Les Paul meets his equal on guitar...
He was a better inventor than a guitarist.
Merlin1300
Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
I'd say they were pretty much equals - at the high end of their craft at the same time.
Different strokes - but I'll go for Jimi Hendrix, Eddie van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Lee Firkins, Frank Gambale, Marty Friedman, Brett Garsed, T.J. Helmerich, Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Michael Angelo Batio, Al Di Meola, Scott Henderson, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, KK Downing, Glen Tipton, Reb Beach, George Lynch, Richie Kotzen, Nuno Bettencourt, Al Pitrelli, Chris Poland, Dave Mustaine, Vinnie Moore, Chris Impelliterri, Shawn Moore, Tony MacAlpine, David Chastain, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Steve Morse, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Chuck Schuldiner, Paul Masvidal, James Murphy, Andy LaRocque, Jeff Waters, Akira Takasaki, Vito Bratta, Allan Holdsworth, etc, etc.
Les and his bride were definitely ahead of their time - take Nothing away from what they did.
Playing the guitar has continued to move on since then - by light years.
In his 1970s prime, Yes guitarist, Steve Howe, was quite the axe shredder. Listen to Close to the Edge or The Gates of Delirium or Awaken, if you want a mental challenge.
Oh, he played with Les Paul at least once. There’s video somewhere…
Merlin1300 wrote:
I'd say they were pretty much equals - at the high end of their craft at the same time.
Different strokes - but I'll go for Jimi Hendrix, Eddie van Halen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Lee Firkins, Frank Gambale, Marty Friedman, Brett Garsed, T.J. Helmerich, Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Michael Angelo Batio, Al Di Meola, Scott Henderson, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, KK Downing, Glen Tipton, Reb Beach, George Lynch, Richie Kotzen, Nuno Bettencourt, Al Pitrelli, Chris Poland, Dave Mustaine, Vinnie Moore, Chris Impelliterri, Shawn Moore, Tony MacAlpine, David Chastain, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Steve Morse, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Chuck Schuldiner, Paul Masvidal, James Murphy, Andy LaRocque, Jeff Waters, Akira Takasaki, Vito Bratta, Allan Holdsworth, etc, etc.
Les and his bride were definitely ahead of their time - take Nothing away from what they did.
Playing the guitar has continued to move on since then - by light years.
I'd say they were pretty much equals - at the high... (
show quote)
The only bad thing about naming names is that you always forget someone like Dick Clark. No, I'm wrong there, he was on a different show. I was thinking about Roy, Roy Clark. He wasn't too bad either once he got serious about playing.
Merlin1300
Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX
burkphoto wrote:
In his 1970s prime, Yes guitarist, Steve Howe, was quite the axe shredder. Listen to Close to the Edge or The Gates of Delirium or Awaken, if you want a mental challenge. Oh, he played with Les Paul at least once. There’s video somewhere…
tramsey wrote:
The only bad thing about naming names is that you always forget someone like Roy Clark. He wasn't too bad either once he got serious about playing.
And the thousands I didn't mention - like Eric Clapton, BB King, Nancy Wilson (Heart / Crazy on you), Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Angus Young - -
Merlin1300 wrote:
And the thousands I didn't mention - like Eric Clapton, BB King, Nancy Wilson (Heart / Crazy on you), Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Angus Young - -
Yeah, the list is long. Lots of great unknowns are out there, too, now that recording is democratized with digital technology.
I'm sure that this will reveal my age and era but this was my favorite guitar duo.
I agree. But also consider Earl Klugh, especially Midnight in San Juan.
My favorite...Chet Atkins
Merlin1300 wrote:
And the thousands I didn't mention - like Eric Clapton, BB King, Nancy Wilson (Heart / Crazy on you), Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Angus Young - -
Good grief, how could you miss Stevie Vaughan twice? 😢
it was nice seeing Les and Mary having fun with this number. I loved them as a kid.
Scotty Moore, Jame Burton, (both Elvis), Luther Perkins, (Johnny Cash), Marty Stuart, Glen Campbell (actually an amazing guitarist!), Doc Watson, Merle Travis and I second the nomination of Roy Clark - incredible instrumentalist, and could play anything with strings exceptionally well. Country musicians rock!
tommystrat wrote:
Glen Campbell (actually an amazing guitarist!), and I second the nomination of Roy Clark - incredible instrumentalist, and could play anything with strings exceptionally well. Country musicians rock!
I agree about Glen Campbell especially after seeing him play the William Tell Overture on the guitar. Roy Clark is another one of my favorites.
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