Malcolm Young! Angus would be nothing without his rhythm partner.

Also Rory Gallagher, although I think he's getting more and more exposure as time goes on and more people are getting to know of him, which is great.

Prince
Sonny Landreth (brilliant player)
Billy Corgan (!)

Warren wrote: Billy Corgan (!)

I was actually thinking that as well while typing my above post.

"Little known" and "underrated" are not the same thing. Tom Verlaine is not that well known, but those who know him tend to rate him pretty highly.

So the challenge is now more interesting.

I think Joan Armatrading is not rated as a guitar player but should be. Though when I saw her live some years ago she generally played down her own instrumental abilities, leaving most of the playing to whoever it was in her band. Right at the end of the show she strapped on an Anderson "Strat" and lit the stage up. Even on her many of her own records she's kept her guitar playing out of the lime light.

Nick Drake provokes debate in some circles. I think he was a very good player, but he was (and I find this admirable) much more concerned with putting his work across than with flash playing (not playing guitar at all on some songs).

Drake also makes another interesting point: He wasn't a lead player, a solo player. They got Richard Thompson in to do that job on Drake's albums. But that doesn't mean that Drake wasn't a fine player. You can be a good player and not play solos.

Possibly George Benson. I think a lot of his audience, those who only know him from his poppier singles, might not realise that he's a very fine jazz guitarist.

Paul McCartney. Certainly the best guitarist in the Beatles.

I think Martin Barre out of Jethro Tull is not as well regarded as he should be. Listen to some of his solo albums - he's better than you think.

+1 Prince

Thurston Moore
Kevin Shields (for using guitar in a more unconventional textural way)
Jonny Greenwood

bob i'll say george benson is highly rated.. as a jazz players .or at least is today ........ his current draw/appeal is almost purely to the jazz market and he's way way respected in any jazz literature and on the jazz guitar forum they never stop talking about him ..... . so i think he's getting his 15 minutes of fame ..although i agree back in 80's when he did that crossover jazz/pop- stuff like "give me the night" ....... maybe the jazz fans dropped him a little.. but no longer the case ...and btw his guitar tone is legendary in jazz circles...

so i wouldn't say george benson is under rated at all


hows the tone on his guitar ....... even tho it's the jazzy arrangement of a stevie wonder song ......

gonna go with malcolm young too....man is awesome

eddie van halen ..completely underrated imho ?

Walter Becker of Steely Dan

And I'll tell you who else I think is really good and yet seems to get overlooked when people start talking 60s guitar heroes is Stephen Stills.

+1 on prince too...

Very underrated imo!!

Tim Sult (Clutch)...

I remember an interview with Tom Fox of Bright Blue. He was asked about guitar players he paid attention to and named Prince. Then he said something like "he plays just enough to get you wondering if he's a genius but not enough to confirm it."

Blackie Swart. The oke from Liewe Lulu fame. ? ???


.....I know, I know, but serious the guy can play! Just check out his My Storie DVD.
He also plays in the Ses Snare show touring the Afrikaans circuit. My best mate saw them at the KKNK and reckons Blackie Swart stole the show.
Like Chuck Berry said - You never can tell....

I would like to suggest several guitarist who I consider musos' mosos rather than underrated because they are certainly not underrated by their peers. They are guys who don't take the spotlight and yet are in constant demand to appear with named musos both live and on their albums.

Phil Palmer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Palmer

Andy Fairweather Low http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Fairweather-Low

Toots Thielemans. Harmonica player but also a fantasic guitarist. http://www.tootsthielemans.com/biography/biography.html

South Africa's, Jethro Butow... mainly a session guitarist who has worked with most of the name artists in this country since the 70's.

I've always loved the 'backroom' boys.

X-rated Bob wrote: I remember an interview with Tom Fox of Bright Blue. He was asked about guitar players he paid attention to and named Prince. Then he said something like "he plays just enough to get you wondering if he's a genius but not enough to confirm it."

That sums it up. I saw a video a few years ago of a Prince concert, and he had effortless technical facility on the guitar. I guess his playing is overshadowed by a lot of the other "stuff" that surrounds him. I certainly don't think he bills himself as a guitarist first and foremost.

Another amazing player with quite unique rhythmic phrasing: Robin Trower. Check out his blues playing especially.

chris77 wrote: Blackie Swart. The oke from Liewe Lulu fame. ? ???


.....I know, I know, but serious the guy can play! Just check out his My Storie DVD.
He also plays in the Ses Snare show touring the Afrikaans circuit. My best mate saw them at the KKNK and reckons Blackie Swart stole the show.
Like Chuck Berry said - You never can tell....

Ses snare is a show i would actually love to go watch! i have heard its amazingly good!!

make and do wrote: +1 Prince

Thurston Moore
Kevin Shields (for using guitar in a more unconventional textural way)
Jonny Greenwood

this was easy I didnt even have to type... thanks

South Africa's, Jethro Butow... mainly a session guitarist who has worked with most of the name artists in this country since the 70's.

+1

X-rated Bob wrote: I remember an interview with Tom Fox of Bright Blue. He was asked about guitar players he paid attention to and named Prince. Then he said something like "he plays just enough to get you wondering if he's a genius but not enough to confirm it."

I've seen live footage where it's basically confirmed...