why not?

[DavidMn]

Ok, somebody PLEASE tell me why Lindsey Buckingham never seems to get mentioned with the better guitar players of all time. I'm no technical expert on guitar playing, but it seems to me that he should be right up there. Am I off base here?

[SteveMacD]

Lindsey isn't that great in terms of guitar soloing, which tends to be the gold standard for the guitar magazines. There are scores of guitarists who can out play him. I can think of at least three who've been in Fleetwood Mac. His finger style is great, but there are classical, jazz, and country/bluegrass guitarists who can run circles over Lindsey with their fingers. Lindsey is a unique ROCK guitarist, but if you take other forms of music into consideration, Lindsey comes out as average.

[DavidMn]

Lindsey isn't that great in terms of guitar soloing, which tends to be the gold standard for the guitar magazines. There are scores of guitarists who can out play him. I can think of at least three who've been in Fleetwood Mac. His finger style is great, but there are classical, jazz, and country/bluegrass guitarists who can run circles over Lindsey with their fingers. Lindsey is a unique ROCK guitarist, but if you take other forms of music into consideration, Lindsey comes out as average.
Well, I will defer to you on that. I realize that I dont have a great knowledge of this subject, but I will say he's probably my favorite or very close to it. :nod:

[wondergirl9847]

Lindsey is my favorite guitarist because of the way his playing makes ME feel. I don't give two craps what anyone else thinks of his playing. He has been on a few lists here and there.

[lagringader&r]

You're (general you) favorite guitarists don't have to be, and in my opinion shouldn't be, the greatest soloists to ever walk the earth. It's too easy to name Man Clapton Man or Sir Hendrix. My favorite guitarist doesn't even play solos. Mr. Buckingham isn't as good as many players but he's actually interesting. Whereas Man Clapton Man, Sir Hendrix, B.B. Dude King are boring. So boring I have to spruce up there names to make them suitable for public viewing.

:shocked: Clapton, Hendrix and B.B. King are boring? Are you high? I disagree that Lindsey isn't a good soloist. I think he is. He may not be my favorite member of FM, but I have to say he is masterful with the guitar solos. Clapton, Hendrix and B.B. are anything but boring.

[lagringader&r]

Ok, granted I know next to nothing about them, but from what little I've seen, they don't have nearly the personality of Mr. Buckingham. Maybe Sir Hendrix, but I've disliked him for many a year.

Personality, as in? Stage personality? Hendrix had personality to spare. Clapton, not so much. B.B., not sure about. I've seen some old boots with Hendrix and he was hot with the guitar and with the audience. I think Clapton used to be, but he mellowed too much and got old. I judge B.B. by The Thrill Is Gone, which is a smokin hot song. :nod:

[lagringader&r]

I suppose stage personality, given that I haven't seen them offstage. I think B.B. Dude King was in a commercial once though. I'll agree that Sir Hendrix has some personality to him, but I've always thought he was a sloppy player with a pretty bad singing voice. As for Man Clapton Man getting old, Lindsey has gotten pretty old and he's got just as much personality in him as he ever did. Maybe Man Clapton Man should start working out.

Any dude that can play the guitar with his feet ain't sloppy. :eek: Yep, Clapton should work out or something. Maybe he should do drugs again. He just got boring. :nod: As a guitarist, though, he's still greatness.

[littlecricket2]

I have to admit that many guitar solos I've heard which are long, meandering, and technically amazing leave me feeling less-than-impressed. It's the overall song and melody, and how the guitar-playing contributes to that, that impresses me. A lot of the soloists seem to be playing just to show off their playing, and it's easy to lose where exactly you are in the song. When that happens, I tend to tune out rather than become impressed. :shrug:

[AliP]

His finger style is great, but there are classical, jazz, and country/bluegrass guitarists who can run circles over Lindsey with their fingers. Lindsey is a unique ROCK guitarist, but if you take other forms of music into consideration, Lindsey comes out as average.


That's interesting. I always thought that Lindsey's finger style was what made him great. :confused: But then, like Davidmn, I don't know much about guitar playing styles etc.

So I'm assuming you are referring to Peter Green as being better than Lindsey, but who is the other person you were referring to? Yes, I really am that clueless!!!

[strandinthewind]

I'd say Clapton is 'boring'. He doesn't actually bore me but he's not really taking the style to new places. I don't listen to enough B.B. King so I can't comment but from the one album I have it's a similar story. I don't find Hendrix boring though. You have to consider the time period and what he introduced listeners to.


