The 100 best rock guitarists of all time. The most virtuoso and best guitarists in the world

If you decide to learn how to play guitar rock, then, one way or another, you will begin your journey into the world of music by purchasing an acoustic or electric guitar. Nowadays there are quite a few different manufacturers, types and lines of guitars for each of them. At times, my eyes widen. I will touch on the issue of choosing a guitar in future articles, but for now let's look at top ten best guitars in the world, in the sound of which you can be more than confident. After all, it’s not enough to know a couple of simple chords, learn the pentatonic boxes, be able to play the barre, or have several options for replacing the F chord; you also need to have a good, reliable instrument. A guitar that not only sounds great, but also suits the style of music you choose.

Among the best of the best you will find not only electric guitars, but also acoustic guitars. Since rock performers sometimes give unplugged (acoustic) concerts using all kinds of guitars, in our top guitars There will also be instruments for classical music and jazz. So, welcome to the world of legendary guitars, to the world of the best ever created by man. Luckily for us, these guitars can still be found in music stores in our cities. They are known all over the world because they have become iconic, just like their manufacturers.

Top 10: The best guitars in the world

1. Archtops D "Angelico

Archtops D"Angelico

Guitar master named John D'Angelico is the creator of the best jazz guitars in the history of the music genre. The instruments were called archtops. This word comes from a combination of the English nouns arch (arc) and top (top deck). A very accurate name for guitars whose tops are not flat, like classical guitars (see below), but have a curved top arc, like a violin. Another element that makes these instruments similar to violins is resonators in the shape of the Latin letter f. Therefore, if you see an enlarged six-string violin with saddles on the neck in your local music store, you should know that this is one of the archtops, perhaps a D'Angelico.
D "Angelico are high-level cans that are still produced and are mainly used in jazz. Although many famous bluesmen and rockers also like to use these wonderful instruments.

These archtops feature a rich and warm sound, elegant finishes and careful choice of materials.

Years of production of D"Angelico archtops: from 1932 to 1964, from 2011 to the present day.

Many guitarists love to play not only jazz and blues, but also enjoy flamenco and adore classical music. Classical Ramirez guitars were created for them, which most musicians consider the best of their kind. These guitars are named after their creator, Jose Ramirez. They were produced from the middle of the 19th century and significantly influenced the further production of classical guitars. It was Ramirez who replaced gut strings with nylon strings, which are now used in classical guitars and give us a rich sound.

Currently, Ramirez guitars also delight us with excellent craftsmanship and deep sound. They aren't cheap, but the guitars are worth it. According to Spanish tradition, the name Jose Ramirez was borne by several guitar makers - his heirs. He is also considered the founder of the Madrid School of Guitar Mastery.

Years of production of Ramirez classic guitars: mid-19th century - to this day.

Duet Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion (Metallica cover)

This wonderful guitar has been in production since 1963. It was thanks to her that we could hear the ringing and deep sound of such famous groups as the Beatles and Byrds. These are full body 12 string electric guitars. The ringing sound of early Beatles and Byrds guitars is the hallmark of the Rickenbacker 360-12. You will not confuse the sound of these guitars with any other guitars. The full body design made the sound warm and less "electric". Since the 1980s, these guitars have once again become popular with a new generation of musicians due to their unique sound.

Rickenbacker 360-12 production years: since 1963.

4.Martin D-28

Martin has been producing acoustic and dreadnought guitars since 1931. The Martin D-28 is one such guitar. Its distinctive feature is its booming bass tone and large body. Thanks to this, compositions performed on the Martin D-28 become recognizable from the first notes. As a result, acoustic guitars with metal strings began to be made with this design.

Years of production of Martin D-28: since 1931.

Perhaps you remember such country virtuoso as Chet Atkins? (Chet Atkins). So, the Gretsch 6120 is precisely his favorite musical instrument. However, this guitar was used by many rock and country fans in the 50s and 60s due to its bright sound and full-body design. Produced since 1954.

Gretsch 6120 production years: since 1954.

This is Gibson's first solid body electric guitar. It is considered one of the symbols of rock music and one of the most popular guitars in the world. Developed in early 1950 by Ted McCarthy and guitarist Les Paul. It has a rich base sound, making it an excellent instrument for playing hard rock and heavy metal. The Gibson Les Paul body is made with a single cutaway. The significance and popularity of this guitar is confirmed by the fact that a Les Paul 1959 Standard today costs at least $75,000.

