Time Magazine Picks the 10 Best Electric Guitar Players (including Yngwie)




top-tenIn connection with the release of the new documentary It Might Get Loud, Time Magazine music critic Josh Tyrangiel has published a list of the 10 best electric guitar players. From our standpoint, the only thing this list stands out for is its lack of originality. Still, we’re darn excited about seeing It Might Get Loud so we’re still going to go ahead and publish the list. Read on for the entire list.

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Slash

3. B.B. King

4. Keith Richards

5. Eric Clapton

6. Jimmy Page

7. Chuck Berry

8. Les Paul

9. Yngwie Malmsteen (OK, this one is a surprise)

10. Prince

11. Johnny Ramone (for the last 20 years these types of lists always go to 11)

The 10 Greatest Electric-Guitar Players (Time)


Martin Guitar Introduces 13 New Models
martin-d-16-adirondack

We have never been afraid to admit that we are big fans of Martin Guitars. Heck, between the two of us we own 4 of them (and we’re still working on expanding the collection). So when the company announced that it was releasing 13 new models at the Summer NAMM show, we knew we had to work fast to get them onto Fretbase. And so we did. We’re probably most excited by the new Martin D-16 Adirondack (shown at left). Lately we’re drawn to mahogany bodies and there is something about the color of Adirondack Spruce offered at a reasonable price that just gets us salivating. And of course the Martin D Flamed Mahogany is just plain good for dreaming. Read on for the full list of new Martin Models.

New Martin Guitar Models introduced at Summer NAMM 2009:

Martin D-16 Adirondack

Martin D12 David Crosby

Martin MC-38 Steve Howe

Martin D Cherry 09

Martin D-18 Marquis

Martin D-18 Marquis Sunburst

Martin D-18 SS

Martin D Flamed Mahogany

Martin Grand J-35E

Martin HDC-16RE

Martin DCX1RGTE

Martin 000CX1RGTE

Martin HOMC-16RE
When we think of all the great guitarists throughout time, many names come to mind - Carlos Santana is one of them. In August 2003, Santana was named fifteenth on Rolling Stone magazine's "List of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". And rightly so. This Mexican-born American guitarist has toured and recorded successfully since the late '60s. In the 90s he was rediscovered by a new generation with his album Supernatural, which involved well-known artists such as Rob Thomas and Eric Clapton.

Carlos Santana got his roots in Mexico, where he grew up. He spent a great amount of time around music as his father was a mariachi violinist. Santa took up the violin at five, but at eight switched to the guitar. Later when the family moved to Tijuana, he began playing in clubs and bars. By the early '60s, the family moved to San Francisco and Santana followed. In 1966 Santana created the Santana Blues Band. Despite the name, the group was at first a collective; it was required to name a nominal leader due to a provision of the musicians union. The name was eventually shortened to Santana and the band debuted at the Fillmore West Theater in San Francisco on June 16, 1968. Soon after, Santana recorded the album Super Session that had featured himself with Mike Bloomfield and Steve Stills. The result was The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, which marked Santana's recording debut.
Santana's career only evolved from here. He toured the U.S. prior to the release of the album, including a notable appearance at the celebrated Woodstock festival in August 1969 that was filmed and recorded. Santana was released the same month, and it became a massive hit, as did its follow-ups Abraxas (1970) and Santana III (1971). After completing recording and touring activities in connection with Santana III, the original Santana band broke up.
Carlos retained rights to the group's name Santana that consisted of himself and a constantly changing collection of hired musicians. His first recording after the breakup of the original group was a live show performed in Hawaii with singer and drummer Buddy Miles. The album reached the Top Ten and eventually went platinum. Following the release of the Santana band album Caravanserai (1972), Carlos formed a duo with John McLaughlin, guitarist for the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The two shared a spiritual leader in guru Sri Chinmoy, who bestowed upon Carlos the name Devadip, meaning "the eye, the lamp, and the light of God." Devadip Carlos Santana and Mahavishnu John McLaughlin's duo album Love Devotion Surrender was released in June 1973. It reached the Top 20 and eventually went gold. After releasing another Santana band project, Welcome, Carlos next teamed up with another religious disciple, Turiya Alice Coltrane, widow of John Coltrane, for a third duo album. Their collaboration, Illuminations, was released in September 1974; it spent two months in the charts, peaking in the bottom quarter of the Top 100.
During the 1970s, Carlos Santana released a series of gold or platinum albums: Borboletta (1974), Amigos (1975), Festival (1976), Moonflower (1977), and Inner Secrets (1978). In February 1979, he finally released his first real solo album, the half-live, half-studio Oneness/Silver Dreams -- Golden Reality, actually credited to Devadip.

