New list: Top Guitarists of All Time – Eddie Van Halen #3

December 17, 2008 98 Comments

Chop Shop Guitar Show Announces The Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players
of All Time

Steve Black, host of The Chop Shop and The Chop Shop Classic, assembled a five member panel to rate and rank guitarists, resulting in The Chop Shop’s Top 100 Most Complete Guitarists Of All-Time. The list is a complete list, as each guitarist was ranked in the following categories: technical ability, soul and emotion, influence on the music and guitar industries, song writing, live experience, sales, signature sound and longevity. Steve and his panel very much enjoyed ranking the guitarists, and its with pride that The Chop Shop presents the results to you!

1st Place – Jimmy Page

2nd Place – Jimi Hendrix

3rd Place – Eddie Van Halen:

Place Guitarist Total

1 Jimmy Page 87.94
2 Jimi Hendrix 84.92
3 Eddie Van Halen 84.81
4 David Gilmour 82.72
5 Keith Richards 82.48
6 Pete Townshend 80.66
7 Steve Vai 79.74
8 Les Paul 78.61
9 Angus Young 78.56
10 Jeff Beck 77.77
11 Stevie Ray Vaughan 75.86
12 Tony Iommi 74.67
13 Eric Clapton 74.62
14 James Hetfield 73.62
15 Ritchie Blackmore 72.61
16 Slash 71.60
17 Frank Zappa 71.57
18 George Harrison 71.49
19 Randy Rhoads 70.89
20 Ted Nugent 70.83
21 Murray/Smith 70.72
22 Carlos Santana 70.44
23 Steve Lukather 70.41
24 Joe Satriani 69.71
25 Chuck Berry 69.53
26 Kirk Hammett 69.48
27 Zakk Wylde 68.73
28 Brian May 67.57
29 Alex Lifeson 67.51
30 Billy Gibbons 67.45
31 Malcom Young 66.56
32 Joe Perry 65.60
33 Joe Walsh 63.44
34 B.B. King 63.30
35 Kurt Cobain 63.17
36 Dimebag Darrell Abbott 62.55
37 Neal Schon 62.45
38 John Lennon 62.44
39 Mark Knopfler 62.43
40 Dickey Betts 60.47
41t Tom Scholz 60.42
41t Robby Krieger 60.42
43 Buddy Guy 60.38
44 Tom Morello 60.37
45 The Edge 60.34
46 Rossington/Collins 59.49
47 Tipton/Downing 58.64
48 Peter Frampton 58.59
49 Mick Mars 58.34
50 Steve Howe 57.36
51 John Frusciante 55.46
52 Brad Whitford 55.45
53 Scotty Moore 55.35
54 Rik Emmett 54.58
55 Yngwie Malmsteen 54.56
56 Leslie West 54.50
57 Dean DeLeo 54.46
58 Ace Frehley 54.38
59 Bo Diddley 54.37
60 Muddy Waters 54.36
61 John5 53.63
62 Gary Moore 53.55
63 Paul Gilbert 53.51
64 George Lynch 53.41
65 Adam Jones 53.20
66 Robin Trower 52.62
67t Michael Schenker 52.52
67t Johnny Winter 52.52
69 Michael Hedges 52.40
70 Robert Johnson 52.36
71 Dave Mustaine 52.34
72 Warren DiMartini 51.49
73 Dave Davies 51.36
74 Nuno Bettencourt 50.52
75 Mark Tremonti 50.40
76 Dan Donegan 50.39
77t Warren Haynes 50.36
77t Matthias Jabbs 50.36
79 Freddie King 50.33
80 DeGarmo/Wilton 50.28
81t Neil Young 50.23
81t Steve Cropper 50.23
83 Frank Marino 49.51
84 Ty Tabor 49.46
85 Eric Johnson 49.44
86 Mike McCready 49.34
87 Steve Miller 49.33
88 John Fogerty 49.26
89 John Sykes 49.20
90 Vivian Campbell 48.41
91t Dick Wagner 48.40
91t Kim Thayil 48.40
93 Jerry Cantrell 48.28
94 Glen Buxton 47.55
95 Rick Nielsen 47.44
96 Rod Price 47.41
97t Frank Hannon 47.38
97t Buckethead 47.38
99 Steve Stevens 47.36
100 Trevor Rabin 47.36

