The 50 greatest guitar tones of all time

David Gilmour scoops the prize in new poll, but who else features?

The MusicRadar Team, Wed 20 Feb 2008, 4:06 pm UTC

David Gilmour: a signature Stratocaster is just months away

The March 2008 issue of Guitarist magazine is the publication’s 300^th issue, and, in celebration, it features a summation of what its readers, staff and contributors reckon to be the 50 greatest electric guitar sounds in history.

Genres from grunge to jazz are represented, but before we reveal the run-down in full, we asked Guitarist editor Mick Taylor to explain just what makes a great guitar tone:

“Is it the abrasive punk rock thrash of Johnny Thunders? The full, fat 'n' fruity blues of Billy Gibbons? Great tone is a divisive issue, but the one common denominator we should agree on is that it's memorable. It might not have changed history, it might not have been the first example of its breed, but a truly great guitar tone is the kind of sound that compels you pick up that guitar and play. Wood, metal, volume, overdrive. Bring it on…”

So, without further ado, we reveal what might just be the ultimate iPod playlist for guitarists, and link to some classic video clips along the way:

#50 Charlie Christian - Flying Home
Original Guitar Hero (1939)

#49 Noel Gallagher - Slide Away
Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
Here’s Oasis live at Knebworth in 1996

#48 Chuck Berry - Maybellene
Greatest Hits (1955)
Chuck Berry on French TV in the early 1960s

#47 Ry Cooder - Sister Morphine
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)

#46 Link Wray - Rumble
The Original Rumble (1958)

#45 Dick Dale - Misirlou
Surfers’ Choice (1962)
Watch this awesome 1963 performance

#44 Larry Carlton - It Was Only Yesterday
Larry Carlton (1978)

#43 James Williamson - Search And Destroy
The Stooges (1973)

#42 James Hetfield - Orion
Master Of Puppets (1986)
Watch Metallica playing Orion at a 2006 studio rehearsal

#41 Chet Atkins - Mr Sandman
(1955, TV show)

#40 Dave Davies - You Really Got Me
Kinks (1964)

Go to page:12 3 4 Next »

print
e-mail

Share:: StumbleUpon; Digg; Reddit; Del.icio.us; Facebook

User comments (15)

matter

48 weeks ago.

jimi=#1

Mark as inappropriate
nickgreen32

Sat 20 Sep 2008, 9:50 pm UTC

I've got to say that I'd like to see Tom Morello moved up the list but then again I'm a RATM mark, so pushing personal bias aside I'd say the list is pretty well rounded. Slash earned his place on the list as did Tony Iommi. I don't know how Jack White made his way onto this list though.
Narconon

Mark as inappropriate
eivind

Fri 25 Jul 2008, 8:09 pm UTC

Dave at the top of that list is 100% correct. With Gilmour it's tone all the way.
(For the shredders list - look up the sports section) ;-)

Mark as inappropriate
SimonJohnOwen

Fri 30 May 2008, 1:30 pm UTC

Wheres Andy Summers ? Wheres Joe Perry ? Wheres Nick Drake ? And how come Jack White is ahead of Peter Green and Carlos Santana ?

Mark as inappropriate
forgodandcountry

Fri 23 May 2008, 5:56 pm UTC

whats up with people its a list of tones not shredding its a list of people who played with that amp thing and got some interesting noises, why is there a list of people qeueing up for the first few posts just saying its wrong like its lists of the worlds best players

Mark as inappropriate
HIM

Wed 16 Apr 2008, 2:40 am UTC

WOW!!!!
Who ever put this list together must smoke crack on a hourly basis!!!
cobain and some guy named white ahead of Santana???? Do you folk even know what a guitar is???? You are lame, stupid, retarded idiots!!!!

Mark as inappropriate
stratcat33511

Thu 3 Apr 2008, 5:11 pm UTC

Serious problems with this list
Beck Vai Rhodes Morello Moore johnson Page- and More Move them up!
Move the slackers like Jack White Curt Cocaine and Keith Richards to the back
Way back
Wheres Satriani ?
Seriously who writes this crap ? Who votes this way ?
I think this is just to get us to argue!

Mark as inappropriate
ProfWoland

Sat 29 Mar 2008, 4:15 pm UTC

Shouldn't number 33 be Brian Robertson rather than Gary Moore? A good list nonetheless :D

Mark as inappropriate
bosoxs_77

Fri 22 Feb 2008, 1:12 pm UTC

I cant believe Rockin in the Free World by Neil Young is not on the list. What a guitarist.
Why Noel Gallagehr has made the list baffles me !!!

Mark as inappropriate
JMan

Fri 22 Feb 2008, 11:04 am UTC

Oh, I think as with ANY list, there'll always be people for and against it. I actually agree with most of those in this list.
NOW...... if the Mag could just include GuitarRig3 or Amplitube2 presets for all those, I'd be a VERY happy man !!! ;-)
J

Mark as inappropriate