Tony Rice is the greatest acoustic guitarist in the world. Bar none.

[Bake]

And quite possibly, the greatest acoustic guitarist of ALL TIME.

From his beginning as a bluegrasser, in the footsteps of Clarence White and Doc Watson, to his jazz/dawg/spacegrass stint with David Grisman, to his current incarnation as an interpreter of Gordon Lightfoot and traditional ballads, there's just none better than TR.

Don't believe me? Listen to "Manzanita." "Mar West." "JD Crowe & The New South." "Native American." His more recent work with Peter Rowan. If you're not a Rice-a-holic already, you will be.

Discuss.

Bake

[bbernardini]

1. While I agree Tony Rice is quite good, what about Tommy Emmanuel?

I've never seen anybody do the things with an acoustic guitar that Tommy can do. And he can play it well, too. ;)

[Bake]

3. Tommy is a great player, true

But if not for Tony, you'd never hear of Tommy, or David Grier, etc. Nobody was doing that kind of thing with an acoustic guitar.

Tony counts among his influences Doc Watson and Clarence White, but he took what they did and elevated it beyond belief.

Bake

[lazyriver]

2. Only heard him on "The Pizza Tapes" with Grisman and Garcia

but will need to check out more of his stuff.

[bif]

4. Sorry, but that distinction would go to Erik Mongrain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k

Or several dozen Spanish Flamenco players who could blow any Rock/jazz guitarist away.

[bif]

5. kick

[DS1]

6. Good for him

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. Of all time ?? (heehee) You might be interested in this --

http://www.wanderlist.com/noampsallowed

So far your guy is not even in the Top Ten :shrug:

Nancy Wilson 94 -2 Jan 21 2009 17:15
Whizfingers 208 - Jul 7 2006 18:01

2. Jimmy Page 50 -1 Jan 13 2009 18:08
54 - Jul 5 2006 20:42

3. Eric Clapton 26 - Jan 9 2008 21:16
check out Clapton Un-Plugged 26 - Jul 4 2006 17:50

4. Dan Tyminski 25 - Sep 29 2008 8:29
Union Station 25 - Apr 28 2008 11:28

5. Kurt Cobain 17 -1 Jan 18 2009 8:22
35 - Aug 18 2006 22:50

6. Lindsay Buckingham 16 - May 24 2008 1:25
26 - Aug 1 2006 17:46

7. Phil Keaggy 11 - Oct 13 2008 0:39
11 - Aug 29 2007 19:35

8. Tommy Emanuel 10 - Jan 17 2008 11:20
10 - Jun 19 2007 17:40

9. Mark Knopfler 9 - Aug 1 2007 21:18
if Dire Straits isn't enough check out the soundtrack to The Princess Bride 9 - Jul 4 2006 22:45

10. Jack Johnson

[Bake]

8. Note that I said ACOUSTIC guitarist.

Most of those listed are not acoustic guitarists. Jimmy Page? Get real.

Besides, that's mostly fanboys voting, who obviously have no insight into acousticity, or who have never heard TR.

Bake

[Inchworm]

10. agreed

:rofl:

:yoiks:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. It is supposed to be acoustic...

fanboys can't read.

Tony Rice is inventive and stupendous in his field. He has expeanded a genre. It is a niche. A select few of us have heard of him.

does greatest = favorite?

Is one objective or subjective?

[Bake]

20. He expanded one genre (bluegrass) and invented another.

The man can play anything. 'Grass, jazz, jazzgrass, gypsy jazz/swing, etc. And while it is true that he is my "favorite" acoustic guitarist, that's because when I first heard him, he made my jaw drop. And still does.

David Grier never made my jaw drop. Not even Doc Watson (whom I love and admire) did that. TR does, every single time I hear him.

Bake

[Tuesday Afternoon]

23. I will give you all that except, I have a question ---

What genre did Rice invent? Are you referiing to Spacegrass?

[Bake]

28. Spacegrass, but of course!

A variant of Dawg music.

Bake

[Tuesday Afternoon]

33. I don't know why I was thinking that

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones were the inventors of "Spacegrass" :dunce:

[bif]

11. That list is a joke

Kurt Cobain and Lindsay Buckingham? Gimme a friggin break!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. yeah,,,but do I care enough to vote?

No.

[no name no slogan]

14. Don't be hating on Lindsay

Technically, he's quite proficient. There's not a lot of fingerpicking electric players out there, and he's among the best for a reason.

[bif]

25. Ever heard Adrian Legg?

He's an unbelievable finger picker on electric.

[Twillig]

31. Yeah, he's awesome.

He's something for those that want a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4uVwxsSHk

[Bake]

19. Exhibit A as to why "lists" suck.

Agreed!

Bake

[Inchworm]

9. I agree

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[no name no slogan]

15. Burt Jansch would like to have a word with you

as would Leo Kottke

[Tuesday Afternoon]

17. Leo Kottke is god on a 12 string. n/t

[Bake]

21. Kottke is a great player, a legend even. But he's no Tony Rice.

Bake

[Tuesday Afternoon]

24. and Tony Rice is no Leo Kottke

12 string...hello

[Paladin]

16. Tony Rice And Leo Kottke----Two Heroes Of Mine..... (n/t)

[bif]

18. Check out the Youtube vid of Erik Mongrain I posted earlier

[Rambis]

22. John Renbourn isn't bad either

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_U4Jsp3nv0

[TZ]

26. But he's not as good as...

Alex Lifeson....:hide:

[Bake]

29. You're just trying to start shit, aren't you!

Alex Lifeson, my ass.

:hi:

Bake

[geardaddy]

27. Better than this guitarist?

:D :rofl:

[Bake]

30. Si. Mucho mas bueno.

:hi:

Bake

[timtom]

32. Unfortunately, Buckethead is far more impressive