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By Jeff Shaw<br />
Ever since Les Paul perfected the solid body electric<br />
guitar in the 1940s, and more and more musicians<br />
picked them up, the age old question has<br />
been: Who is the greatest guitarist in the world?<br />
The answer is simple: It all depends on your personal<br />
taste. Shredders, with their lightning fast<br />
licks. The more melodic players, with their mellow<br />
tones. The jazz guys. The country “pickers”. Anybody<br />
could make a case for their favorite guitarist,<br />
and nobody can tell them any differently.<br />
To me, there is a combination of things that goes<br />
into making a great guitarist. The tone (I’ve always<br />
liked the tone Brian May has). Technical ability.<br />
Face it, the first time you heard “Eruption” from<br />
the first Van Halen album in ‘78, you had two reactions:<br />
The first being that you lost your mind.<br />
The second was “How the hell does he do that?”.<br />
Or maybe the neoclassical style of Malmsteen is<br />
your thing. The smooth jazz sounds of either Norman<br />
Brown or Grant Geissman? The blues? Joe<br />
Bonamassa, Gary Moore, Albert Guy.<br />
Anyway, whoever is your favorite is the greatest<br />
guitarist in YOUR world. So put in on, turn it up,<br />
and FEEL it.<br />
Now if you’ll excuse me, David Van Buckethead is<br />
calling, and I must listen.<br />
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