I tend to agree about Clapton - but his boring is most people's contemplated but never achieved zenith.

[glitter_fades]

Ok, somebody PLEASE tell me why Lindsey Buckingham never seems to get mentioned with the better guitar players of all time.

I'm no technical expert on guitar playing, but it seems to me that he should be right up there. Am I off base here?

Lindsey's no technical expert either. Not in guitar playing. He's a little above average. It's not the technical expertise that makes him special. It's the way he can make a guitar sing. You can feel what he is playing as much as hear it. He has a very different style among rock guitarits, most of whom leave me cold. Technical prowess isn't everything. ;)

:)

[SteveMacD]

That's interesting. I always thought that Lindsey's finger style was what made him great. :confused: But then, like Davidmn, I don't know much about guitar playing styles etc.
It's what makes him unique in a rock band like Fleetwood Mac. I'm just saying that put up against Segovia, Joe Pass, or Chet Atkins, Lindsey is average and frankly unremarkable. In fact, Lindsey, for me, is Chet Atkins light. In addition to being dubbed "Mr. Guitar," Chet produced scores of country artists, and had his hand in many of the greatest country songs of all time. He was even a CEO of RCA Nashville and has had TWO guitar lines named after him (first with Gretsch, later with Gibson).
So I'm assuming you are referring to Peter Green as being better than Lindsey, but who is the other person you were referring to? Yes, I really am that clueless!!!
In terms of Fleetwood Mac guitarists, I'd say Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Rick Vito. Vito, technically speaking, is the best guitarist the Mac ever had. He was a studio guitarist, and studio guitarists are the best in the biz. However, the downside is that his playing lacked a certain character. Whereas Lindsey would play what he felt the song needed, Rick would play what he felt the writer wanted. I'm not sure Stevie, Christine, or Billy really knew enough about what they wanted, though. Hence Rick was never sure if he was doing the right thing with the band. That speaks to Lindsey's abilities as a producer, not Rick's abilities as a guitarist. Still, he was the best.

[SteveMacD]

I suppose stage personality, given that I haven't seen them offstage. I think B.B. Dude King was in a commercial once though. I'll agree that Sir Hendrix has some personality to him, but I've always thought he was a sloppy player with a pretty bad singing voice. As for Man Clapton Man getting old, Lindsey has gotten pretty old and he's got just as much personality in him as he ever did. Maybe Man Clapton Man should start working out.
I can't comment on Hendrix, because he was dead before I was alive. From what I've seen, I am blown away. I agree that he was sloppy and didn't have the greatest voice, though it DID have a lot of honesty on his slower songs. However, he does have a lot of saving graces. Hendrix was constantly trying to come up with ways to make the guitar sound different. Because of this, engineer Eddie Kramer came up with many innovative techniques in the studio which became standards for rock. Even Lindsey has used many of these techniques. But Hendrix was really the first to production as a means to manipulating how something sounds. Not just affect the sound, but change it altogether.

On Clapton, I agree that he's on the downsing these days. But, from the "Bluesbreaker" album through "Layla," a better guitarist you simply would not find. Especially on the "Layla" album. His playing on that had more passion than any album I've ever heard. He doesn't have a lot of stage presence, but when you're as good as he is, you don't need it.

Finally, B.B. King. Of the three, I've seen him the most. What I love about B.B. is that he can make a huge venue still feel intimate. He make the audience feel as if they're the only thing in the world that matters. He doesn't sing a song, he lives it. I'd say he has much more stage presence than any member of Fleetwood Mac.

[Lindsey Jr.]

Lindsey isn't that great in terms of guitar soloing, which tends to be the gold standard for the guitar magazines. There are scores of guitarists who can out play him. I can think of at least three who've been in Fleetwood Mac. His finger style is great, but there are classical, jazz, and country/bluegrass guitarists who can run circles over Lindsey with their fingers. Lindsey is a unique ROCK guitarist, but if you take other forms of music into consideration, Lindsey comes out as average.

But you don't have to be fast or whatever to be good, he plays with emotion, and that counts for me. And thanks to him I'm gonna buy a model 1, just like he has :cool: (of course not only for FM/LB & not in the near future, but soon...)

[David]

In fact, Lindsey, for me, is Chet Atkins light.I'd agree. It's Lindsey's overall vision that makes him such an interesting rocker, not his technical ability on the guitar. Lindsey has always recognized this: he says his main contribution to the band is not as a singer or a songwriter or a guitarist but as an arranger & producer.