Gibson Les Paul Years: since 1952.

This is a famous acoustic guitar with a strong sound and attractive appearance. The Gibson J-200, thanks to its steel strings and large body, began to be actively used by country guitarists. The year of birth of this guitar is 1937. The finishing of the guitar is also at the highest level: rosewood wood with a bright pattern, inlaid stands with a shape that looks a little like a mustache. Thanks to these characteristics, the Gibson J-200 has become one of the most popular acoustic guitars in the world, and rightfully entered the top ten best guitars in the world.

This is a guitar with a half body design. Developed since 1958. Its sound is reminiscent of large archtops and solid body guitars. This is exactly what the developers wanted to achieve when they released the Gibson ES-335. And they succeeded. The guitar has a distinctive acoustic tone that allows you to play both jazz and rock 'n' roll. This guitar was admired by English guitarist Andy Summers.

Gibson ES-335 Years: since 1958.

World famous solid body electric guitar with two pickups. The impressive design and wonderful sound set a new direction in the production of electric guitars. It was introduced in the fall of 1949 and became the first guitar of its kind to be produced in large quantities. Telecaster guitars became popular among country guitarists. The guitar's construction features an alder or ash body, maple neck, and standard electronics that remain a classic to this day.

Fender Telecaster Years: since 1954.

And closes our top 10 guitars Fender Stratocaster. The guitar was designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Friendy Tavares in 1954. It is still being produced, which proves its popularity. Its distinctive features: original sound, small size compared to jazz archtops and streamlined contours. This is what makes it the best electric guitar in the world, and every self-respecting music store should have a couple of Fender Stratocaster guitars in their inventory.

Fender Stratocaster Years: since 1954.

This is what the top ten looks like best guitars in the world.

Note

The review is based on a list top 10 guitars from Mark Philips (music director of Charry Lane Music) and John Chappell (editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine).

I hope that the information was useful to you and that you chose the desired guitar among them. And more rock and roll!

Although this list only includes the 10 best guitarists of all time, it would be remiss not to mention such talented musicians as Frank Zappa, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, Joe Satriani, David Gilmour and John Petrucci.

Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), better known by his stage name Bakethed, is an American multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Primarily known for his virtuoso electric guitar playing and eccentric appearance. As of 2012, he has released 40 studio albums, about 40 releases, and has participated in the recording of more than 50 works by other musicians. Mainly performs as a solo performer. His music covers such diverse areas as progressive metal, funk, blues, jazz, rock, avant-garde, etc.

John Anthony Frusciante (born March 5, 1970) is an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer. He is known as the former guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, from 1988 to 1992, and again from 1998 to 2009. Now he has an active solo career. As of 2013, he has released 11 individual albums and two as part of the Ataxia project.

Eric Patrick Clapton (born 30 March 1945) is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. For his significant contribution to musical culture, Clapton was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994. He is one of the most respected and influential guitarists of all time, and is the only musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: as a member of the rock bands The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist.

Seventh place on the list of the best guitarists in the world is occupied by Dave Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) - an American musician known as the founder, guitarist and lead singer of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Before founding, he played in one of the best rock bands of the 80s - Metallica.

Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer whose work is associated with such musical styles as acid rock, blues rock and jazz rock. Although his musical career spanned only four years, he is widely considered the most virtuoso and influential guitarist in the history of popular music, as well as one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes Hendrix as "arguably the greatest musician in the history of rock music."

His composition Hey Joe appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the work that was simultaneously performed by the largest number of guitarists. It was performed by 1876 guitars.

Fifth place in the ranking of the best guitarists of all time is occupied by Saul Hudson (born July 23, 1965), better known under the pseudonym "Slash", - a British-American musician and songwriter. He is more popular as the former guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a co-founder of the group Velvet Revolver (since 2002). Released three solo albums.

James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who is best known as the guitarist, founder and lifelong member of the popular rock band Led Zeppelin. Identified by many fans and critics as one of the best and most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: as a member of the Yardbirds (1992) and Led Zeppelin (1995).

