I think we should leave the word "great" behind, because it's a pointless concept.

But since we're naming fine guitarists who don't play Fenders, I've seen Frank Gambale, Jose Neto and Buzz Feiten all do excellent things on guitars without an F on the headstock...

And not my thang, but has anyone mentioned Steve Vai or Joe Satriani yet?

Cheers - C

my top 5 guitar players

1. eddie van halen

2. david gilmour

3. jimi hendrix

4. robin trower

5. eric clapton (the cream days)

Neil Young, Mick Taylor, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Mike Bloomfield. And, of course, Esteban.

Well by all the names mentioned I think Scott06 found out theres are a lot of well known players that don't play Strats. And like Ceri said you have to leave the word great out of it. Ones great is anothers no way.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Did anyone say Esteban yet....When i first seen this post i had to stop and think what great players didn't play a Strat..But for me the reason why is i favor Strats so i know which artist play them..There is a reason that i started playing Strats is i like the tone ..Wither im playing i'm playing a Strat or the guy on the radio..
So IMHO it is why it seems like all the greats players play Strats..It is the tone i favor..But if i stop and use logic there is many great players that don't play Strats....
It also has something to do with the Genre of music i listen to..15 years ago i wouldn't be caught dead playing a Strat as i was into heavier thicker music..At that time the players i favored played Ibanez,Gibson or Jackson..

Now i play the Blues were there is on occasion an Ibanez or Jackson..But it is mostly Strats,Tele's,335's and Les Pauls..With Strats being the dominant guitar..Even that though is relatively new ..Back in the 50's and early 60's the 335 was the dominant guitar...

the only one that really pops into my head as a great non-strat guitar player who influenced a lot of people would be Tony Iommi (Gibson SG).

Perhaps James Hetfield too, Gibsons and ESPS.

or Dave Mustaine (Jacksons and Deans)

actually there's a lot of really good songwriters who don't play Strats. But it seems the majority of "amazing" players actually do play Strats.



...including me, lol.

Only 2 in my personal top 10 play(ed) Stratocasters. Only 1 in my top 5.

Peter Green, Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, Gary Rossington, Zakk Wylde, Slash, Johnny Winter, Carl Perkins, Chet Atkins, B.B. King, Peter Frampton, Some of David Gilmours best work was done with a 56 Goldtop and look at Clapton's years with the Mayall & Bluesbreaker's the Yard Birds and Blind Faith. Yes great guitarest do play rigs other then Strat's

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

You Guys forgot my#1... Rev. Willie G. of ZZ Top

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--Hillbilly
Proud member of the 2 or 3 club

Randy Rhoads, Tony Iommy, Angus Young, Alex Lifeson (forget this one, he does play them, just doesn't like them), and let's not forget Esteban.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

He played Strats a lot in the 80's.

forgive my ignorance but who is Esteban?

I know I'm going to get slammed for the question. But I do not now of him.

I'll hide in the closet waiting the slams lol

...au contraire, my good man; The Right Reverend played a Stratocaster on "Blue Jean Blues", "Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell", "Apologies To Pearly" and the solo of "La Grange", just to name a few. It's a 1958 hardtail that's been in his arsenal since the Moving Sidewalks days.

My list:

Muddy Waters
Keith Richards
Bernard Allison
Freddie King
David Grissom
Neal Schon (even though I hate Journey!)
Albert Collins
Ed King
Derek Trucks
Warren Haynes
Scotty Moore
...and many, many more

Just to cover all the bases, I play a Stratocaster, a Telecaster and a G&L F-100!

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

No slams from this post, brother---

Esteban is a dude who dresses like a sunglassed Gypsy and hawks cheap-o POS guitars and amps on an infomercial. He has some chops, but many of his claims of working/learning from Segovia are in dispute (see Wikipedia link--since Wikipedia is so accurate on EVERYTHING! ).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esteban



I played one of his guitars at a pawn shop; save your money and get a real axe!

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Ceri I was going to mention Eddie,Satch and Vai but I figured most guys would say they were just playing super Strats. For the younger guys after Vanhalen slapped a humbucker into a Strat knock off body just about every guitar player was doing it and though they were differant companies making them-Kramer-Charvel they were still basically suped up Strats. Now to review some bizzare statements Clapton was not an innovative guitar player. Well he was just about saved the Les Paul from becoming extinct because nobody was playing them until he cranked out the blues with one on the Beano album then a thousand guys started playing them again. He also was the first player to play in a trio format with everything cranked to 10 in one of the most important bands in rock history called CREAM that started experimental extended blues/jazz/rock jam formats that led the way for Hendrix and the rest. Page not a great player .Wow anyone alive in the 70s would know page was cosidered the top of the mountain back then he was a rock God. Than theres SRV,Clapton and Hendrix not making the list of 100 greatest guitarist. This one leaves me speechless.