When you combine his interesting guitar-playing with his arranging, engineering & production savvy into a complete package, you begin to gauge his special singularity.
In terms of Fleetwood Mac guitarists, I'd say Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, and Rick Vito. Vito, technically speaking, is the best guitarist the Mac ever had.Fleetwood Mac's history is partly so interesting because they've combined -- often at different times -- talents with extraordinary technique & other talents who don't have the technique but have that ineffable "something else." And then there was Peter Green . . . . who had both in abundance.

In terms of technique, of just about all the people who ever played keyboards for FM albums or concerts, Christine McVie was the also-ran. Whether it was Doug Graves or Brett Tuggle or Steve Thoma or Jeff Sova or Dan Garfield, Christine was the least of the technicians. But of course it didn't seem to matter: she played so unusually & that combined with her other talents made her a superb part of the band for almost thirty years -- in a way that would have dwarfed any of those other guys, had they been full-fledged members.
He was a studio guitarist, and studio guitarists are the best in the biz. However, the downside is that his playing lacked a certain character.Precisely. It's a question of musical personality in the discussion of the technical mastery of session players. But of course that discussion covers much of music in general: people with good ears & good taste always preferred hearing the somewhat flawed, unconventional performer with musical personality (Rudolf Serkin) to the empty, facile technician (Jose Iturbi).

[chiliD]

Whereas Man Clapton Man, Sir Hendrix, B.B. Dude King are boring. So boring I have to spruce up there names to make them suitable for public viewing.

Which is painfully obvious you don't know **** about guitarists.

[Miss Vicky]

Lindsey is my favorite guitarist because of the way his playing makes ME feel. I don't give two craps what anyone else thinks of his playing.

I second this notion whole-heartedly!

Though for the record, I adore Clapton's work as well...

But, to me

<font size="5"> Buckingham Is God!</font>

[mylittledemon]

It bothers me too. But you know what? I've found among like-minded guitarists that a lot of guys know who is he is and agree that he's amazing. I've been playing guitar for about 8 years now, and I play the same way Lindsey does. And when I meet new musicians that I play with for the first time, they always make a referrence to him and how cool that is.

In my opinion, I think his guitar playing gets lost in the context of the what Fleetwood Mac is. Lindsey is not overly flashy...he truly does play for the song. Fleetwood Mac's albums are generally placed in the "glossy pop" category, so a lot of scrutinizing people dismiss it immediately.

[Janet]

I think one thing we can *ALL* agree on, out of all the guitarists, Lindsey is the hottest. AND, isn't that all that really matters?? :)

[wondergirl9847]

He's hot, no doubt, but Janet, I am so torn about that. When you start talking about how good looking a musician or actor is, people start going "Oh, you only like him 'cuz he's hot." :rolleyes: I am soooo sick of hearing that.

Now, I didn't even know who LB was when I heard him on National Lampoons 4 years ago. I liked his voice and the style of those songs. When I looked him up, it was like "Bonus, he's hot!" LOL

[Lindsey Jr.]

Lindsey is my favorite guitarist because of the way his playing makes ME feel. I don't give two craps what anyone else thinks of his playing. He has been on a few lists here and there.

Well said :nod: :wavey: :thumbsup:

[The Nisse]

Not good at solos....!? :shocked: Come on..

Lindsey is great at solos, and there are just so many examples of that. He's always said that he isn't technically skilled, that he couldn't play skales etc.. I just don't see that fitting in with all the solos he's played over the years..

I don't wanna compare with other guitarists...cause that's just a matter of style and taste. But I will say that many of my favourite guitarists aren't particularly good at solos. Peter Buck from REM or Mike Rutherford from Genesis.. They are just great at adding the songs what they need..

Just to mention another guitarist. I saw Pat Metheny the other day....holy s***! :eek:

[shackin'up]

Which is painfully obvious you don't know **** about guitarists.

crap. i still think Angus Young is one of the best ever. All Vai-lovers, Clapton-addicts, Hendrix-wannabe's, or Knopfler-humpers despite. It's about direct feel. And that's personal.

Lindsey does that for me, BB king every once in a while and hendrix was great as a raw player, but his compositions did not do it for me. And then you can play the stones out of the footpath, it'll do ziltch. Clapton? I'll turn him in for Baker or bruce in an instant. That Rythmsection was better then their leadguitarist.