During the 80s, songs that got more radio time began making their appearances included "Winning" in 1981 and "Hold On" (a remake of Canadian artist Ian Thomas' song) in 1982 both reached the top twenty. Santana again paid tribute to his early rock roots by doing the film score to La Bamba, which was based on the tragically short life of rock and roll legend Ritchie Valens and starred Lou Diamond Philips.
Carlos spent almost five years away from recording, not returning until June 1999 when he issued Supernatural on Arista Records. The Santana band album featured many tracks co-written by guest stars such as Rob Thomas of matchbox 20, Eric Clapton, Lauryn Hill, and others. Paced by the number one singles "Smooth" and "Maria Maria," the album became the biggest hit of Santana's career, selling upwards of ten million copies. It also won Santana eight Grammy Awards.

In 2002, Santana released Shaman, revisiting the Supernatural format of guest artists including P.O.D. and Seal. Although the album was not the runaway success its predecessor had been, it produced two radio-friendly hits. "The Game of Love" featuring Michelle Branch, rose to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent many weeks at the top of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Other albums followed including Possibilities and All That I Am. In 2008, Santana started working with his long-time friend, Marcelo Vieira, on his solo album Marcelo Vieira's Acoustic Sounds, which is due to be released at the end of the year. It features tracks such as "For Flavia" and "Across the Grave", the later featuring heavy melodic riffs by Santana.

In addition to his music notoriety, Santana also oversees several business ventures including the Milagro Foundation, which has donated nearly $3 million to help disadvantaged youth; his women's shoe line, Carlos by Carlos Santana, which has racked up $100 million in sales; his signature brand of sparkling white wine; his partnership in Maria Maria, a chain of high-end Mexican cantinas; and his upcoming documentary called Architects of a New Dawn, which advocates global change through the power of positive thinking.


What will this 100 greatest guitarists do next? One can only imagine.

ALBUM SONG #


1.
song: Stairway to Heaven
guitarist: Jimmy Page
band: Led Zeppelin
album: Led Zeppelin IV
more: Stairway To Heaven solo details


2.
song: Eruption
guitarist: Eddie Van Halen
band: Van Halen
album: Van Halen
more: Eruption solo details


3.
song: Freebird
guitarist: Collins/Rossington
band: Lynyrd Skynyrd
album: Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
more: Freebird solo details


4.
song: Comfortably Numb
guitarist: David Gilmour
band: Pink Floyd
album: The Wall
more: Comfortably Numb solo details


5.
song: All Along the Watchtower
guitarist: Jimi Hendrix
band: Jimi Hendrix Experience
album: Electric Ladyland


6.
song: November Rain
guitarist: Slash
band: Guns n' Roses
album: Use Your Illusion I


7.
song: One
guitarist: Kirk Hammet
band: Metallica
album: And Justice for All


8.
song: Hotel California
guitarist: Don Felder/Joe Walsh
band: The Eagles
album: Hotel California


9.
song: Crazy Train
guitarist: Randy Rhoads
band: Ozzy Ozbourne
album: Blizzard of Ozz


10.
song: Crossroads
guitarist: Eric Clapton
band: Cream
album: Wheels of Fire

13.
song: Texas Flood
guitarist: Stevie Ray Vaughan
band: Stevie Ray Vaughan
album: Texas Flood


