Mikael Akerfeldtmile: happy to see Mike on here...I am an Opeth fanatic of sorts as well as Steven Wilson ! Akerfeldt and Wilson are soulmates and collaborate often.

Nick Dilley Wrote:For me...

(in no particular order)

Mikael Akerfeldtmile: happy to see Mike on here...I am an Opeth fanatic of sorts as well as Steven Wilson ! Akerfeldt and Wilson are soulmates and collaborate often.
Marty Friedman
Richard Thompson (the folk player)
Ani DiFranco
Steve Vai
David Gilmour
Richie Blackmore
Jesper Stromblad
Tony Iommi


EDIT: I guess these are just my favorite. Some I'd put in "greatest of all time," but others not so much. Ani DiFranco is beast finger picker, but I don't think she's one of "the greats." Tony Iommi, too, is awesome and his playing strikes a chord with me, but I appreciate him most for his creativity and not his playing ability, which is good. All the other guys in my list, though, are great players and writers, and that's why I'd put them on a pedestal.

Nick Dilley Wrote:Yeah, Akerfeldt has this thing going on where I feel like his solos are saturated with blues soul, but don't sound bluesy on the surface at all. Not to mention he is one of the most creative guitarists in terms of both rhythm and lead playing. But that's just my opinion!

nkjimipink Wrote:I have comprised a list of my top 20 guitarists of all time!
Do you guys have a list of guitarists? (obviously doesn't have to have 20 :p), maybe a top 10 or top 5. Tell me what you think of my list

:biggrin1: = Biggest influence on my playing

Here's my personal list;
1. Jimi Hendrix :biggrin1:
2. David Gilmour :biggrin1:
3. Pete Townshend
4. Jimmy Page
5. Carlos Santana
6. Duane Allman :biggrin1:
7. Frank Zappa
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Ritchie Blackmore
10. Ace Frehley
11. Angus Young
12. Jeff Beck
13. Robby Krieger
14. Steve Howe
15. Stevie Ray Vaughan
16. Tony Iommi
17. Buck Dharma
18. Eric Clapton
19. Robert Fripp
20. Jerry Garcia

gryphon Wrote:I don't know lots about Will but did find this

William Ackerman was born in West Germany but was adopted by a couple who lived in Palo Alto, California. A self-professed poet and musician who briefly studied guitar with Robbie Basho, Ackerman grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He attended the Northfield Mount Hermon School and Stanford University. Before finishing his studies at Stanford, Ackerman dropped out to become a carpenter.

I know also that will wanted to fuse the landscape of a place called Windham Hill with his music so being a carpenter he cut a tree from the area fashioned a guitar from it and decided that this was the perfect way to fuse both the nature of his favourite spot and his music.

He moved into a building on Windham hill and made it into a home and recording studio and launched the respected Windam Hill record label from there.............This allowed him to peruse his dream with other like minded musicians ( Check out the Windham Hill year complilations and you will see what I mean !) and he made his fortune from this venture...............

Jan Akkerman was born in the 'Jordaan' area of Amsterdam, the son of a scrap iron trader. At age five he took guitar lessons and his first single was released when he was fourteen years old. He was a member of Johnny and his Cellar Rockers, The Hunters and Brainbox, and joined the Thijs van Leer Trio in late 1969. They continued under the name Focus and scored a few worldwide hits in the seventies. In 1973 Akkerman was chosen 'Best Guitarist in The World' by the readers of the UK magazine, Melody Maker. His standing was such that he teamed up with manufacturer Framus to produce one of the first 'signature' guitar models.

I guess they are not elated but I can't be sure