We welcome your comments and questions about the list…send them to:
black@chopshopradio.com

Filed Under: Eddie Van Halen

Tom

Wondering where Jeff Healey is? Jeff Healey was an amazing talent. I’m not convinced that Page deserves the nod – he’s one of the greats, no-doubt – perhaps more for the band’s contributions of their music than Page’s actual abilities – also Chet Atkins was a great – eventhough much different and not a rocker, certainly a great guitarist.
Dunnzo

Nobody diss Malcolm Young. He has had one of the greatest jobs in rock music. Plus he stayed out of the way so Angus could rule. That kind of restraint deserves credit.
Jonathan

I’m a HUGE EVH fan…of course…that’s why I’m even here. He’s always been #1 in my book. Where’s Monte Montgomery?? I guess sales really kills him on this list. Hell…Brad Paisley is better than probably 1/3 of these guys!!
pskibobby

the only reason i think hendrix and page would be before eddie would be because they were around before eddie. but eddie should be #1. eddie is the best, no doubt.
Tim Howard

Sorry – While the top 10 – 25 are reasonable, any top 100 list that even includes Mick Mars is baloney. But to put him and Don Donegan ahead of Eric Johnson and Ty Tabor. Somebody was asleep at the wheel here . . . . .
David Alexander

Some on this list like Satriani, Vai, and others who are very proficient in the technical areas of guitar playing are not as special in terms of WHAT they have written/played.

I would argue, John Lennon, Kurt Kobain, Pete Townsend are not virtuosos, but have done more with their guitars MUSICALLY than Vai or Satriani have done.

There is music, and there is noise. Just blazing up and down the fretboard does not a great song make.

Eddie Van Halen is one of the few who can rip, but yet also says something fantastic in the music he creates.
Jason Godfrey

I agree totally with almost everyone. There are guitarists that have the far reaching technical ability. There are guitarists that have the far reaching song writing ability. There are guitarists that have the emotion and chops that can’t be duplicated. The one Guitarist that has the highest combination of ALL of these is EDDIE VAN HALEN.
Jason Godfrey

Oh and BTW. What guitarist has done all of those things but also built his own guitar, tuned and calibrated the thing, on his own with spare parts- EDDIE VAN HALEN!
walteR

Where is Paul Stanley at ??? Furthermore, Matthias Jabs is spelled woth one ‘b’ in his last name… Get it right oR don’t put out lists…. Ya damn nerdds !!!!!!!!
lance

Great list, how about at least an honorable mention for John Petrucci- amzazing technical abilities,creative, emotional, precise…etc.and insane tone. Also Ty Tabor of Kings X- most musicians respect them as an incredible band even if they’re not the most commercial. Tune up and play!!
Kevin

Yes michael, these lists are debateable. And YES, David Gilmour is better than Steve Vai.

Phil, Angus is 10 times the guitarist Zappa ever would’ve been. And Eddie completely owns Page. Pagey has more feel and better songwriting, but in terms of Technical Ability no one can come even close to Eddie Van Halen.

Lol its funny how they ranked Hetfield above Hammett
Biff

Hiw can you put Scotty Moore and not put James Burton? Where’s Bo Diddly? Gary Richrath? Always gets the shaft because of Kevin Cronin’s ballads.
Matt K.

How about Phil Collen/Steve Clark of Def Leppard. Although they had different styles, they were great together. Collen is still a great technical player. R.I.P. Steve Clark. Also an honorable mention to Frank Hannon of Tesla.
Joe

I hate these lists. They’re always a load of crap. No way Page is better than VH.
Joe

Hahaha…..Eric Johnson, #85. WTF ever. Again I say. A load of crap.
iwannaberr

You have to put Hendrix in the top 2 because before him, the electric guitar sounded like Les Paul and Chet Atkins played it (both awesome guitarists). He “electrified” the guitar but I didn’t like his songs. Eddie should also be in the top 2 because he “electrified” the guitar even further and wrote songs that made it popular and mainstream. Come on, Paul Stanley? Another second banana. Ace was the guitarist there. Satriani does more than blaze up and down the fretboard. He has many top selling albums. Wait for Chickenfoot! Vai as well as some others on this list actually took lessons from Satriani! Look it up!
Greg

