Da Fan in Japan

-As in previous rounds, I will kick off The Semis with a big "THANK YOU!!"  to all who have participated previously through both your votes and great comments-  kudos to everyone who've helped make this so much fun for everyone involved!  I will also mention again as well that this vote is open to all who are interested and extend a warm welcome to those who haven't already been involved.  I will also reccomend to those who are interested but haven't participated to peruse the earlier rounds if you have any questions as to how the present guitarists have been decided upon or why some of your favorites haven't been mentioned-  thanks!

-The results from Round 3?  Well, two of the races were not really close at all, and were all but decided fairly early on.  The other two were much closer, with one of them being only decided over the past few days, and the other being really up in the air until the final hours.  The latter was so close, in fact, that I was prompted to conduct a re-count, after which the original vote stood...

-So here they are, ladies and gentlemen, the results of Round 3 of "The "Greatest" Guitarist In History?"-  as with previous rounds, seedings are in parenthesis, and votes received are in square brackets:

Eric Clapton(1)[40] vs. Duane Allman(8)[17]  -There are bound to be some disappointed Duane fans out there (I know a few personally!), but the reletive brevity of his career may just well have been the deciding factor.   Ol' Slowhand's cruised along so far, but he faces a very interesting battle coming up here in the next round...

Jimi Hendrix(2)[47] vs. David Gilmour(7)[10]  -David Gilmour knocked off a pretty tough challenger in Round 2, but was himself humbled vote-wise in Round 3 by someone who's star wouldn't appeared to have dimmed much at all- in spite of his all-too short time here.  Brief career or not, Jimi's cruised along more easily than even EC to this point-   he's going to be very tough to beat for anyone, it would certainly appear...

Stevie Ray Vaughan(3)[27] vs. Jimmy Page(6)[30]  -This was a very close race-  a back and forth battle that was only just decided on the last day of voting.  SRV was brilliant, but it would appear that Page's overall influence and musical versatility put him over the top in this contest.  But dang, he faces an uphill battle next round, I think-  an unenviable task for anyone, SRV included...

Carlos Santana(4)[33] vs. Edward Van Halen(5)[24]  -This one seems to have panned out almost as a question of soul vs. technique for many voters, &  these are the results.  I doubt that the question of "soul" hangs over his next challenger, though-  ought to be very interesting, as I'd said...

And so there were four!  Here, folks, are the pairings for The Semis:

Eric Clapton(1) vs. Jimmy Page(6)

Jimi Hendrix(2) vs. Carlos Santana(4)

-No, things do not get any easier here...

-Voting for the Semis will conclude midnight, Sunday July 6th, EDT.

-A with the beginning of Round 2, I am going to begin Round 3 by extending a big "THANK YOU!!" to everyone who's participated to this point!!  You guys have all been great, and many insightful opinions have been expressed and responded to.  If this has been one of the hottest blogs on the boards lately, you guys have yourselves to thank-  you've all made this a very interesting read for guitar fans out there, most of all myself, and have made it also a very inviting forum for discussion.  I would also like to welcome warmly any who haven't participated in previous rounds-  this vote is open to all, so please feel free to place your votes and comments even if you have not done so previously!

-Now, things tightened up considerably in Round 2 compared with Round 1 overall, and while some were runaways, others were pretty close and were only decided in the concluding days of the vote.  So here, folks, are the results.  As with the last round, the winners are in bold typeface, and the losers are crossed out (seedings in parenthesis, votes received in square brackets).   Any "upsets"?  Not according to the seedings, as all the higher seeded players won their respective matchups, but again, I'll let you guys decide...

Eric Clapton(1)[45] vs. Buddy Guy(17)[8]  -Eric has popular music credentials like few others, and the profile to match.  A lotta love expressed for Buddy out there, but not enough to carry him through to Round 3...  Eric himself faces perhaps his biggest challenge in Round 3...

Jimi Hendrix(2)[52] vs. Slash(18)[1]  -Slash squeaked by Johnny Winter in Round 1, but ran square into a brick wall called Jimi Hendrix in Round 2...

Stevie Ray Vaughan(3)[44] vs. Robert Johnson(19)[9]  -Robert Johnson's rather surprising run comes to an end having faced a latter day blues guitar legend...