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958) is an American actor, composer, singer and musician. Considered one of the most influential performers in rock music. Prince's work also covers such genres as funk, R&B, jazz-rock and many others. In each of them, he was an innovator: he broke all the boundaries of styles and mixed them into one whole, denoting his individuality. Throughout his career, Prince was awarded seven Grammy awards, as well as a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Second place in the ranking of the best guitarists in the world is taken by Charles Edward Anderson Berry (born October 18, 1926) - American guitarist, singer and songwriter. One of the most influential early rock and roll performers. Berry was one of the very first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The musician still performs weekly on Wednesdays at his club Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

The best guitarist in the world is Stevie Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) - a famous American guitarist and singer. Despite a short career spanning just seven years, he is considered one of the most influential guitarists in the world, as well as one of the most important figures in the blues revival of the 1980s. Died in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990, at the age of 35. In 1994, a memorial to Stevie Ray Vaughan was erected in Austin, Texas.

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Top 10 Greatest Guitarists, According to Rolling Stone Magazine

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outstanding American guitarist, singer and composer. In 2009, Time Magazine named Hendrix the greatest guitarist of all time. Widely recognized as one of the most daring and inventive virtuosos in rock history.

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an outstanding American guitarist who performed as part of The Allman Brothers Band, which he created with his brother Greg. Also known as a session guitarist.

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According to one critic, "B.B. King introduced us to a sophisticated style of guitar soloing, based on smooth bending and brilliant vibrato, that influenced almost every follower of electric guitar blues." One of his most famous compositions is “The Thrill Is Gone” (1969).

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His nickname is “slow hand”. Clapton became one of the most respected and influential musical figures of the rock era. His style changed over time, but he always stuck to his blues roots. He played with blues-rock bands (John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds), with hard rock bands (Cream), worked a lot solo and as a session musician.

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legendary American musician and songwriter, one of the most famous bluesmen of the 20th century.

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American singer, guitarist, songwriter. One of the founders of rock and roll.

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One of the most famous and influential guitarists in the world. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine awarded Stevie Ray Vaughn number seven on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists, and Classic Rock magazine ranked him number three on their list of "100 Coolest Guitar Heroes" in 2007.

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American guitarist, singer, composer and producer. He is also known for his masterful execution of the glissando technique. One of the most successful projects was the Buena Vista Social Club group.

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English musician, arranger, composer, music producer and outstanding rock guitarist, who stood at the origins of Led Zeppelin and remained the musical “brain” of the group until the very end. Before that, he was known as a session guitarist and member of The Yardbirds (from late 1966 to 1968).

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English guitarist and poet, together with Mick Jagger, forming the constant backbone of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones.

Blues singers can be called freedom singers. In their songs and in their music they sing about life itself, without embellishment, but at the same time with hope for brighter times. Here are the best blues performers of all time, according to the JazzPeople portal.

Top Blues Artists

They say that the blues is when a good person feels bad. We have collected the most famous blues singers, whose work reflects the structure of this difficult world.

B.B. King

King called all his guitars "Lucille". One story from concert activities is connected with this name. One day, during a performance, two men started a fight and knocked over a kerosene stove. This caused a fire, all the musicians hastily left the establishment, but B.B. King, risking himself, returned for the guitar.

Later, having learned that the cause of the fight was a woman named Lucille, he named his guitar that way as a sign that no woman was worth such nonsense.

For more than 20 years, King struggled with diabetes, which caused his death at the age of 89 on May 14, 2015.

Robert Leroy Johnson

- a bright but quickly passing star in the world of blues music - was born on May 8, 1911. In his youth, he met famous blues musicians Sun House and Willie Brown and decided to start playing blues professionally.

Several months of training with the team only resulted in the guy remaining a good amateur. Then Robert swore that he would play great and disappeared for several months. When he reappeared, his level of play became noticeably higher. Johnson himself said that he contacted the devil. The legend of a musician who sold his soul for the ability to play the blues has spread throughout the world.

Robert Leroy Johnson died at age 28 on August 16, 1938. He was allegedly poisoned by his mistress's husband. His family had no money, so he was buried in the municipal cemetery. Johnson's legacy is difficult to count - although he recorded very little himself, his songs were often performed by many world-famous stars (Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Bob Dylan).

Muddy Waters

- founder of the Chicago school - born on April 4, 1913 in the small town of Rolling Fork. As a child, he learned to play the harmonica, and in his teens he mastered the guitar.

