re: EVH overrated or top 10 like they say?

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So success now equates to talent?

You must adore Taylor Swift.

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No, dummy, the point is that Eddie and Randy were every bit of the player that Lukather is. Do you think at their level there's any discernible difference in ability and musicianship? They're all great guitarists, among the best that's ever done it. But Eddie and Randy had star quality and Steve never has. So far, you've brought two artists up that I never mentioned. No one was talking about Steve or Taylor, don't use them to go at me, argue with yourself instead.

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There is no way to actually rank guitar players, despite everyone trying to do it. There are too many variables and personal tastes and preferences.

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The only right answer.

Guitar work is like art "in the eye of the beholder" as it were. Some contemporary guitar "masterpieces" and styles have been just one memorable riff, one song, one album, just one year.

We have our pioneers in the 1950s and very early 60s.

Building on the 1950s pioneering the glorious mid-1960s led rapidly to numerous experimental riff-meisters, janglers, hook-meisters, triplets, fills, guitar layering, etc.

By the 1970s tech took that to a higher level of integration of duel and multi-guitar harmonizing and layering, steel lap, fuzz and tone FX, etc.

By the mid 1980s most of the evolutionary creative process had stalled and grown stale for the most part as the best guitar work could be found in Nashville and country.)

EVH has made his mark. But IMHO was not as creative, versatile, consistent or did it as long as many others before him.

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Are we talking about the same EVH?

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Yeah.

He made his mark for a while. But I thought he was too undisciplined. he was just never impressed that much overall; Especially in comparing him to the stable of greats coming out of the 70s. But that's just me.

With all due respect to your ear, like I said, "Guitar work is like art "in the eye of the beholder."

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Absolutely.

EVH or Randy either one would struggle on a traditional jazz session. Neither were educated musically. Neither read charts proficiently enough to play on at least half the sessions Lukather did. Sessions where you walked in and were asked to read the chart and play songs you’d never heard before perfectly the first time

EVH and Randy were incredible guitarists. They were innovative, ground breaking and inspired legions of musicians to become better at their craft.

To assimilate that with pure musicianship is simply wrong.

And by the way, your first reply to me most definitely tried to equate popularity to talent. Go back and read it

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Blah, blah, blah. You come across as a judgemental prick. "Steve Lukather was better. You probably like Taylor Swift." Just stfu.

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Humor us. What are some of the other guitarists on your top-20 list?

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No problem...but remember, I have EVH in my top 20, so I hold him in high esteem. I tend not to rank great guitarist 1 through 20, but here are the others that occupy the group:
Stevie Ray Vaughan
John Mcglaughlin
Duane Allman
Frank Zappa
Billy Strings
Carlos Santana
Hendrix
Robert Fripp
Jimmy Page
Jack White
Roy Clark
Al Di Meola
Steve Howe
David Gilmour
Doc Watson
Jeff Beck
Mark Knopfler
Les Paul
Pat Metheny

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EVH or Randy either one would struggle on a traditional jazz session. Neither were educated musically. Neither read charts proficiently enough to play on at least half the sessions Lukather did. Sessions where you walked in and were asked to read the chart and play songs you’d never heard before perfectly the first time

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Randy Rhoads was a classically trained guitarist. He could definitely read music. His mother had a degree in music from UCLA and owned a music school, where he and his siblings all learned.

EVH could not read music, but I also think you overestimate the importance of reading music for a guitar player. Session guitarists are not generally playing pre-written songs to the note, but given a riff or a bass/drum line and they are able to build around that, freelancing, adding fills, etc.

As far as the jazz comment, it’s just a different style. Just as most elite jazz guitarists could adapt to rock guitar with some practice, elite rock guitarists could adapt to jazz with some practice.

But who gives a frick? You want to throw some flamenco players in as well? This is about rock guitarists.

I say this as a huge Allman Brothers fan, but Duane wasn’t even the best guitarist in the band.

That’s altogether a pretty shite list.

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Stevie Ray Vaughan
John Mcglaughlin
Duane Allman
Frank Zappa
Billy Strings
Carlos Santana
Hendrix
Robert Fripp
Jimmy Page
Jack White
Roy Clark
Al Di Meola
Steve Howe
David Gilmour
Doc Watson
Jeff Beck
Mark Knopfler
Les Paul
Pat Metheny

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Wanna know who is a better player, arranger, singer, songwriter, performer and band leader that most of those?

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Yea, no Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson.

Billy Strings? He can play for sure, but there are 100 dudes waiting tables in Nashville that can play as good as him.