What!!!!! No John Petrucci!!!!!!! Probably the best guitar player on the planet right now. Unlike 80% of the people on this list he can actually play in odd meters and time signatures not just 4/4 easy crap. Like others above have mentioned where is Jeff Healey, Prince, Chet Atkins. Who are these numbnuts that come up with these list
pushtoshove

You know…if they were trying to put out an article to see how many frustrated guitarists ( I:E – Unsigned ) would respond ….I would have to say they succeeded . To quote a famous rock singer ” Look at all the frustrated guitar players here toniight!!! “
Luke Puser

Where is Brian May (Queen)??
diedhardguitarfan

Here’s an idea; ask the guys at the Chop Shop if you could publish the score cards and the songs they used to determine their rankings. Once you publish the score card and songs, allow your readers to have a week to score the guitarists and you publish the results. By the way, Neil Schon and Curt Cobain, ahead of Yngwie and Paul Gilbert, what’s up with that?
ClubfootKolby

I dont even know the name of the guitar player who took Don Felder place in the Eagles but that guy plays a mean guitar
Steve

i wonder how many people on the panel play the guitar? Eddies the best!!!!! Vito Bratta should be on there. Look up a guy named Phil Keaggy i think that is how you spell it. He should be in the top 5!
Brandon

Kurt Cobain is ranked ahead of the likes of Dimebag, Eric Johnson, Gary Moore, Neal Schon and more!!!!

People forget about Andres Segovia, the man basically invented the guitar. And what about the guy that Steve Vai says is the greatest guitarist alive, Tommy Emmanuel??
esv

Eddie Van Halen #1 guitarist of all time. Just listen to Unchained and Atomic Punk- that is some of the baddest S@#T in the world!
Mike

randy rhodes
Alan P.

I know that any list is subject to argument but I do agree that there are a few folks missing. One that I really missed was Mark Farner especially since EVH has cited him as an influence. Just one opinion, and yes, we all have one.
aaa79

where is Marty Friedman?
pushtoshove

The greatest guitarist in the world is the one you’re watching with your Bros or with your girl on a Saturday night at the local concert hall on your way to a great all night party……
QWERQWER

eddie is number one, no one else has changed the face of guitar like eddie has, i dont see guys playing with bows but i see millions finger taping, dive bomming, all the other bought and played there guitars as best as they can, eddie re-invented the guitar and no one has ever been able to recreate what he has done, with his style, sound, flare the list goes on, this has to be a joke list? mick mars made it but no eric johnston? obviously a joke
jrod78

this list is bullsh!t, all the best are at the bottom of the list in an order that is unheard of, I hope these guys who made this list do not consider themselves rock historians or even professionals, my god they even put cobain on the list in the top 50 are you shitting me. he shouldnt even be on this list I heard cats f*ck with more harmony than his fender belted out and all these awesome guitar players at the bottom. Kiss my ass whoever made this list….
jrod78

Hey guy’s look I know we are all VH fans but get off Eddie’s jock. Him and Rhandy Rhoads should own the top spots along with Iommi, Hammett, Malmsteen, and even Schenker they forgot about him. Back in them day’s the difference between Ed and Rhandy was unothodox and technical both great guitarist Eddie was flash and Rhandy was classical with flash. these chop shop guy’s must listen to Rap because they no nothing about guitar players, and yes I agree, Paul Gilbert deserves a better spot on this list, and give Mick Mars a break he deserved a better spot too.
Witry

Steve Howe at 50th, you’re joking? Please consider music outside of time signature 4 and you’ll see the light.
Brian

I like your list, but Stone Gossard should be on there somewhere. Stone Gossard did more to define the Seattle “grunge” sound (even though I hate that term) than Kurt Cobain. Gossard was behind both Green River and Mother Love Bone before Pearl Jam and certain ahead of Nirvana.

