Best Acoustic Guitarist In The World 2012 Poll

[alwoodcock]

For me, it's Tommy Emmanuel, without a doubt, but music is NOT a competition...Let's remember that folks!

I also really like Steve Hackett, but he's a great classical guitarist...Still 'acoustic' though, so it's all a bit subjective anyway!

[bertie]

is Richard Smith on the list ?

[tonyteech02]

OK best technical nylon string player is flamenco player Gerardo Nunez - best musical player is Paco di Lucia IMO best UK nylon string player in UK is a guy called Steve Homes who is a professional flamenco player. Far better than most classical guitarists Best steel string player and all rounder is Tommy Emmanuel - probably the best pick player is one of the gypsy jazzers such as one of the Rosenbergs for sheer speed they leave everyone else dead. Most musical players include John Renbourne - Martin Carthy - Wizz Jones - Martin Simpson and Mr Giltrap

[evilmags]

Most Flamenco players are amazing and on a technical level it seems wierd putting them in a list with Jo Bonnamassa. Sort of like comparing George Formby with Segovia. Jazz players are also fairly handy on accoustics (Di Meola, Birreli Lagrene, McLaughlin, Metheny) as are the Micheal Hedges/Jon Gomms of this world.

[tonyteech02]

FAO I agree with Mags - Steve Homes who is an unassuming gent who lives in Kings Cross plays at speeds that just defy belief - he writes all his own material and is comfortable playing at Di Lucia speeds. His picado is the equivalent of any pick player ie 220 bpm at 4 notes per beat plus

[mellowsun]

Putting [flamenco players] in a list with Jo Bonnamassa [is] like comparing George Formby with Segovia.

Classic quote (apols for paraphrasing)! But heresy to the Bonnamassa fanboys at Guitarist magazine, I bet.

[tonyteech02]

I agree totally about the classification - its who you admire and who gives you pleasure I saw Segovia live in Liverpool in the 60s and his singing was lousy. I was also unfortunate enough to see all the George Formby movies in the 50s and early 60s - we made our own entertainment in those days because there were only two TV channels

[AndrewG]

How about changing the poll question to most influential? I reckon that would be fairer, less subjective and less open to accusations of horse racing analogies. I vote Bert Jansch.

[Midnightminstrel]

I agree totally about the classification - its who you admire and who gives you pleasure I saw Segovia live in Liverpool in the 60s and his singing was lousy. I was also unfortunate enough to see all the George Formby movies in the 50s and early 60s - we made our own entertainment in those days because there were only two TV channels

Yeah, me to, lol , but if I'm honest I used to love it when he played the Uke. Don't know if he ever played a Guitar but he had quite an instinctive and remarkable rhythm and my guess is he would have made a wonderful guitarist. Not meaning to sound like a Formby fan (I'm not really tbh) but I once read that he was actually a very intelligent bloke who didn't suffer fools gladly, I once heard he raced motor bikes as well.....not sure about that one though.

[tonyteech02]

Racing motorbikes is true - TT racer and also a trainee jockey. He was not thick but very sharp