Well, Chet Atkins and Jimi Hendrix probably top my list of best guitarists, but you were asking originally about the underappreciated ones.

Those for me, I think, are Keith Richards and John Lennon. Richards, I think, was master of the Musical Hook; his riffs--always simple, always unique, and always memorable--made a lot of Rolling Stones songs the most recognizable in recent history. He is emulatable; I've managed to apply his style to a country music song just once (but might have managed to do it again, in "Dirty Deeds Done to Sheep").

And Lennon, I've decided, is a decent role model. I played a while back with a rock 'n' roll band that did a lot of Beatles covers, and they were determined that I be their John Lennon. Lennon ain't bad: a good writer, and competent rhythm guitarist who could sometimes play lead. And now, I find myself listening to the rhythm guitarist a lot when I hear bands.

Joe

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