There's dozens if not hundreds of underrated/under recognized players out there. Most times it’s just a case of them playing with a band that isn’t very mainstream. For example I could say guys like Andy larouqe from King Diomand and Andrew Latimer from Camel are underrated but I’m not sure that’s accurate. They are rated very highly by fans of those bands it’s just that most people aren’t familiar with those bands so they don’t get the kind of household name recognition that great players in more popular bands get. As for someone whose actually very famous but is underrated as a guitarist, I’d say Willie Nelson. His Spanish flavored lead work is so expressive and lyrical.
Moses is indeed awesome and underrated. I just had a deep interview with him today on my show. If you have a second, check it out:
Most of these guitarists are not underrated or unknown by other musicians, but perhaps underrated and lesser known by the public: Emily Remler Jimmy Rosenberg Lenny Breau Amos Garrett Robben Ford Sylvain Luc Porl Thompson Mark O'Connor Dmitri Vandellos Phillip Catherine Jimmy and Doug Raney
Link Wray, Steve Cropper, Travis Wammack, Ross Friedman, and many others. John Fogerty for example. Listening to Booker T. and the MG's now reminds me of how perfect Steve Cropper's playing was. James Burton is another underrated one. And Lowman Pauling of the "Five: Royales (Cropper's biggest influence). Also G.E. Smith! And certainly Deniz Tek. Ron Asheton...
Rated highly by those that are aware of them, but not as widely known as they should be: Samantha Fish Jarekus Singelton Selwyn Birchwood Matt Schofield Jimmy Thackery
Alan Ross of 70s bands Ross, Alan Ross Band and Ro-Ro. Watch him tear through this set on Don Kirschner's Rock Concert in 1975... it astounds me that this guy never broke through and has been completely forgotten today.
There is no such thing as being underrated guitarist IMO. In the guitar community, of which I am part, 99% of the names mentioned in this thread are well known and well respected. If the guitar community does not know your name you are simply not good enough. Now, the general public usually does not have ability to evaluate the technique of a certain musician, being guitarist or bassist or drummer or whatever.That is why you always see the same names like Page, Van Halen etc. in the lists. It usually goes with how popular the band is with the general public. BtW Danny Gatton and Ry Cooder are two of my favorite "underrated" guitar players.
Gordon Giltrap - the best guitarist the UK has ever produced and yet most people have never heard of him. It's a crime!
Lenny Breau {Very musical. Amazing chops and versatility, maybe one of the greatest to pick up an ax, but unknown. No aptitude for living.} Ed King {The pepper that kicked Skynyrd into high gear, Second Helping is the master dish. The difference on record before Ed King and when he joined is huge. Sweet Home is his lick.} Charlie Christian {Not unknown, but, not mentioned enough. He and BB created the way we play now.}
i Thought turtles guitarist Al Nichol was pretty good with some of the riffs he did like on Outside Chance I just wonder what happened to him
