Favourite guitarist then vs favourite guitarist now...

Schnozz

I thought it would be fun to see how far removed we are from our original inspiration...

My favourite guitarist throughout my childhood and when I first picked up my candy apple Ibanez destroyer was Chris Holmes of WASP, primarily due to his incredible tone from '82 and the graphic'd Jackson v's and Charvel stars that came with it.

https://rockvideofever.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/chris-holmes.jpg
Now my favourite guitarist is without doubt, Martin Barre of Jethro Tull and the huge body of work behind him. I'm even willing to look past the fact that he mostly plays PRS, as I know that most of his songs were recorded on a les paul.

https://rhythmingold.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/l.jpg
I've fallen pretty far from the tree, but I've been lucky enough to see both of them in person (before they were jilted by the lead vocals).

Who are yours?

thegummy

Childhood - 



Now - 



Edited to add the pics

octatonic

Then:



Now:

adampeter

Then

Now

viz

Then:
http://i.imgur.com/P9M0Ro7.jpg

Now:
http://i.imgur.com/2WG9KmN.jpg

I say now; it’s been 30 years

markr76

My favourite players and biggest inspiration when I first started playing were Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Brian May and Slash.
My first electric was a very sexy Ibanez rg550 in laser blue with a mirrored pick guard.
These days my favourite players are Matt Schofield, Josh Smith, John Mayer and still Jimmy Page and Brian May.
 

Stevepage

Then:

David Gilmour 

Now:

Probably still David Gilmour. I love and take a lot of inspiration from the shred guys but I listen to them differently to how I listen to Gilmour.

TTBZ

Then it was probably either Slash, Page or Schenker for lead, Tom Morello for riffs and creativity. I don't really have favourites now but Morello is still up there alongside Iommi as supreme riff lord.

Moe_Zambeek

Angus Young was the one that got me started, and I still rate him (and Malcolm) as top 10 for me.

Now, I don’t think I really have a favourite as such - Marc Ford & Rich Robinson would count as one choice for me, I love Fords touch and phrasing and Rich’s rythm and general approach to music ; I love the open tuning stylings of Mike Doughty and Sean Rowe, and the weirdness of Reeves Gabrels and David Torn, and pretty much all of Beefheart’s guitarists over the years. I also like that dude from Big Wreck, I like Steve Nimmo; I like Gary Clark Jr...

I’d say I’ve not so much changed as opened up my horizons a bit.

slacker

Then Ritchie Blackmore, now Seasick Steve.

grappagreen

Then Yngwie.. now Matt Schofield .. I’ve changed a little over the years

SteveF

It was probably Slash when I started.  Although I wouldn't say that he inspired me to take up the guitar; that was another lad at school who was in a band and I thought was cool as fuck.  

Nowadays I'm not sure.  I've thought about this for a bit and I'm not sure I can pick a favourite.  I love anything with a catchy riff or creamy lead.   

SteveRobinson

Always and still Mick Ronson, Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner

longjaw

Started out as Clapton, now it's Albert King, Hendrix, Peter Green and Clapton.

DavidRees

Johnny Smith/Barney Kessel then but as they are both deceased Nigel Price and Bill Frisell now ...

Jota

Now

proggy

Then: David Gilmour.

Now:  David Gilmour.

axisus

Then:



Now is rather more fluid, but I'm going with Thomas Blug based on his Live in Raalte album, which is basically how I would like to play/sound.

axisus

SteveRobinson said:

Always and still Mick Ronson, Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner

I've never heard of Dick Wagner! I had to look him up

Jonathanthomas83

proggy said:

Then: David Gilmour.

Now:  David Gilmour.

This.

AuldReekie

Then - Bill Nelson

Now - Bill Nelson