Guitar Gear Forum

1.Lynch-My all time favorite guitar hero. I said this here before but watching him pop out of that wall in the dream warriors video changed my life.
2.Vai-Nobody can do what he does, no one.
3.Akira-Loved his style and pinache on the instrument. Killer licks and creative riffing.
4.Greg Howe-only one album but pepper shake blew me away, still does.
5.Yngwie-The best of the best imo.
6.Bratta-Vh clone? maybe but he was way better at it than the original!
7.Demartini-classic solos, I can hum every single note.
8.Sykes-smooth like butter, dude hit some amazing notes.
9.Jake E Lee-badlands and the ozzy albums he did have some of the most inspired metal playing ever.
10.Nuno/Mathias Jabs-cant decide between these two guys. Nuno is a far greater "talent" but im not a fan of his music but always loved and respected his creativity and playing. Mathias never hit a bad note inh is life.

1. Dylon
2. Dylon
3. Dylon
4. Dylon
5. Dylon

He spits hot fire.

I don't like the term hair metal, its actually silly..

Back to topic at hand - Your list is actually good (nice job MINUS the Eddie/Vito 'comment' ) but il throw in a couple more


Randy Rhoads .... Changed a genre and got Ozzy back in the game
John Norum .... More straight ahead playing than many 80s guys but tasty/soulfull
Skid Row.... BOTH guitar players were good and awesome tone/production
Chris Degarmo ..... underrated songwriter, good player, band went to shit when he left
Vivian Campbell... AMAZING on 1st DIO CD, Gary Moore on steroids, great riffs/solos
Marty Friedman... VERY unique style and phrasing
Reb Beach... Fantastic player, smooth liquidity leads and catchy rhythm's


There are more but that's enough for now

Yngwie Malmsteen
Doug Aldrich (I may be one of the only people that loved his band Lion)
George Lynch
Warren DeMartini
Reb Beach
Alex Masi
Brad Gillis
Jake E Lee
Vivian Campbell


Of course this covers the "hair" guys - does not include the real metal dudes I was into (Tipton, Skolnick, etc.)

Excellent picks! Here's mine -

Adrian Smith
Dave Murray
Alex Lifeson (yes, even the keyboard years)
EVH
Jake E Lee
Vai
Satriani
Vito Bratta
George Lynch
Bruce Kulick
Pablo Gilberto
Demartini
Yngwie
James Hetfield
Dan Spitz
Scott Ian
Chris Degarmo
Michael Wilton

And too many others to name!!!

Sorry. Mine went beyond the hair metal genre.....

I got excited! Lol

Vito Bratta
Warren dimartini
Robin Crosby
Dave sabo
Scotti hill
Bill leverty
Dude from warrant
Tom kiefer
Steve Stevens
Dweezil zappa


Tried not to pick pure shredders or thrashers. Really tried to stay in pop metal genre

ShaneV wrote:1. Dylon
2. Dylon
3. Dylon
4. Dylon
5. Dylon

He spits hot fire.

ShaneV wrote:1. Dylon
2. Dylon
3. Dylon
4. Dylon
5. Dylon

He spits hot fire.

He loved his Treble.

No particular order.

1. Jake E. Lee

2. Warren Dimartini

3. Those guys from Cinderella. Long Cold Winter is a great album.

4. Brad Gillis. His guitar playing on Speak Of The Devil is what got me into him.

5. Jeff Watson

6. Phil Collen

7. Steven Clark

8. Steve Stevens. Billy Idol is probably a bit more of a pop and rock singer I guess, but same era.

9. Vivian Campbel. Not sure I'd consider his Dio work hair-metal though, but he's a top-notch player.

10. Steve Vai

Aside from the usual suspects I would add Vinnie Vincent.


I know it's difficult to look beyond his image/stupid shit he's done and the mindless shredding on his solo albums, but the guy was a really good rhythm player, song writer, and a pretty good vocalist for that matter.

JerEvil wrote:Yngwie Malmsteen
Doug Aldrich (I may be one of the only people that loved his band Lion)
George Lynch
Warren DeMartini
Reb Beach
Alex Masi
Brad Gillis
Jake E Lee
Vivian Campbell


Of course this covers the "hair" guys - does not include the real metal dudes I was into (Tipton, Skolnick, etc.)

