The most under rated guitarist of all time?

Just found this, unbelievable!!!
https://youtu.be/64T6ugyWXAA?si=JI0WqBoaUdipDRuH
Mississippi Fred McDowell.
Why isn’t he recognised as one of the greatest?

Agree with the comment, but I would much rather listen to him than all these 'amazing shredders' who are technically so much better.

My point was that there are (and indeed, have been) far better slide guitarists. Robert Johnson for one, going back 90 years, and many, many more. And we've not touched on Rory Gallagher or Eric Sardinas. I know the video of MFM is only one track, but I've played in bands with more accomplished players.

Indeed.

I would imagine RJ's slide work and "back-picking" in the 1920's would be akin to EVH's work in the 1970's with his tremolo picking and tapping.

Talking of electric blues guitar, it could be said that Charlie Christian invented it and is both underrated and somewhat unknown.

Neal Schon was very good, IMO; melodic and tasteful :-

Ah, I have just the name to collect up all that and get back on topic.

Eric Bell.

Clarence White.

Not a bad call, TBF

Thanks, I really enjoyed Camel in that period and saw them live a couple of times in the Usher Hall in Edinburgh in the mid to late 70's (Making me feel very old now).

I also really liked their mid 80's "Stationary Traveller" album that seemed to capture the feel of a very particular period before the fall of the Berlin Wall. (You really needed to be there to capture the feel)

This song is a very different style but still very much Andy Latimer in full flow. Jeez, I wish I could go to a concert like that now, such amazing musicians all round (hang on till the end).

TBH I wasn't that impressed by that either. Many of these early bluesmen were untrained and learned by ear and potentially on 'upsidedown' guitars. They are near impossible to compare with more technical modern players. Where they excelled was in 'feel', saying more in one note than others do in a hundred.
But, perhaps because they were untrained, they were pioneers in techniques and sounds.

My personal favourite of the old timers was Lighnin' Hopkins who was cited by SRV, Hendrix which in their own right blow many out of the water.




Blues as a form, kind of allows that, its simplicity allows space for expression. So I suppose the question may also need to take 'great or underrated' as not just those with technical ability but also 'feeling'.

Also people like Roy Buchanan, who was recognised as possibly one of the greatest guitarists ever by his peers, who inspired some of the greatest guitarists (Beck, Moore, Bonamassa to name but a few). Roy was both technical, 'pioneered' pinch harmonics at will, creating sound effects manually that were later copied as pedals (Wah Wah). He could shred with the best, chicken pickin, flamenco style all visible in this epic video. Roy was 'recognised' by his peers but not by the public. Does that class as under rated? I don't know.



For those interested there is a documentary on Roy Buchanan - also known as the 'Greatest Unknown Guitarist in the world'.




Lonnie Mack is another underrated player (great voice as well). He's cited by SRV as a major influence. there are vids on youtube of the pair of them.


Also a 'docufilm' of Lonnie Mack, with Roy Buchanan and Albert Collins in concert
clip taken from the hr and a half of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt5lbQvBN2M

Then there are the many many session musicians, who are probably more capable and accomplished than many 'band' based guitarists, they definitely go under the radar.
e.g. Steve Lukather, Glen Campbell as part of the wrecking crew and later solo work (don't laugh, look him up),

Then there are people like the already mentioned Rory Gallagher, and people like Alvin Lee, Robin Trower, Walter Trout. so many