14.
song: Layla
guitarist: Clapton/Allman
band: Derek and the Dominoes
album: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs


15.
song: Floods
guitarist: Dimebag Darrel
band: Pantera
album: The Great Southern Trendkill


16.
song: Heartbreaker
guitarist: Jimmy Page
band: Led Zeppelin
album: Led Zeppelin II


17.
song: Cliffs of Dover
guitarist: Eric Johnson
band: Eric Johnson
album: Ah Via Musicom


18.
song: Little Wing
guitarist: Jimi Hendrix
band: Jimi Hendrix Experience
album: Axis: Bold as Love


19.
song: Highway Star
guitarist: Ritchie Blackmore
band: Deep Purple
album: Machine Head


20.
song: Bohemian Rhapsody
guitarist: Brian May
band: Queen
album: A Night at the Opera

John Petrucci Kenny Wayne Sheperd Tom Morello Buckethead Marty Friedman Zakk Wylde Vito Bratta Dimebag Darrell Mike McCready Jerry Cantrell

Eddie Van Halen Stevie Ray Vaughan Joe Satriani Steve Vai Yngwie Malmsteen Randy Rhoads Eric Johnson Paul Gilbert Steve Morse Jason Becker

Jimmy Page Richie Blackmore David Glimour Duane Allman Brian May Carlos Santana Tony Iommi Angus Young Ry Cooder Mick Ronson

Jimi Hendrix Eric Clapton Jeff Beck Frank Zappa Keith Richards Peter Green Pete Townshend Dave Davies Steve Cropper George Harrison

Chuck Berry Bo Diddley Mickey "Guitar" Baker Scotty Moore Lowman Pauling Cliff Gallup James Burton Eddie Cochran Link Wray Carl Perkins

