Gibson Shows who they design for

[PhilKing]

Has anyone seen the state of the Gibson top 50 guitarists of all time (http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/Top-50-Guitarists-528/).  The have Ritchie Blackmore at joint 49th with Kurt Cobain, while having Lou Reed(!) at 38 and Ron Asheton at 24, to say nothing of Chuck Berry being at 6.  In fact many of my favourite guitarists are in the 40's (Robert Fripp, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour, Richard Thonpson, Ritchie Blackmore and John Frusciante).

I know that they are doing all genres and eras, but I had a friend who is a drummer call me to tell me what bollocks the list was (so you know it has to be really bad).

If this is how Gibson thinks the guitar market is, you can see why they are coming up with the Zoot Suit SG (it would probably be great for Chuck Berry!).

[Philly Q]

Apart from the order they appear in, I don't think there are any surprises there really.  The usual suspects, plus the handful of under-50s who traditionally break the dead people/pensioner deadlock - Johnny Marr, Jack White, Radiohead.

I can't really get too worked up about these "Top 50" or "Top 100" polls, be they Guitarists, Films, Sexiest Women, whatever.  If it's a "Critics' Choice" it's pretentious, if it's a "People's Choice" it's lowest-common-denominator.  They're just opinions!

(I really can't imagine Chuck Berry with a Zoot Suit SG!!  :lol: )

[dave_mc]

If it's a "Critics' Choice" it's pretentious, if it's a "People's Choice" it's lowest-common-denominator.  

Hahaha, I like that description. that about sums it up. :)

[Ratrod]

At least Hendrix isn't on number 1 this time.

Some players that definately deserve their top 10 place:

Robert Johnson
Chet Atkins
Eddie Van Halen

And why can I never find Brian Setzer in the top 10? The man's a genius.

Edit: the list does represent the taste of the Gibson buyer: babyboomers and flower children with more cash than common sense.