Peppino D'Agostino
36. Bill Mize
37. Al Petteway
38. Peter Finger
39. Robbie Basho
40. El McMeen
41. Greg Carmichael
42. Pat Kirtley
43. Peter Huttlinger
44. Benjamin Woolman
45. Stephen Bennett
46. Richard Smith
47. Kaki King
48. Martin Carthy
49. Peter Rowan
50. Sam Pacetti
51. Richard Gilewitz
52. Stefan Grossman
53. Tim Reynolds
54. Miles Gilderdale
55. Craig Chaquico
56. Brooks Williams
57. Doug Smith
58. Peter Ostroushko
59. Tommy Jones
60. D.R. Auten
61. Dirk Freymuth
62. Eric Tingstad
63. Peter Roller
64. Paul Geremia
65. Douglas Niedt
66. William Coulter
67. Tim Farrell
68. Arlen Roth
69. Dan Schwartz
70. Matthew Montfort
71. Jaquie Gipson
72. Roy Harper
73. Muriel Anderson
74. Artie Traum
75. Robin Bullock
76. Thom Bresch
77. David Wilcox
78. Tracy Moore
79. Steve Baughman
80. Buster B. Jones
81. Joni Mitchell
82. Edward Gerhard
83. Pat Donohue
84. Mike Dowling
85. Tony McManus
86. Dave Mallany
87. Tim Sparks
88. David Grier
89. Orville Johnson
90. Sean Harkness
91. George Villiers
92. Rick Ruskin
93. Greg Neaga
94. Dorian Michael
95. Charles David Alexander
96. Tom Long
97. Jerry Reed
98. Jim Earp
99. Kenny Sultan
100. Michael Dunn

George · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 4165

i think leo's comments and storytelling are as good as his guitar playing... waddaguy!

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

6 & 12 String stills gets a lot of air time for me. Thanks for sharing.

rockvirtuoso · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:36 pm **Posts:** 2351

andrew york is classical. robbie basho and jerry reed are far too low, how can they be behind someone like joni mitchell?

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

rockvirtuoso wrote:

andrew york is classical. robbie basho and jerry reed are far too low, how can they be behind someone like joni mitchell?

please refer to the criteria

rockvirtuoso · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:36 pm **Posts:** 2351

are you taking the piss? andrew york is classical, i dont need to read your criteria to know that.
but anyway here's the criteria:
originality, innovation, technique & influence and joni mitchell doesnt beat either of those two guys in one of those 4 criteria. so its clear; reed and basho are far too low

BayPineapple · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:30 pm **Posts:** 373

Criteria always wins over the opinion when it comes to any greatest of all time lists.

George · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 4165

BayPineapple wrote:

Criteria always wins over the opinion when it comes to any greatest of all time lists.

what in the world is that supposed to mean? criteria are just categories of opinion that count, nothing more.

BayPineapple · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:30 pm **Posts:** 373

George wrote:

BayPineapple wrote:

Criteria always wins over the opinion when it comes to any greatest of all time lists.

what in the world is that supposed to mean? criteria are just categories of opinion that count, nothing more.

what I meant was that in order to make a valid list you need to put opinion aside and look at it objectively :durr:

George · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 4165

like, how? quantiatively rather than qualitatively?

The Seeker · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:53 am **Posts:** 810

Rick

Can Stochelo Rosenberg get in here somewhere - maybe 70's ?

I know its easy to say 'Django wannabee', but hes a magnificent player in hs own right.

George · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 4165

wouldn't that open the doors to all gypsy jazz guitarists? there are a few others who would be more deserving than stochelo

The Seeker · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:53 am **Posts:** 810

George wrote:

wouldn't that open the doors to all gypsy jazz guitarists? there are a few others who would be more deserving than stochelo

Hi George - Surely that door is already open. This is a greatest acoustic guitarist list. Are you suggesting that 'Gypsy players' are somehow not to be included?

I suggest Stochelo as he is the oen I know best through his links to you know who. If this a genre that is under-represented on the list, then maybe that should be addressed.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

The Seeker wrote:

Rick

Can Stochelo Rosenberg get in here somewhere - maybe 70's ?

I know its easy to say 'Django wannabee', but hes a magnificent player in hs own right.

I agree, an incredible player and he'll be included in a new and separate acoustic list which will incorporate a broader perspective of acoustic guitarists. In fact any nominations would be welcomed.

George · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:43 am **Posts:** 4165

jaquie gipson is a fingerstyle guitar legend

100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists

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