100 Guitarists

After seeing the recent Rolling Stone list of 100 greatest guitarists, a list that did not include Jerry Reed, I decided to make my own list. These are the guitarists that have the most influence on my music making abilities. I will try and write about all of these over the next week or so. Cheers.

1. Dan Warren - You've probably never heard of this guy. He's a long time friend of mine, and probably changed how I think about music more than anything else. Also, this guy can shred...haha.

2. Paul Moak - Another guy you've probably never heard of. He's a Nashville guy, primarily a session player. I first saw him live with Over The Rhine...his tone, effects, and guitar selection caused me to spend many, many dollars on gear. Also, this guy can shred.

3. The Edge - Obvious choice for me...I love delays, and he's the master of them.

4. Mark Lockett - Guitarist for a long forgotten band called The Normals. His solo in their song "Black Dress" is still my favorite guitar solo ever.

5. Vince Gill - For me, master of the Telecaster. Not only can this guy sing like an angel, he can shred country and jazz riffs like nobody else. Saw him live when I was young and will never forget it. One of the reasons that I play a Telecaster as my main guitar.

6. GE Smith - I used to see this guy on the bumpers during Saturday Nite Live back in the 80s and 90's. Every break he had a different guitar and a tasty riff. Oh, he also played with a little band called Hall and Oates...

7. Prince - No explanation needed.

8. David Gilmour - Again, no explanation needed. See "Comfortably Numb".

9. Nels Cline - Love his work with Wilco...his random spaz-shred freakouts never get old for me. Also, I bought a Jazzmaster because of him.

10. Brian May - The reason I play an AC30 amp...

11. Mark Knopfler

12. Waylon Jennings
13. Jerry Reed
14. Oz Fox
15. Michael Sweet
16. Robbie Robertson
17. Bruce Springsteen
18. Willie Nelson
19. Slash
20. Buddy Miller
21. Steve Morse
22. Glen Campbell
23. Roy Clark
24. Nuno Bettancourt
25. Steve Cropper
26. Jeff Buckley
27. Angus Young
28. Mike Campbell
29. Albert Lee
30. Danny Gatton
31. Billy Corgan
32. Frank Hannon
33. Tommy Skeoch
34. Reb Beach
35. Joe Perry
36. John Sykes
37. Paul Gilbert
38. Frank Zappa
39. Duane Allman
40. Derek Trucks
41. Doyle Dykes
42. Django Reinhart
43. Eric Johnson
44. Ted Nugent
45. Yngwie Malmsteen
46. Les Paul
47. Chet Atkins
48. Andy Summers
49. Phil Keaggy
50. Jay Bennett
51. Pete Townsend
52. Mike Keneally
53. Vernon Reid
54. Kaki King
55. Tim Kelly
56. Tom Scholz
57. Thurston Moore
58. Ric Hordinski
59. Jeremy Post
60. Buddy Guy
61. Shawn Lane
62. Orianthi
63. Steve Hunter
64. Dick Wagner
65. Steve Vai
66. John Petrucci
67. Dick Dale
68. Matt Slocum
69. Duke Erikson
70. Trey Anastachio
71. Mike McCready
72. Johnny Greenwood
73. Tommy Shaw
74. Dave Sabo
75. Steve Howe
76. Joe Pass
77. Leo Kottke
78. Richie Sambora
79. Zakk Wylde
80. Jay Farrar
81. Susan Tedeschi
82. Buckethead
83. Andy Timmons
84. Jennifer Batten
85. Marnie Stern
86. Jimmy Bryant
87. Jeff Baxter
88. Joe Bonamassa
89. Tommy Emmanuel
90. Dennis Agajanian
91. Will Sloan
92. Rob Spisky
93. John Moss
94. David Shaw
95. John Mayer
96. Adrian Belew
97. Daniel Lanois
98. Neil Young
99. Chris Whitley
100.Paul Reynolds