I see Mike McCready at number 86. Pearl Jam are often lumped into the “grunge” scene which is somehow blamed for killing the guitar solo. Well, never mind their albums (although all great guitar rock – especially the last one), pick up one of their live boots and prepare to be amazed. No one in the bands kids listen to these days plays solos like that anymore. Loud, fast and with a lot of wah. It is a lost art and I am glad someone like McCready can still belt out a blistering 10 minute solo here and there. Pearl Jam’s respect for 70′s and 80′s classic rock often goes unnoticed and McCready and Gossard are consistently overlooked and underrated. You guys are wrong about Pearl Jam. They are one of the last great rock bands out there and McCready can wail with the best of them. 17 years later and still going strong so they must be doing something right.
http://weistortny@aol.com william weisberg

Steve Vai (#7) is ranked higher than Joe Satriani (#24). The pupil before the master; I don’t think so.
jamie cosco

Jimmy Page is the most over rated guitar player in history
jrod78

the boys in pearl jam did kick out some bad ass solo’s when grunge was kicking new wave ramone riffs, how ever johnny ramone was missing off the list. he is like the Iommi of punk rock.
jrod78

Jimmy Page, c’mon him and Hendrix have been trading the number 1 guitarist spot for over thirty years. Give someone else a fair chance Yngwie Malmsteen or Shenker, Kerry King, Danny Spitz, the guy from Weezer… someone else for crying out loud I dont want to be talking about the same guitarist in thirty years. When I think of J.Page I think about how I always fast forward through Stairway to the jam part.
John

Where the hell is Lita Ford? Jennifer Batten? An all male guitar list? C’mon, there are a few killer women players out there mates.
Kelly

Guys,
Let me first say great job. I’m so tired of Rolling Stone and their top picks. The only bands they care for are Television and the Smiths. I know it was probably difficult to comb through all of these players and put one over another. Thank God Kurt Cobain was not in the top 25.
So here’s my beef. How did you conclude that Frank Zappa was a bigger influence than George Harrison and Randy Rhodes? Now Frank was a great player. He could cover a wide range of music styles. For that alone I admire him. His musicianship was just amazing.But Randy Rhodes work is simply more well known. And George Harrison….come on! He was a Beatle for Pete’s sake! Frank Zappa had more impact than a Beatle? For that matter Ringo had more influence than Zappa(and he doesn’t play guitar).Gotta rethink that one fellas.
One more thing. Warren DeMartini and George Lynch should have been higher on the list in my opinion.

Otherwise great job.

Kelly -Sherwood, Ar.
http://www.MySpace.com/BigDaddyBear50 Steve Owen

Your list was better than most, but, you made one glaring mistake in my opinion, One of the best guitarists of all time and one of the most influential was not even mentioned, and I’m talking about Duane Allman. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Vaughn should have been ranked higher as well. Who did Jimmy Vaughn influence? His brother for one, who influenced scores of others, so, I think you all should rethink your list.
http://www.vhnd.com/2008/12/17/new-list-top-guitarists-of-all-time-eddie-van-halen-3/ Stephen W.

Four names not included that are a mystery.
1. Duane Allman
2. Jerry Garcia
3. Al Schnier of moe.
4. Chuck Garvey of moe.

All four are better players than half your list.
poeburger

What about Richard Thompson?
dietrich

Bottom line is Eddie Van Halen is the #1 guitarist of all time. There really is no debate on this. He is simply the most well rounded guitar player in the history of Rock.

These lists can be debated back and forth and top to bottom. Eddie should always remain on top.

Also Kurt Cobain NEVER belongs in any best of categories for anything. His sloppy ass guitar playing on the first cd along with his aweful voice, began the end of great music. It allowed people to believe that you don’t actually need to be talented to be in music. The following ten years gave us some of the worst shit ever recorded. The last 4 or 5 years has gotten better but nothing will compare to the musicianship, writing, feeling and integrity of the music of the 70′s and 80′s.
Hank53

Not bad, but where are Duane Allman and Jerry Garcia?
http://myspace.com/thx113 pskibobby

who cares about this stupid list, we all know eddie is the best anyways.
david rothgery

you forgot Phil Keaggy.top five.
Neal schon should be higher then you all have him.
http://tchron.blogspot.com/ tChron

Everyone likes to make lists and the only list that matters is the one that you make. My list is pretty short: Eddie Van Halen, Slash, and Buckethead.
Motor Head

Kirk Hammet Above Dave Mustaine cmon your guys are nuts and George Harrison way up on list ???
Frampton above Frusciante !! Idiots
James Hetfield 14 !! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
and Buddy Guy should be in top 20
I love Neil Young but he’s not even close on Guitar
on Lyrics he would be Number 1 but guitar cmon!?
and David Gilmour at Number 4 who the f— voted for this s—
keith richards and david gilmour above steve vai hahahahahaha