A simple acoustic guitar didn't suit Muddy very well. He really started playing only at the moment when he switched to an electric guitar. The powerful rumble and abrupt voice glorified the aspiring singer and performer. In essence, Muddy Waters' work straddles the line between blues and rock and roll. The musician died on April 30, 1983.

Gary Moore

- famous Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter - born April 4, 1952. In his career, he experimented a lot with different types of music, but still gave preference to the blues.

In one of his interviews, Moore admitted that he likes the dialogue that arises between vocals and guitar in blues. This opens up a wide field for experimentation.

Interestingly, although Gary Moore was left-handed, he learned to play the guitar as a right-hander from childhood and performed this way throughout his life until his death on February 6, 2011.

Eric Clapton

- one of the most influential figures in British rock - born March 30, 1945. The only musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times - twice as part of bands and once as a solo artist. Clapton played in various genres, but always gravitated towards the blues, which made his playing recognizable and characteristic.

Sonny Boy Williamson I and II

Sonny Boy Williamson, American blues harmonica player and singer, was born on December 5, 1912.

There are two famous Sonny Boy Williamsons in the world. The fact is that Sonny Boy Williamson II took the pseudonym of the same name in honor of his idol - Sonny Boy Williamson I. The fame of the second Sonya greatly overshadowed the legacy of the first, although it was he who was an innovator in his field.

Sonny Boy was one of the most famous and original harmonica players. He is distinguished by a special style of performance: simple, melodic, smooth. The lyrics of his songs are subtle and lyrical.

Williamson II valued personal comfort rather than fame, so he sometimes allowed himself to disappear for a couple of months to rest, and then reappear on stage. Sonny Boy Williamson II passed away on May 25, 1965.

Rock and roll is about 70 years old, jazz and blues are a little over a hundred years old each. During this time, a huge number of musical eras, idols and groups have changed. Hundreds of genre branches have appeared in each direction, new styles, sound, presentation, and character of the music. And in every genre there have always been those who, thanks to hard work and talent, stood out from the mass of musicians and left a mark on history. Today we will talk about the best guitarists of all time, according to the most influential and authoritative publications and musicians.

Top 10 best rock guitarists

10th place

Photo from website: guitarplanet.eu

Rounding out the top 10 is Joe Satriani. He is one of the greatest guitar virtuosos according to Classic Rock magazine. Having started practicing and giving concerts while still in school, Joe quickly developed his virtuoso abilities. After school, he taught this business for almost 10 years. Such world-class stars as Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai learned to play the guitar from him. In 1984, Joe founded the group "Squares", which, however, could not achieve any success, and the master himself began to develop a solo career. He has 23 solo albums to his credit. Since 1993, Joe had been a musician in the band Deep Purple for a year, replacing Ritchie Blackmore on tour, but despite a warm welcome and an offer to stay, he left the band, not wanting to take Ritchie’s place. During his career, he was nominated for a Grammy Award 15 times, but never won it. Today, Joe is 62 years old; his next album, Shockwave Supernova (2015), was released not long ago.

9th place

Photo from the site: dazzledreams.com.ua

Jimmy Page is located here (what would have happened if Tsoi had not been shot down by Ikarus). The British musician also began to develop his skills from school. At the age of 14 he was already performing on the BBC with his country covers. During his life he played in such bands as The Yardbirds, The Kinks and, of course, Led Zeppelin, which became one of the most successful rock bands in history. They essentially laid the foundations of heavy metal. After the group's breakup in 1980, Jimmy actively pursued a solo career, constantly performing at all sorts of concerts, both charitable and not so much. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire and the ECHO Award. Today Jimmy is 72 years old, and he is preparing for another world tour with Chris Cornell.

8th place

American Ryland "Ry" Peter Cooder became a famous guitarist largely due to his ability to masterfully use a slide. His most successful project is Buena Vista Social Club. Rai himself masterfully plays not only the guitar, but also the mandolin and saz, and he has as many as 5 Grammy Awards and 37(!) albums.

7th place

Stephen (Stevie) Ray Vaughn lived a short and colorful life, managing to become one of the most famous and influential guitarists in the world in the allotted 35 years (according to Rolling Stone and Classic Rock magazines). Despite the fact that he is considered a rock guitarist, it was Stevie who, with his unique “subtle” style, initiated the revival of the popularity of blues in the 80s.

