Welcome to yet another ongoing Biblioklept series which may or may not ever end in your lifetime (and no, we haven’t given up on the Alphabet Soup thing). These axe-masters will come in random order–don’t confuse the numbers I give them with rankings. There’s only one tier of hierarchy here–all of these guitar players are superior to Slash, he of Snake Pit fame.
1. Robert Fripp
Fripp is the guitarist who best epitomizes the spirit of this list: he has consistently evolved over his 40+ years in King Crimson, he combines his masterful playing with a keen ear for control, and he’s a true innovator to his instrument. Watch the man demonstrate his patented Frippertronics below.
2. Nels Cline
This guy is fucking amazing, whether he’s channeling John Coltrane:
lending a virtuoso lead to Wilco:
or just kicking it experimental:
Sonny Sharrock’s 1991 album Ask the Ages is absolutely perfect. Possibly the most under-appreciated guitarist in history.
Sonny jams with Last Exit:
4. Neil Young
Neil Young gets more mileage out of a one-note solo on “Cinnamon Girl” than most wankers achieve on the whole fretboard. Neil Young was willing to go beyond the standard rock stuff (which he excelled at of course) and challenge his listeners with experimental albums like Trans and Arc. And for the record, Harvest is the most perfect Sunday-morning album ever committed to vinyl.
From the Rust Never Sleeps tour:
Cropper’s subtle and steady rhythm helped define the Stax sound. He was never showy, and in his production and songwriting as well as his playing he knew how to highlight the song, not his own guitar. If he’d only done “(Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay” with Otis Redding he’d still be on this list; as it is you can hear him on literally hundreds of hit recordings. And we’ll agree to forgive him for the Blues Brothers, okay?
Steve Cropper playing with Booker T & The MGs:
Biblioklept 
Don’t forget Prince.
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I didn’t. The list is already completed (although the posts aren’t written). Prince is #7 (although, again, no hierarchies).
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FRIPP! AMEN! outside of his solo work, King Crimson and work with Brian Eno and Giles, Giles and Fripp, people forget he played on albums for David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Blondie, Talking Heads, etc. etc. etc.
would likely be at or near the top of my list as well. well done.
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and don’t forget that dude from Rein Sanction
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[…] Contact 50 Great Guitarists, All Better Than Slash (In No Particular Order)–Part I […]
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Impressive list, I like how the often overlooked Neil Young is included. Touche good sir.
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where the hell is duane dennison , andy gill or greg sage??? there better than 3/4 of these ppl
you sux
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Roberto–I’ll reply to all three of your inane comments here.
1. If you don’t like the list, make your own list, reflecting your own (questionable) taste and opinions, on your own blog. Or on a piece of paper in your emo journal. Or, better yet, write it on a rusty saber and stick it up your ass.
2. In your second “sentence” (if such a construction should be honored with the name), you confuse the adverb “there” (indicating place/location) for the contraction “they are.” If you’re going to troll, please use correct grammar. Otherwise, you come off sounding like an AIDS monkey’s old douche-water, and we wouldn’t want that, now would we? Also, notice that in my (rhetorical) question, I employ but one question mark, which is all one really needs. Three, sir, do not make the question more vital or inquisitive.
3. No, sir, you sux. Off with thee.
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