Best acoustic guitarist you've ever seen?

ICBM

Probably the best - John Renbourn.

Most surprisingly good - as mentioned in the other thread - Lloyd Cole.

EricTheWeary

I've seen a fair few folk, folk-rock acts over the years although not that many with star guitarists. I did see John Jorgenson do an acoustic set once, primarily gypsy jazz so maybe him. Oh and Gordon Giltrap, just nice music really so I guess I don't think of him as a technical kinda guy. 

Jimbro66

Danny1969 said:

Tommy Emmanuelle, seen him twice just stupidly good and entertaining 

This.

And check out Joe Robinson who, at less than half Tommy's age, is an amazing player.

Hattigol

ICBM said:

Most surprisingly good - as mentioned in the other thread - Lloyd Cole.

You must have had very low expectations of his playing! Seen him a few times, pretty much open chords and the occasional basic barre, I thought...

But anyway, Tommy Emmanuel is surely the correct answer to the OP.

Fuengi

Fionn Regan for me. He started playing finger style and my mate and I looked at each other and said "how the hell is he getting all that sound out of one acoustic". 

John Smith was also pretty special in a small tent at EoTR Festival. 

ICBM

Hattigol said:

You must have had very low expectations of his playing! Seen him a few times, pretty much open chords and the occasional basic barre, I thought...

No, quite a bit of finger style stuff. Very musical-sounding.

axisus

I met Eric Roche at a guitar show many years ago before he was well know. I chatted to him and bought a CD which he kindly signed for me. I was amazed by his style of playing. A short while after he kicked off with his amazing rendition of 'Smells like teen spirit' and an amazing crowd assembled out of nowhere. Everyone in earshot just had to rush over and see him playing. He was a sad loss to cancer.

My other fave is Doyle Dykes, I have seen him live and also close up at a couple of clinics. He is an incredible player.

I love Tommy Emmanuel's playing but I haven't seen him live

Rocker

Eric Roche.  Brilliant guitarist, so sad when he passed away.  RIP.

Chuffola

Not technically the best acoustic player but Stephen Stills playing a solo show at Vicar Street in Dublin - voice wasn't what it once was but his acoustic playing was superb. He's a master of alternate tunings and the sound was glorious. As were the songs.  2nd half was electric with his band - also fantastic.

RickLucas

Bob Brozman

CHRISB50

Antoine Dufour 

Jalapeno

Rodrigo y Gabriela - certainly defined acoustic metal - very good shows.

Kelly Joe Phelps - amazing

The late Bob Brozman

Gordon Giltrap as mentioned ^^^^^^

Nigel Mazlyn Jones - great use of echo & delays eons before the loopers

stickyfiddle

Not really for the guitar playing per se, but I saw Damien Rice twice on his way up and both times were basically the best thing ever

Rocker

I saw Juan Martin play the music for his Flamenco Puro show in Mullingar many years ago.  Very impressive as indeed were all the others in the show.  It was staged on the Arts Center floor with the seating all around the musicians and dancers.  An amazing evening.

I also saw Rodrigo y Gabriella play in Longford.  Impressive playing but distant, very little communication with the audience.  Even more memorable that night was the 'music' played after RyG had finished up.  It was so distorted that I did not recognise AC-DC!  It sounded like a bad recording of a pub band.  Actually it was worse sounding than that.  It was so bad that I asked the sound engineer what was playing.

randerson

Tommy Emmanuel

kennedydream1980

Tommy Emmanuelle

chromatuna

Best as in the one I have enjoyed most on numerous occasions - Richard Thompson 

M1ck

Steel string acoustic - Isaac Guillory
Nylon string acoustic - John Williams

uksaint7

The three that come to mind would be Richard Thompson, Tommy Emmanuel and Pierre Bensusan.

I think I've actually been to see Richard Thompson play more times than anyone else and I love his electric playing too. But he can make solo acoustic guitar sound like an orchestra.

jdgm

Ralph Towner

Paco De Lucia

Leo Kottke

Andres Segovia

Cooder and Lindley

(not in any order)