30 American Virtuosos?

[Buzz762]

One of my friends is working on a project for one of his classes. Basically he needs a list of 30 American guitar virtuosos (any genre/style) or at least artists that are rooted in American music scenes. I've suggested quite a few, but I'd like to hear what guys you can name as I've been exposed to quite a few artists just from reading what guys you all respect.

It may be fun to discuss as well..


His current list, although he is thinking about removing some:

Hendrix
Duane Allman
BB King
Chuck Berry
Joe Satriani
Tim Reynolds
SRV
John Frusciante
Steve Vai
Frank Zappa
John Mayer
Steve “The Colonel” Cropper
John Fogerty
Warren Haynes
Huddie Ledbetter
Trey Anastasio
Buddy Guy
John Petrucci
Eric Johnson
Steve Morse
Michael Angelo Batio
Tony MacAlpine
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Paul Gilbert
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Derek Trucks
Adam Jones
Tom Morello

I've suggested Frank Gambale.

 

[Makelele]

Jason Becker
Randy Rhoads

 

[distressed_romeo]

Frank Gambale is Italian/Australian, so he wouldn't be eligible for that list. What about bluegrass/country masters like Tony Rice or Doc Watson?
In terms of classical players, how about Sharon Isbin or Liona Boyd?
Robert Johnson?
Al DiMeola?
Vinnie Moore?
Joe Pass and Tal Farlow from the old-school bebop crowd?

 

[Daggorath]

Alan Holdsworth
Shawn Lane
Rusty Cooley
Jason Becker
Scott Henderson
Tony McAlpine
Al DiMeola
Joe Pass

 

[distressed_romeo]

Alan Holdsworth
Shawn Lane
Rusty Cooley
Jason Becker
Scott Henderson
Tony McAlpine
Al DiMeola
Joe Pass

Allan Holdsworth's from merry old England...

 

[Daggorath]

Allan Holdsworth's from merry old England...

I realized that afterwards, and McLaughlin - who I had on there before. DUH

 

[Bartok]

Marc Ribot
Mick Barr

Edit: Buckethead

 

[distressed_romeo]

I realized that afterwards, and McLaughlin - who I had on there before. DUH

No worries.

+100000000000 for Scott Henderson by the way; I'm listening to Tribal Tech right now! The man's a total badass...

 

[BigM555]

How about some acoustic masters like

Michael Hedges
Phil Keagey
Leo Keotke
Laurence Juber (maybe not American?)
Bill Mize

 

[Mastodon]

Buckethead
George Benson
I'd even consider Chuck Shuldiner

 

[Matt Crooks]

Chet Atkins
Danny Gatton

 

[Daggorath]

No worries.

+100000000000 for Scott Henderson by the way; I'm listening to Tribal Tech right now! The man's a total badass...

The guy is a master. He does blues in his own jazzy way , not sticking to the same few licks like so many of todays players. He keeps it musical.

 

[ElRay]

Dick Dale
Leo Kottke
Lenny Breau

 

[Drew]

Danny Gatton

I'm surprised it took Gatton this long to pop up. The dude's absurd.

 

[Popsyche]

Absolutely Larry Coryell. If you haven't seen him, you should!

 

[velocity]

michael romeo?
george lynch?
vince lupone?
me?

 

[Karl Hungus]

Buckethead
George Benson
I'd even consider Chuck Shuldiner

+1 on the mighty Schuldiner.

And what about Dimebag Darrell? Shocked nobody mentioned him yet either. Or maybe I'm not paying attention?

So yeah, Dimebag.

 

[stuz719]

Brent Mason.
Shawn Lane.
Alex Skolnick.

 

[distressed_romeo]

I'm surprised it took Gatton this long to pop up. The dude's absurd.

Have you seen his first Hotlicks video?

 

[Chris]

Eddie Van Halen.