NationStates Jolt Archive

Overated:Eddie(I know im going to get a lot of Flak for this)Van Halen,Brain May,Brian Gilmore
Underrated:Joe Walsh,Gary Rossington,Billy Gibbons

Gary Rossington definitely qualifies for most underated guitarist ever.

I'd agree with Eddie being overrated as a guitarist. Although I think the most underrated guitarist is Tom Morello.

The most overrated guitarist AND rock musician is Lenny Kravitz.

Van Halen's "Eruption" is one of the best guitar solos/songs I've heard. :(

Most Overrated: Eddie Van Halen
Most Underrated: Eddie Van Halen

You figure it out.

what about those indie underground guitarists like East Bay Ray of the dead kennedys?

Over-rated: Eric Clapton
Under-rated: Robert Johnson

The most overrated guitarist AND rock musician is Lenny Kravitz.
Naw, I don't think anyone seriously rates him (I mean apart from sycophantic rock journos and Lenny himself of course), so how can he be over-rated?

what about those indie underground guitarists like East Bay Ray of the dead kennedys?

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the DKs, but the guitar work wasn't really that complicated. (but it was very very fast at times, i'll grant that)

I think perhaps that Kim Thayil from Soundgarden deserves some credit.

Agreed on Eric Clapton being overrated...he may be "technically" good, but he has no emotion whatsoever that I can detect in his playing. I'd rather listen to someone who is not as technically talented (though reasonable, of course), but who plays with SOUL.

I'm so gonna get stoned for this... but the most overrated is Jimi Hendrix...

He may not be the *most* underrated, but Mark Knopfler isn't given the recognition he deserves.

Gary Rossington definitely qualifies for most underated guitarist ever.
Ooooh hell yeah. Everybody from Skynyrd was great. But Rossignton is actually still alive though.

Also, Angus Young is a great guitarist, but I wouldnt say he is either under or overrated.

Peter Frampton is a waaaay underrated guitarist.

He may not be the *most* underrated, but Mark Knopfler isn't given the recognition he deserves.
Definitely, Sultans of Swing proves that.

I'm so gonna get stoned for this... but the most overrated is Jimi Hendrix...

I think Jimi is rated exactly where he should be. Neither over nor under.

He is "ARGUABLY" the best ever. As he should be. Arguably. Because he really doesn't compare properly to anyone else.

The most overrated guitarist AND rock musician is Lenny Kravitz.
Kravitz is just a Hendrix impersonateor. Hendrix was the real thing.

I think Jimi is rated exactly where he should be. Neither over nor under.

He is "ARGUABLY" the best ever. As he should be. Arguably. Because he really doesn't compare properly to anyone else.
Well thats not my opinion of him...

Well thats not my opinion of him...
Mine either. Many people will say "Jimi Hendrix" as a reflex to the question "Who is the best guitarist?" just like people will say "Stairway to Heaven" to the question "What is the best rock song ever?", though.

Well thats not my opinion of him...

Fair enough. :)

My favorite Jimi Hendrix song to demonstrate why I like him as a guitarist is 'Hear My Train A'comin" the acoustic version. He played it live without accompaniment in front of a group of reporters. Just Jimi and a 12-string acoustic guitar and a metronome. Really showcases his talent. In my opinion.

I think that John McLaughlin (Shakti, Mahavishnu, etc.), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) and The Edge (U2) are underrated.

I think that Jimi Hendrix, Angus Young and Slash are all mega-overrated. Not bad, just overrated.

Mine either. Many people will say "Jimi Hendrix" as a reflex to the question "Who is the best guitarist?" just like people will say "Stairway to Heaven" to the question "What is the best rock song ever?", though.

Yeah, but then again, that doesn't necessarily disqualify either from contention simply because lots of people agree on that pick.

For my vote, much like philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato and Aristotle, modern rock is a series of footnotes to Chuck Berry, who was the first rock musician to really put the guitar through it's paces, and Jimi Hendrix, who took that basic style and amped it into the stratosphere. Everything else that is rock, whether you talk Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Metallica, or Black Sabbath, is just a refinement of what Hendrix did.

I know I'll get slammed...

Cliff Burton - the things that man could do with a bass...

The most over-rated guitarist of all time is :

Jimmy Page.

Mind you, I'm not saying hes not great, or that he doesnt deserve much praise for the awesome work he did with Zepplin...

But, many people on this site, say he is the greatest, and that simply isnt true.

Page was sloppy, and could rarely play a song the same way twice, even when he tried.

The most under-rated guitarist ever:

Toni Iommi of Black Sabbath.

Iommi pioneered the crunching heavy metal riffs we all know and every metal band imitates to this day.
Yet, on nearly every "greatest Guitarist" polls....he gets snubbed.
Modern metal, or even rock, wouldnt be the same if it werent for Iommi.

Everything else that is rock, whether you talk Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Metallica, or Black Sabbath, is just a refinement of what Hendrix did.

Not true.

Take it from a guitar player, Sabbath and Hendrix's music were nothing alike.
Sabbath used a lot of power chords, as where Hendrix was straight blues.

Hendrix, IS the greatest guitarist ever, but his music, and Toni Iommi's werent very similiar.

The most under-rated guitarist ever:

Toni Iommi of Black Sabbath.

Iommi pioneered the crunching heavy metal riffs we all know and every metal band imitates to this day.
Yet, on nearly every "greatest Guitarist" polls....he gets snubbed.
Modern metal, or even rock, wouldnt be the same if it werent for Iommi.
Damn friggin straight!

Jack Black and Kyle Gas are underrated.