NPR

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Paco Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

Andy Summers?

Hal Jordan wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:13 am Andy Summers?

The thread is just our usual name your favourite guitarists. Andy is as unique as most. Reggae/new wave syncopation coupled with Copeland's tight punk meets jazz meets reggae unique and interesting drumming. Great combination along with Sting.

Always liked the Doors melding of a jazz drummer, classically trained pianist and blues guitarist.

Martin Barre

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:04 am

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Pace Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

Have a listen to Watermelon in Easter Hay by Zappa, sounds very much like an influence on Prince, which surprised me.

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:36 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:04 am

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Pace Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

Have a listen to Watermelon in Easter Hay by Zappa, sounds very much like an influence on Prince, which surprised me.

Zappa is incredibly influential but doesn't often get the big acknowledgements.

Obviously Hendrix, Gilmour, May, Page, Clapton, Beck and Van Halen

The Edge
Billy Corgan
Noel Gallagher
Bob Mould
Slash
Carlos Santana
Lindsey Buckingham

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 10:36 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:04 am

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Pace Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

Have a listen to Watermelon in Easter Hay by Zappa, sounds very much like an influence on Prince, which surprised me.

Had never listened to that before and wondered what you meant until about 4 minutes in. And yeah, from that bit, my best guess would have been Prince if asked.

BTW, not related to this thread but if you hadn't ever heard this:

Greg Mackintosh
Andrew Craighan
Jeff Hanneman

Mackintosh has this unique lead guitar tone that is central to most Paradise Lost classics. A blend of heavy metal and gothic/wave tones.

Craighan maybe not so much for his own playing but his song writing - the way he makes two guitars spiral around each other is unique to My Dying Bride.

Hanneman played solos without any discernible melodies - outbursts that were more Sonic Youth than thrash metal. It would never take more than a few notes to hear whether it was Hannemann or Kerry King playing a solo on any Slayer tune.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:04 am

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Paco Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

Well yes, Prince was one of the many who picked up on Hendrix’s techniques like the thumb around the fret neck - but much later of course. And being a left hander (playing a right handed guitar reverse strung) Jimi’s sound appeared to me and many others at the time as wholly unique. I’m a huge fan of Prince, but Hendrix stood out like no other in my recollection.

I always thought a few had a real distinct sound
BB King
Clapton
Derek Trucks think you hear he never uses picks.

Dan54 wrote: Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:47 am I always thought a few had a real distinct sound
BB King
Clapton
Derek Trucks think you hear he never uses picks.

Just a few?

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:45 am

That reminds me, I must watch Trainspotting one day.

Bill Nelson.

Mr Bungle wrote: Thu Apr 08, 2021 3:03 am

Dan54 wrote: Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:47 am I always thought a few had a real distinct sound
BB King
Clapton
Derek Trucks think you hear he never uses picks.

Just a few?

Well all I could think of at the time. I know there more I hear like Albert King etc but have to actually hear them now to remind me. I was going to add Lightning Hopkins, but still not sure if it not his voice or guitar that springs out at me.

Chuck Berry
Neil Young
Jim Heath

Forgot Peter Green who I don't think was mentioned yet

tabascoboy wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 6:58 am Forgot Peter Green who I don't think was mentioned yet

Syd Barrett.

Stevie Vais' Ibanez jem. The longest artist endorsed model on the planet ( unless you count Les Paul).
I have one that is 30 years old.
It still feels like I am playing a guitar from the future.

The most distinct "guitarist" is Alan Holdsworth btw.


A true English genius, who all the guitar gods looked up to.

Surely the two most distinctive guitarists both had the very basic clean styles, but played their guitars at different ends of the sound spectrum. - and both influenced generations of guitarists

Duane Eddy iand Hank Marvin

Line6 HXFX wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:58 am The most distinct "guitarist" is Alan Holdsworth btw.


A true English genius, who all the guitar gods looked up to.

Could you still classify him as a musician, or was he part contortionist, part mathematician whose product happened to be sound?

Can't say I've ever managed to enjoy one of his songs, but he was objectively incredible.

Jack Black

Lol, White, Jack White.

I'm more on the "there's no such thing as unmistakable really, let's settle for fairly recognizable'" side.
Not mentioned above:
Richie Blackmore, though it's probably his distinctive riffs.
John Renbourn, I could pick (haha) him up a few times not knowing the piece. Ok, once I thought it was Jansch.
Dave Davies, for a while, had an absolutely unique sound.
Khalil Chahine maybe. Again, not easy to tell for certain between the guitar sound itself, the engineering (amp etc.), the
composition.

Johnny Cash in his boom/jangly days

clydecloggie wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 2:32 pm

Line6 HXFX wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:58 am The most distinct "guitarist" is Alan Holdsworth btw.


A true English genius, who all the guitar gods looked up to.

Could you still classify him as a musician, or was he part contortionist, part mathematician whose product happened to be sound?

Can't say I've ever managed to enjoy one of his songs, but he was objectively incredible.

I too stand back and wonder ...just wtf is happening.
The thing with jazz is it is pure improvisation.
My feeble knowledge of music is just swamped tbh.

I could recognise a Jay Mascis solo from the other side of the galaxy.

Three Steve's
SRV
Steve VAi
Steve Howe

Many distinctive guys out there.

For me the father of great electric would be Joe Satriani. Surfing with the alien was superb.

But Hendrix... it’s hard to beat that for distinctive brilliance

Ali Cadoo wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:10 pm I could recognise a Jay Mascis solo from the other side of the galaxy.

Not entirely sure about that as his sound is so heavily influenced by Neil Young's Crazy Horse work. Not sure I'd know which is which all the time.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:04 am

Un Pilier wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 9:00 pm Hendrix, Shirley. Unmistakeable.

I'd think Prince could have done a Hendrix piece and very few could have discerned the player. Aside from styles giving away many players, the other difficulty is "less is more" often, so much trickier to spot Prince playing a blues piece than Greg Lake going full on prog for 30 mins.

Was tempted to chuck in Paco Pena but in truth, I couldn't tell him from many other flamenco experts.

I toured with Paco Pena as stage manager back in the day.

[/Globus]

yermum wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 3:04 pm

Guy was a genius…

Great shouts, all around. Here's Prince.

Ymx wrote: Sun Apr 25, 2021 5:17 pm Many distinctive guys out there.

For me the father of great electric would be Joe Satriani. Surfing with the alien was superb.

But Hendrix... it’s hard to beat that for distinctive brilliance

I've a guitar signed by Joe!

Cannot let the late but wonderful J J Cale. Clapton was a great fan.

Completely off the wall. Jon Gomm.

Lindsay Buckingham is no slouch either!

Carlos Santana is pretty distinctive

Thor Sedan wrote: Wed Jun 16, 2021 11:38 am Carlos Santana is pretty distinctive

Agreed. I know of a few session guitarists who are largely in the forgotten world. Unsung heroes.

One of them is Steve Cropper. A riff from "Soul Man". Listen to him in the background.

For Stax records, I'm your man!



Love the brass backing too.

For interest here's William Bell.



Produced by Booker T.