All names past 200 are unnumbered and alphabetical. John 5 - Marylin Manson, Solo Johnny A. - J.Geils Band, Solo Jan Akkerman - Focus Dave Alvin - Blasters Sam Andrew - Big Brother Jeff "Skunk" Baxter - Doobie Brothers Brendan Bayliss - Umphrey's McGee Brian Benoit - Dillinger Escape Plan Steve Blaze - Lillian Axe Mike Bloomfield* - Electric Flag James Dean Bradfield - Manic Street Preachers Erik Braunn - Iron Butterfly Paul Burlison* - Rock 'n' Roll Trio Toy Caldwell - Marshall Tucker Band Jeff Carlisi - .38 Special J. Randall Casey Alex Chilton - Big Star Steve Clark* - Def Leppard Kurt Cobain* - Nirvana Rusty Cooley Billy Corgan - The Smashing Pumpkins Ian Crichton - Saga Dean DeLeo - Stone Temple Pilots Rick Derringer - McCoys, Edgar Winter, Solo Mark Doyle Elliot Easton - The Cars Mattias "IA" Eklundh - Freak Kitchen Francesco Fareri Mark Farner - Grand Funk Railroad Roger Fisher - Heart, Clever Bastards Oz Fox - Stryper Reeves Gabrels - Tin Machine, Solo Eric Gales - Eric Gales Band Noel Gallagher - Oasis Mel Galley - Trapeze, Whitesnake Amos Garrett Henry Garza - Los Lonely Boys Neil Geraldo - Pat Benatar Guthrie Govan James Gurley- Big Brother Rana Hasan Michael Hauser* - Widespread Panic Yusi Hirotatchi Marty Lee Hoenes - Donnie Iris Wolf Hoffmann - Accept Josh Homme - Queens Of The Stone Age James Honeyman-Scott - Pretenders Dan Huff - Giant, session player Steve Hunter - Alice Cooper, Lou Reed James Iha - Smashing Pumpkins, APC Chris Impellitteri - Impellitteri Bobby Ingram - Molly Hatchet Ernie Isely - Isley Brothers Jesse Johnson - The Time Mick Jones - The Clash Ronnie Jones Ira Kaplan - Yo La Tengo The Great Kat Danny Kirwan - Fleetwood Mac Greg Koch Joel Kosche - Steve Walsh Bruce Kulick - Kiss, Union, Solo Andy Latimer - Camel Kerry Livgren - Kansas Jeff Loomis - Nevermore Jimmy Lyon - Eddie Money, Greg Kihn Band ANAND Mahangoe Hank Marvin - The Shadows Dave Mason - Traffic, Solo Lars Eric Mattsson Curtis Mayfield - Impressions, Solo Henry McCullough - Wings Thomas McRocklin Mike Miller - Godhead Bob Mould - Husker Du Bill Nelson - Be-Bop Deluxe Jimmy Nolen - (The J.B.'s) John Norum - Dokken Aldo Nova Michael Orlando Andy Partridge - XTC Marcus Paus - Mr. Cucumber Rod Price - Foghat Robert Quine* - Richard Hell & Voidoids Mick Ralphs - Mott the Hoople, Bad Company Johnny Ramone* - Ramones Josh Ramos - Ramos Elliot Randall - Steely Dan Chris Rea Nile Rodgers - Chic Omar Rodríguez-López - The Mars Volta, At the Drive-In Todd Rundgren - Utopia, Solo Stevie Salas Claudio Sanchez - Coheed and Cambria Al Schnier - Moe. Andy Scott - The Sweet Tommy Shaw - Styx, Damn Yankees Kevin Shields - My Bloody Valentine Hillel Slovak* - Red Hot Chili Peppers Roger Steen - The Tubes Leigh Stephens - Blue Cheer, Solo Nick Sterling Travis Stever - Coheed and Cambria Joe Stump Terry Syrek Marv Tarplin - Miracles/Motown Ron Thal - Bumblefoot Tommy Thayer - Kiss, Black N' Blue Pat Thrall - Pat Travers Band, Meatloaf Mark Tremonti - Creed, Alterbridge Walter Trout - Walter Trout and the Radicals Ike Turner Vinnie Vincent - Kiss, Vinnie Vincent Invasion Jeff Watson - Nightranger, MSG Ben Weinman - Dillinger Escape Plan Paul Weller - The Jam, The Style Council Jack White - The White Stripes Snowy White - Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy Roy Z - Bruce Dickinson Band Neil Zaza Billy Zoom - X Vinnie Zummo