[mylittledemon]

crap. i still think Angus Young is one of the best ever. All Vai-lovers, Clapton-addicts, Hendrix-wannabe's, or Knopfler-humpers despite. It's about direct feel. And that's personal.

Lindsey does that for me, BB king every once in a while and hendrix was great as a raw player, but his compositions did not do it for me. And then you can play the stones out of the footpath, it'll do ziltch. Clapton? I'll turn him in for Baker or bruce in an instant. That Rythmsection was better then their leadguitarist.


I agree to a certain extent. Clapton sounds too robotic for me...but he does come up with some tasty licks. And I sure as hell will never be nearly as good a player as he is. I do prefer Lindsey over Clapton. It's just a personal thing...but I wouldn't disagree if some other guitar-fan were to say Clapton is technically better.

[shackin'up]

...but I wouldn't disagree if some other guitar-fan were to say Clapton is technically better.

me neither. let him be the best technician in the world. My plumber is too, but It's the heater who keeps me warm.

[Nico]

I'm not really concerned about the technical stuff. Lindsey blows me away. He's amazing...no he's f*cking amazing and it's his guitar playing that made me a fan. I think when you get into these lists and comparisons you lose some of the enjoyment of just listening and loving a musician for how they make you feel when you hear them. So I totally agree with Wondergirl there!!! :)

Oh, and I've only just realized by visiting this place how hot Lindsey was/is. It never occurred or mattered before. And it doesn't matter in the end, either. Though he is very, very, very hot...especially in that "Tusk" documentary (thank you Pattie!). :wavey:

[SteveMacD]

But I will say that many of my favourite guitarists aren't particularly good at solos. Peter Buck from REM or Mike Rutherford from Genesis..
OTOH, Steve Hackett from Genesis was a badass.

[henryscutter]

Others may be more technically gifted but Lindsey communicates with his guitar, not to mention sleeps with it too :nod:

[mylittledemon]

Its important to remember Lindsey has a unique sound and tone, admist his unique playing style. It's almost exclusively different from any other mainstream guitarist.

[The Nisse]

OTOH, Steve Hackett from Genesis was a badass.

:nod: Oh yeah...! I still get shivers listening to 'Horizons'..

[dontlookdown]

Lindsey is pretty well-thought of amongst musicians and guitar players.
I don't think he's the first player that comes to mind when mainstream radio stations and rags like Rolling Stone put together "best of" lists.
Despite Fleetwood Mac's commercial success and popularity, they remain critics darlings and aren't big Top 10 listmakers. In my opinion, this is a good thing and we have Tusk and Lindsey to thank for this. That album and Lindsey's playing since then have forever cemented this band as artists as opposed to Top 40 sell-outs.

[Lindsey Jr.]

Just see big love & go insane on the dance, and another favorite of mine is the outro of gypsy :nod: :shocked:

[Lindsey Jr.]

[QUOTE=shackin'up]crap. i still think Angus Young is one of the best ever. All Vai-lovers, Clapton-addicts, Hendrix-wannabe's, or Knopfler-humpers despite. It's about direct feel. And that's personal.

Damn' right you are!

[chiliD]

crap. i still think Angus Young is one of the best ever. All Vai-lovers, Clapton-addicts, Hendrix-wannabe's, or Knopfler-humpers despite. It's about direct feel. And that's personal.

Lindsey does that for me, BB king every once in a while and hendrix was great as a raw player, but his compositions did not do it for me. And then you can play the stones out of the footpath, it'll do ziltch. Clapton? I'll turn him in for Baker or bruce in an instant. That Rythmsection was better then their leadguitarist.

This just proves my previous comment.

[shackin'up]

This just proves my previous comment.

well, then you don't know sh*t about bassplayers and drummers. :rolleyes:

[chiliD]

well, then you don't know sh*t about bassplayers and drummers. :rolleyes:


I know more about rhythm sections than I do guitarists...gimme a break, I've been a friggin musician for 35 years. I know my ****.

[chiliD]

First amendment. I criticize as I see fit.

And, who are you to tell me what to do?

[mylittledemon]

First amendment. I criticize as I see fit.

And, who are you to tell me what to do?

As much as I can disagree with Chili (in good fun of course)...he's "more right" on this one.

[trackaghost]

me neither. let him be the best technician in the world. My plumber is too, but It's the heater who keeps me warm.

:lol: :lol: I totally agree Gerald. I love AC/DC too by the way.
You should totally join in the debate in chit chat about Lindsey not having the same range he used to. It's the Ageing Rockers thread.