I cant believe you just mentioned Alex Masi. I had that one album after watching this video and I couldn't stop listening to it.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1hnKioD-gM[/video]

Richie Kotzen
Scotti Hill
Randy Rhoads
Steve Vai
Steve Stevens
Joe Satriani (not sure he really counts as a hair metal guitarist but whateva)
Greg Howe
Jason Becker
Marty Friedman
Nuno Bettencourt

ShaneV wrote:1. Dylon
2. Dylon
3. Dylon
4. Dylon
5. Dylon

He spits hot fire.

Well played

marty is def not a hair metal guitarist considering that cocophony and megadeth were both NOT hair metal acts. Becker is debatable I judge him on cocophony and solo record over DLR I think any sane person would too. Jason is probably my all time favorite player that ever lived, what an amazing talent lost. He would be Number one or at elast 2 with me for sure if he is considered a hair metal player. idk maybe he is.

jnurp wrote:marty is def not a hair metal guitarist considering that cocophony and megadeth were both NOT hair metal acts. Becker is debatable I judge him on cocophony and solo record over DLR I think any sane person would too. Jason is probably my all time favorite player that ever lived, what an amazing talent lost. He would be Number one or at elast 2 with me for sure if he is considered a hair metal player. idk maybe he is.

This is why i dont care for labels

Every guitarist mentioned in this thread is up



Its funny though, Lynch may be my favorite of the bunch. His phrasing, unique style, tone, and rythm work were so bad ass and killer, even in a band i didnt care for that much (Dokken) i dont hate em, but i dont care for them 2 much... Lynch M ob had some good shit the first CD on it as well and maybe ther best 'solo's of his career. George playing was on FUCKING FIRE during the early 90s or so, the guy was really on his game!

I agree with most of those listed, but,
Best of the bunch-- Matthias Jabs without question. I'd also toss in Dave Meneketti as a serious contender.

the solo on rock you like a hurricane is some of the tastiest shit ever. That first note that is in the harmony sends chills down my spine. Fantastic stuff.

^^^ --- Not even close to his best soloing. Matthias is THE Best "Fills" Master bar none IMO. Smoother than butter on a baby's ass. ie:
Same Thrill
Coming Home
Don't Make No Promises-- etc,etc,etc---- the dude is highly underrated and his tone/playing is unmistakable.

TraumaRN wrote:^^^ --- Not even close to his best soloing. Matthias is THE Best "Fills" Master bar none IMO. Smoother than butter on a baby's ass. ie:
Same Thrill
Coming Home
Don't Make No Promises-- etc,etc,etc---- the dude is highly underrated and his tone/playing is unmistakable.

I agree, his fills and runs are better than most guys solo's lol


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtBXcCsfytA[/video]

This song is a fucking NONSTOP train of awesome guitar runs and fills, seriously listen to them in this song.. Killer!

jnurp wrote:

JerEvil wrote:Yngwie Malmsteen
Doug Aldrich (I may be one of the only people that loved his band Lion)
George Lynch
Warren DeMartini
Reb Beach
Alex Masi
Brad Gillis
Jake E Lee
Vivian Campbell


Of course this covers the "hair" guys - does not include the real metal dudes I was into (Tipton, Skolnick, etc.)

I cant believe you just mentioned Alex Masi. I had that one album after watching this video and I couldn't stop listening to it.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1hnKioD-gM[/video]

LOL! Me too! Alex was actually a damn good player. Too bad he never "took off"

Here is the video from Lion for the song "Powerlove" - this was my first glimpse at Doug Aldrich.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rezkAI9AW3Q[/video]

Hope my GAB cred hasn't just gone down the popper!

Let's see...

Warren DeMartini
Derek Frigo
Jake E Lee
Vito Bratta
Nuno Bettencourt
Adrian Vandenberg
George Lynch (Wicked Sensation through Sacred Groove, specifically, even though that was the 90s)
Steve Stevens (His work on Vince Neil's "Exposed" is killer, and THAT TONE)
Doug Aldrich
John Sykes

John Sykes
Dave Meniketti
Zakk Wylde
Vivian Campbell
Bruce Kullick
Matthias Jabs
Wolf Hoffman
Yngwie
EVH
Slash
Nuno

oh jesus how did I forget Slash.....Man I loved AFD.

Mick Mars sounded good and unique, compared to most of the others. The just sound like wanking shred.