6th place

The next position in the top is occupied by the living legend of rock and roll, Chuck Berry. Through his example, the Grammy winner and author of 20 albums and 51 singles personifies the true American dream. Chuck grew up in a dysfunctional large family in one of the black areas of St. Louis. Difficult relations with the authorities, poverty, disrespect for African-Americans, two terms in prison - all this more than once unsettled Chuck, but each new page of his life gave charge to a new unknown round of development of his musical search. While Berry was serving his second sentence in prison, his hits were covered by such gurus as the Beatles and the Yardbirds, so Chuck's fame did not fade. On October 18, 2016, on his 90th birthday, Chuck announced the release of his first album in 38 years in 2017. So the world will still receive a portion of killer rock and roll!

5th place

In the middle of our top is Robert Johnson, the bluesman thanks to whom we know the blues today as it is. There was a legend in musical circles that Robert sold his soul to the devil for his guitar talent, and he himself sang about it in his songs. Despite the fact that he cannot be called a pure rock guitarist, his contribution to the creation of rock and roll cannot be denied. And as often happens with great people, the guitarist’s fate ended abruptly and suddenly for everyone - judging by rumors, he was killed by the jealous husband of his next passion. During his short life (just 27 years old), Johnson wrote 29 songs and three recording sessions.

4th place

Photo from the site:
boltimeter.livejournal.com

Here is the most famous guitarist of the 20th century, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Eric Patrick Clapton. He has 23 solo and 38 albums with various groups, of which there were many: Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse, The Yardbirds, The Immediate All-Stars, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie, Vivian Stanshall and the Sean Head Showband, Derek and the Dominos. Clapton performed solo in the legendary “While my guitar gently weeps” by the Beatles, and in 1993 he received a Grammy Award in all the main categories “Album of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Record of the Year”.

3rd place

The top three is opened by the mastodon of blues and rock and roll, BB King. In fact, it was this man who was rightly named the King of the Blues. His technique is based on beautiful bending and chic vibrato, which inevitably influenced the entire development of blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll in history. The King has 15 Grammys, more than 40 albums and dozens of various awards. Unfortunately, in 2015, B.B. King died of diabetes at the age of 89.

2nd place

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Duane Allman, nicknamed Skydog, deserves second place in the list of the greatest guitarists of all time. Like all real rock and rollers, Dwayne lived in this world for only 24 years, but managed to imprint himself in history with a loud and striking step in the development of rock. The musician competently intertwined blues, country and rock in one genre. Dwayne and his brother founded The Allman Brothers Band and they only managed to release one album. However, in 1995, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which confirms the view that the number of albums does not always matter. The guitarist's life was cut short in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24.

1 place

How nice it is to see a native Russian face at the top of our list! Meet Yuri Loza, the idol of a generation and the author of the song “The Raft,” one of the greatest compositions in the world. In any case, Yuri himself said so on the air of Russian Radio in Voronezh. No one could give a more objective assessment of the world rock scene than Loza: “80% of what Led Zeppelin sang is impossible to listen to, simply because it is sung poorly. The Rolling Stones - they have never tuned a guitar in their entire lives. Mitya Jagger didn’t hit a single note.”

But seriously, the name of the real leader of the “Top 10 Best Rock Guitarists” will come as no surprise to anyone.

Real 1st place

Jimi Hendrix became a guitar rock legend during his lifetime. He became famous for his masterly use of the instrument and his courage in experiments. Jimi completely changed the face of rock music as such, opening up hundreds of new ways for the instrument to sound. The young guitarist played in such bands as The Blue Flames, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, Band of Gypsys. Hendrix was an exceptional idealist and could rewrite both guitar and vocal parts 40 times in search of the best sound. Unfortunately, Hendrix joined “Club 27”, dying under strange circumstances: according to experts, he either himself or forcibly took 9 sleeping pills and died in his hotel room in England. The world inherited 350 of his recordings and hundreds of live performances recorded on all media existing at that time.

These were the 10 best guitarists according to the most authoritative world publications and musicians. After each of these people, the very appearance of rock music changed and never returned to its previous state. These people moved and are moving music forward, paving it with new unknown paths of development!