I do love Springsteens solo on Prove it all night (1978)
https://youtu.be/_Xab-th4ltU
Not been mentioned but always had a soft spot for Carlos Santana and although might not make most peoples top 10 he works for me.
Out of the ones mentioned so far my favourite is Prince.
Glenn Tilbrook has some highly memorable solos for my money:
Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart https://youtu.be/9bTWF7eirJw?t=51
Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) https://youtu.be/IaXxr8ISXR4?t=99
Squeeze - Black Coffee in Bed https://youtu.be/t9QZhLSKEps?t=175
His solo on “She’s not there” up there in my favourites.
Comfortably Numb tops my list.
Others I’d recommend are Larry Carlton on Kid Charlemagne and Don’t take me alive from The Royal Scam. Wanted Dead or Alive by Richie Sambora, and Running with the night and You might need somebody from Steve Lukather.
Another vote for Gary Moore
https://youtu.be/P7rQp9kt-M4
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Not sure if it counts as a solo, and whether acoustic are allowed, but Dave Gilmour's acoustic version of Shine On You Crazy Diamond is the one for me. Every note just seems to hang.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
The live version of David Bowie’s ‘Panic in Detroit’ has one if the best guitar solos I can recall. This was issued as the B side to one of the singles, eventually released on the remastered CD version of the excellent ‘ David Live’ album. Well worth digging out if you’re a Bowie fan.
Maybe not trendy but not cliched either. When I first heard Sultans of Swing in 79 it blew my then 13 year old brain. I was very familiar with ELO, Queen, and Bowie due to older sisters who had a bit of taste, but that solo of Knoplflers was like nothing I had heard before.
As an aside, try to check out the version on Alchemy, the live album. It just builds and builds, you know what is coming and the expectation is sublime. I believe at the time it was the first live album where mistakes were not edited out before release, it's a struggle to find any though.
Not so much a solo, more an entire song; best imagined as a wild downwind sail with the wind gusting 35 knots and a 2 meter swell. I especially like the ending, enjoy.
https://youtu.be/2rSQmVGaufk
I don't think there is a Best Guitar Solo, but I'm fond of this one, from Talc's The Out Of Work Clown
2:37 in. The guitar player is Mike Outram.
Larry Carlton's Room 335 also springs to mind.. Larry has lost this awful mullet now, but not his talent.
Forgot to add Michael Schenker for Rock Bottom on the Strangers in the night live album. That said you could pick almost any solo from that album.
Really enjoyed that - a reminder of the variety of sounds an acoustic guitar can make. Whilst a different sort of piece, John Martyn could produce some fantastic sounds - this is one of my favourites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvFMEiVX_Ck
The best guitar solo is so subjective
Jack Bruce Crossroads Bass probably the best bass ever
Eric Clapton Spoonfull one of the best ever
Steve Rothley most under rated lead ever Marrilion
That is interesting, on many an occasion I have played that track and tried to ignore Clapton and just listen to Bruce's thundering bass line and it is superb.
In the last few years of his life John Entwistle of The Who had taken to doing a 5-10 bass solo on 5:15 in concert and is worth looking up. I saw him do it several times and it takes some beating.
+1 on Entwistle. His 5:15 solos were a little fretwankery, but the sheer technique is incredible. The Real Me from Quadrophenia and Dreaming From The Waist on the Who By Numbers really showcase just how far ahead he was of almost everyone.
Haven't gone through the thread yet, but any mention of All Right Now by Free? How that solo is structured, and builds and builds is just superb. Incredible vibrato too, and what a tone!
You might like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zk-4ZyXjBY
I'm not going to try and pick a 'best' because it's too subjective - for me it's not about the complexity but the emotion (how it makes me feel) and that can change depending on the date, time of day, weather, what beer I'm drinking and so on.
Most of those already mentioned would be on the short(ish)list, though.
Surely it has to be Ralph Macchio!
https://youtu.be/CqdL36VKbMQ
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I know it will never qualify as 'the best', but Neil Young's 'solo' in Cinnamon Girl always brings a smile to my face. Clapton on the Derek & the Dominos album, especially in Key to the Highway.
Two guitarists that may be underrated: Chuck Prophet and Nels Cline. I saw Prophet in concert circa The Age of Miracles and he had the best guitar sound I ever heard. I saw Wilco with Cline live four times. They're a brilliant live band and Cline's extended solo's are thrilling.
1985 Farm Aid, Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar .............. "Rock and Roll"
For jaw dropping perfection check out Tina S
https://youtu.be/o6rBK0BqL2w
and
https://youtu.be/XpASSx0ecTU
Surely the most famous guitar solo must be EVH on Beat It
https://youtu.be/oRdxUFDoQe0
Nobody mention either Jimmy Page or Jeff Beck?
https://youtu.be/TZlFTbvfKPE
https://youtu.be/HQmmM_qwG4k
For sheer cool and the ability to play solos using mostly the one note :-)
https://youtu.be/zFvQo1si_p8
But I don’t think Tufnel will ever be bettered...
https://youtu.be/ikHQT6mluhk
Particular favourite of mine. Beautiful finger picking style and effortless.
Keith don’t go - Nils Lofgren
https://youtu.be/coNqbqnH3AM
Jake
Last edited by Jake; 18th February 2021 at 23:23.
Another vote for Jimmy Page but his solo in Dazed and Confused Earls Court 1975 for me is incredible, next would be Rory Gallagher Shadow Play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0n799jXZ2s I saw Rory many times and he was so unique. Slash rates him the greatest rock guitarist!:)
There's a preponderance of male guitarists here - ladies can play too :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpIxto5MOY
A fair few of your have said it before in that there is no such 'best solo' because sometimes your want something heavy, sometimes something bluesy, sometimes something atmospheric.
From a technical perspective I think early Satch was awesome https://youtu.be/mlkbT4GDYAQ. Marty Friedman with Tornado of Souls is a classic https://youtu.be/Mr9q9d8-NhM.
I also like to watch this mismash shred collab done a couple of years ago https://youtu.be/oj0CjV1QxtQ
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Solo starts at 1.50
https://youtu.be/F6YKJX-dXIM
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Layla
Derek & the Dominoes and listen for Duanes slide guitar work
https://youtu.be/Th3ycKQV_4k