1. Jimi Hendrix* - Jimi Hendrix Experience   2. Eric Clapton - Yardbirds, Cream, Derek & The Dominos, Solo   3. Jimmy Page - Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm   4. Jeff Beck - Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Solo   5. Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen   6. Stevie Ray Vaughan* - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble   7. Joe Satriani - Solo   8. Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night   9. Steve Vai - David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Solo 10. David Gilmour - Pink Floyd, Solo 11. John Petrucci - Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment 12. Randy Rhoads* - Quiet Riot, Ozzy 13. Allan Holdsworth - Solo 14. Paul Gilbert - Mr. Big, Racer X, Solo 15. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force, Solo 16. Phil Keaggy - Glass Harp, Solo 17. Jason Becker - Cacophony, David Lee Roth Band, Solo 18. John Mclaughlin- Mahavishnu Orchestra 19. Duane Allman* - Allman Brothers Band, Derek & the Dominos 20. Chuck Berry - Solo 21. Eric Johnson - Solo 22. Steve Howe - Yes, Solo 23. Neal Schon - Santana, Journey, Solo 24. Brian May - Queen 25. Gary Moore - Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, Skid Row, Solo 26. Bo Diddley* - Solo 27. Steve Morse - Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Solo 28. Carlos Santana - Santana 29. Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath 30. Buckethead - Solo, Praxis, Thanatopsis, The Deli Creeps, Cornbugs, GNR, 31. Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Solo 32. Marty Friedman - Cacophony, Megadeth, Solo 33. Nuno Bettencourt - Extreme, Mourning Widows 34. Shawn Lane* - Black Oak Arkansas, Willy, Solo 35. Kirk Hammett - Metallica 36. Uli Jon Roth - Scorpions, Solo 37. Terry Kath* - Chicago Transit Authority 38. Alex Lifeson - Rush 39. Frank Zappa* - Mothers of Invention, Solo 40. Rory Gallagher* - Solo 41. Dimebag Darrell* - Pantera 42. Peter Green - Fleetwood Mac, Solo 43. Robin Trower - Procal Harum, Solo 44. Slash - Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver 45. Mick Taylor - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Rolling Stones 46. Robert Fripp - King Crimson 47. Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave 48. Michael Schenker - Scorpions, UFO, MSG, Contraband 49. Ry Cooder - Solo 50. Angus Young - AC/DC 51. Keith Richards - Rolling Stones, Solo 52. Michael Angelo Batio - Nitro, Solo 53. John Squire - Stone Roses 54. Pete Townshend - The Who 55. Steve Hackett - Genisis 56. Zakk Wylde - Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society 57. George Harrison* - Beatles, Traveling Wilberys, Solo 58. Alvin Lee - Ten Years After 59. Dave Davies - Kinks 60. Jerry Cantrell - Alice In Chains, Solo 61. Steve Stevens - Billy Idol 62. Johnny Winter - Solo 63. Dickie Betts - Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern 64. John Cipollina* - Quicksilver Messenger Service 65. Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 66. Steve Cropper - Booker T. & MG's/Stax sessions 67. Adrian Belew - King Crimson 68. Joe Bonamassa - Solo 69. Steve Lukather - Toto, Solo 70. Jerry Garcia* - Grateful Dead 71. Joe Perry - Aerosmith 72. Prince - Prince & The Revolution 73. Kim Mitchell - Max Webster, Solo 74. Adrian Smith - Iron Maiden 75. Dave Murray - Iron Maiden 76. Neil Young - Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Solo 77. Billy Gibbons - ZZ Top 78. Tony MacAlpine - Solo 79. Mike McCready - Pearl Jam 80. Adam Jones - Tool 81. Gary Hoey - Solo 82. Leslie West - Mountain, Solo 83. Peter Frampton - Humble Pie, Frampton's Camel, Solo 84. Dick Dale - Del-Tones 85. Vito Bratta - White Lion 86. Mickey "Guitar" Baker - 50's sessions/ Mickey & Sylvia 87. John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers 88. Ronnie Montrose - Montrose, Edgar Winter Group 89. Mick Ronson* - David Bowie, Solo 90. Roy Buchanan* - Solo 91. Warren Haynes - Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule 92. Vinnie Moore - Alice Cooper, Solo 