[DavidMn]

Hey, I'm just glad to read the discussion my post generated. I realize I'm not a technical exert by any means, but I've definitely learned a few things reading what people have to say. :)

[mylittledemon]

Hey, I'm just glad to read the discussion my post generated. I realize I'm not a technical exert by any means, but I've definitely learned a few things reading what people have to say. :)

Like I said David, among fellow guitarists he's pretty well known. A lot of guitar players and people I've come across just dont care for Fleetwood Mac, so his talent gets lots in that shuffle. But you go into a guitar shop and most guys that are over 18 know who he is, and can appreciate his style. And if they dont know who is he, you can recommend they check out his Big Love performance on The Dance and they are converted instantly.

[shackin'up]

Well ChiliD you are a miusician for 35 years. I'm not. I was responding to the assumption that if someone who does not like Clapton doesnot know **** about guitarists, you just don't make a strong point. I'm a critical musicconsumer for thirty years, so I know a LOT about which guitarists make me fall asleep and which ones make me horny. Buckingham, Green, Hendrix, Angus, Neil Young, Chris Goss, Zappa and a lot more rough-style guitarists are viagra for me, and Vai, Knopfler, Clapton, Santana, Satriani (barf) make me wanna lose my manhood, although they are ALL tecnically much better. And maybe I don't KNOW anything about guitarists, for me guitar is not what is going through my concience. It goes though my guts.

And please, react on WHAT I say, not only judge out of snobism. On the other hand: if you want to a snob about this: go ahead. I won't tell you what to do.

[justcrazylove]

just a quick interjection here..
iam a long time reader of these boards and all fleetwood mac boards, let me just say... chillid Knows his ****. full stop end of sentance. so dont question that, just my point if view.
clapton is incredible his songwriting skills are in credible not to mention his playing, green was incredible, hendrix out of this world.. and if you cant get a semi lob on from knofler then see a doctor have u hear lady writer, his playing is exciting, and unique, im not trying to offend any one here but the mentality of most of you has to be question, so i ask this if clapton played for the mac like he was close to, would your appreciaton of him change, have a listen to the challange on christines album... some very very very clever riffs.

so thats my spill

[Mari]

two words: personal taste. :shrug:

[Lindsey Jr.]

two words: personal taste. :shrug:

Absolutely. It's not bad to have an own opinion or to like other guitarists as well.

[wondergirl9847]

so i ask this if clapton played for the mac like he was close to, would your appreciaton of him change

No, because Lindsey and his music brought me to the Mac. ;)

Sesly though, all music is valid. There are lots of talented guitar players. Some of them hit through me like a freight train, others don't. :shrug: It's not that these guys aren't talented, but like Mari said...personal taste.

[lbelle1214]

Somewhere in either Downtown Disney, Old Town Kississimmee, or City Walk in Orlando there is a R&R memorabilia shop. It has a guitar displayed autographed by the "best guitar players of all time"....Lindsey Buckinham's signature it on it. Would have loved to buy it....I believe the price was over 10 grand! :nod:

[mylittledemon]

Somewhere in either Downtown Disney, Old Town Kississimmee, or City Walk in Orlando there is a R&R memorabilia shop. It has a guitar displayed autographed by the "best guitar players of all time"....Lindsey Buckinham's signature it on it. Would have loved to buy it....I believe the price was over 10 grand! :nod:


Hmm...I'll have to ask around and find out where that is.

[LINDSEY#1FAN]

Lindsey is my favorite guitarist because of the way his playing makes ME feel. I don't give two craps what anyone else thinks of his playing. He has been on a few lists here and there.


I have to agree with you - LB IS my favorite guitarist ! He is just sooo awesome to watch ! It's mesmerizing to me ! Who cares what anyone else thinks ! He knows he's damn good !!!

[Lindsey Jr.]

I have to agree with you - LB IS my favorite guitarist ! He is just sooo awesome to watch ! It's mesmerizing to me ! Who cares what anyone else thinks ! He knows he's damn good !!!

Once again, I say amen! You're so right

[ontheEdgeof17]

Somewhere in either Downtown Disney, Old Town Kississimmee, or City Walk in Orlando there is a R&R memorabilia shop. It has a guitar displayed autographed by the "best guitar players of all time"....Lindsey Buckinham's signature it on it. Would have loved to buy it....I believe the price was over 10 grand! :nod:


I've seen it. Wasn't it at a shop around Planet Hollywood/Pleasure Island? I could be wrong.