93. Robbie Krieger - Doors, Solo 94. Chris DeGarmo - Queensryche 95. Jake E. Lee - Cutting Crew, Ozzy, Badlands, Solo 96. Glen Tipton - Judas Priest 97. Joe Walsh - James Gang, Eagles, Solo 98. K.K. Downing - Judas Priest 99. Eddie Hazel* - Funkadelic 100. Alex Skolnick - Testament 101. Doug Aldrich - Burning Rain, Dio, Whitesnake, Solo 102. Michael Romeo - Symphony X 103. Vernon Reid - Living Colour 104. Gary Richrath - REO Speedwagon, Solo 105. Link Wray - Link Wray and his Ace-Men 106. Allen Collins* - Lynyrd Skynyrd 107. Larry "Ler" Lalonde - Primus 108. Randy Bachmann - Guess Who, BTO 109. Jeff Healy* - Jeff Healy Band 110. Greg Howe - Solo 111. Dave Navarro - Janes Addiction 112. Scott Gorham - Thin Lizzy 113. Ted Nugent - Ambouy Dukes, Damn Yankees, Solo, 114. Vivian Campbell - Dio, Whitesnake, Def Leppard 115. Paul Kossoff* - Free, Back Street Crawler 116. Ritchie Kotzen - Poison, Mr Big, Solo 117. Brian Robertson - Thin Lizzy, Motorhead 118. Andy Summers - Police 119. John Sykes - Blue Murder, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy 120. Scotty Moore - Elvis Presley 121. Gary Rossington - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington Band 122. Ty Tabor - Kings X, Jelly Bean, Poundhound, Jughead, Platypus 123. John Fogerty - CCR, Solo 124. Ron Wood - Faces, Rolling Stones 125. Ace Frehley - Kiss 126. Akira Takasaki - Loudness, Lazy 127. Michael Wilton - Queensryche 128. Cliff Gallup* - Gene Vincent's Blue Caps 129. Richie Sambora - Bon Jovi 130. George Lynch - Dokken, Lynch Mob 131. Reb Beach - Winger, Dokken 132. Nick Drake* - Solo 133. Tommy Bolin* - James Gang, Deep Purple 134. Kerry King - Slayer 135. Thurston Moore - Sonic Youth 136. Harry Cody - Shotgun Messiah 137. Lowell George* - Little Feat 138. Tracii Guns - Guns N Roses, L.A. Guns 139. Tom Scholz - Boston 140. Buck Dharma - Blue Oyster Cult 141. Jorma Kaukonen - Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna 142. Richard Thompson - Fairport Convention, Solo 143. Trey Anastasio - Phish 144. Janick Gers - Iron Maiden 145. Mick Box - Uriah Heep 146. Johnny Marr - Smiths, Electronic, Johnny Marr & The Healers 147. Blues Saraceno - Poison, Solo 148. Lowman Pauling* - "5" Royales 149. Timo Tolkki - Stratovarius 150. Mike Einziger - Incubus 151. John Christ - Danzig 152. Jonny Greenwood - Radiohead 153. Phil Collen - Def Leppard 154. Andy Timmons - Danger Danger, Ceili Rain 155. Steve Gaines* - Lynyrd Skynyrd 156. Ron Asheton - Iggy Pop, Stooges 157. James Burton - Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley 158. Mark Kendall - Great White 159. Lindsey Buckingham - Fleetwood Mac 160. Jennifer Batten - Jeff Beck, Michael Jackson, Solo 161. Matthias Jabs - Scorpions 162. Carl Perkins* - Solo 163. Wayne Kramer - MC5 164. Nils Lofgren - E Street Band 165. Michael Sweet - Stryper 166. Robbie Robertson - The Band, Solo 167. Frank Hannon - Tesla 168. Trevor Rabin - Yes 169. Brian Setzer - Stray Cats, The Brian Setzer Orchestra 170. Martin Barre - Jethro Tull 171. Kim Thayil - Soundgarden 172. Pat Travers - Pat Travers Band 173. Dave Mustaine - Metallica, Megadeth 174. Rik Emmitt - Triumph 175. Eddie Cochran* - Solo 176. Frank Marino - Mahogany Rush 177. Justin Hayward - Moody Blues, Solo 178. Tommy Skeoch - Tesla 179. Warren DeMartini - Ratt 180. Syd Barrett* - Pink Floyd 181. Don Felder - Eagles 182. The Edge - U2 183. Brad Gillis - Night Ranger, Ozzy 184. Andy Powell - Wishbone Ash 185. Mick Mars - Motley Crue 186. Billy Duffy - The Cult 187. Randy California* - Spirit 188. Eric Bell - Thin Lizzy 189. Lita Ford - The Runaways, Solo 190. Jeff Hanneman - Slayer 191. Mick Jones - Foreigner 192. Stone Gossard - Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog 193. Duane Eddy - Solo 194. Mike Campbell - Tom Petty/ Heartbreakers 195. Glen Buxton* - Alice Cooper 196. Daron Malakian - System Of A Down 197. Steven Stills - Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Solo 198. Roger McGuinn - Byrds, Solo 199. J. Mascis - Dinosaur Junior, The Fog 200. James Hetfield - Metallica