Carlos Santana(4)[32] vs. Chuck Berry(20)[21]  -A great deal of respect out there for ol' Chuck over the course of this, but there is also a great deal for Santana, himself having become something of an elder statesman...

Edward Van Halen(5)[41] vs. Randy Rhoads(12)[12]  -As I have previously said, Randy made quite a splash over the short time that he was in the spotlight.  Who knows what might have been had he been around longer?

Jimmy Page(6)[39] vs. Pete Townsend(22)[14]  -Gotta love Pete, as big a rock & roll icon as they come.  But being primarily a rhythm player probably cost him this one against someone who was one of the first to take virtuoso lead playing to mainstream pop...

David Gilmour(7)[30] vs. Jeff Beck(10)[23]  -Jeff's incredibly ecclectic career and reletively low public profile probably put him at a disadvantage here against someone that for many has come to actually define classic rock lead playing...

Duane Allman(8)[30] vs. BB King(9)[23]  -BB is the reigning "king" of the blues (perhaps!), but Duane Allman continues to have a very devoted following, in spite of the tragic brevity of his career...

And so there were eight!   Interestingly, seen like this, there haven't been any upsets at all-  all the pairings for this round could have been set from the original vote-  but now here's where the real fun begins...

Eric Clapton(1) vs. Duane Allman(8)

Jimi Hendrix(2) vs. David Gilmour(7)

Stevie Ray Vaughan(3) vs. Jimmy Page(6)

Carlos Santana(4) vs. Edward Van Halen(5)

-Thanks again, folks, for making this thing such a blast for everyone!  Let's see if the seedings hold up here...

-Voting for Round 3 of "The "Greatest" Guitarist In History?"  will conclude midnight EDT, Thursday, June 26th.

-I'll begin Round 2 by picking up where I left off with Round 1-  THANK YOU!!  You guys did a great job!!!  You've made this a pleasure for all involved-  myself most certainly included!

-The results of Round 1?  Well, many were rather lop-sided, especially in the higher seedings, but some were quite close, including one that was separated by only one vote and actually prompted me to go back and do a re-count!!  OK, folks, without any further ado, here are the results of Round 1.  The winners are in bold typeface, and the losers are crossed out (seedings in parenthesis, votes received in square brackets).  Were there any "upsets"?  I'll let you guys be the judge...

Eric Clapton(1)[48]  vs. Kirk Hammett(32)[3]  -Ol' "Slowhand" is still a legend, if not a "god'...   Kinda ironic that he should face one of his mentors & "buddies" in Round 2...

Jimi Hendrix(2)[47] vs. Ry Cooder(31)[4]  -In only a few years, what a splash Hendrix made-  incredible...  Again, little doubt that Jimi was an idol of his next match in Round 2...

Stevie Ray Vaughan(3)[41] vs. Chet Atkins(30)[10]  -SRV lives on for many-  RIP to both...   A modern blues legend faces perhaps the all-time great blues legend...  Interesting indeed...

Carlos Santana(4)[45] vs. Rick Emmett(29)[6]  -"Viva Carlos"-  the people have spoken...   Latin-rock fusion star versus an original Rock & Roll icon...

Edward Van Halen(5)50] vs. Nancy Wilson(28)[1]  -A pretty unfortunate matchup for poor Nancy, but this guy's gonna be tough to beat for anyone, IMO..   His next matchup is indeed interesting, considering the overlap of genres here...

Jimmy Page(6)[46] vs. "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott(27)[5]  -Page still garners a great deal of respect, it appears, but not for plenty good reason...   If you're looking for a contrast of styles and personas for the next round?  Look no further... 

David Gilmour(7)[39] vs. Alvin Lee(26)[12]  -A matchup of speed vs. lyricism, it seems, but popularity & profile trumps both...  

Duane Allman(8)[45] vs. Derek Trucks(25)[6]  -This was tough-  a case of "master" vs. "disciple"...  Sorry, folks, it was how the chips fell... 

BB King(9)[41] vs. Roy Buchannan(24)[10]  -Roy (RIP) is a pretty obscure figure for most, I expect.  Do yourselves a favor and check him out- you won't be disappointed...   Seems they don't call BB "King of the Blues" for nuthin'...  Very interesting contrast of styles for the next round.

Jeff Beck(10)[36] vs. Dicky Betts(23)[16]  -Tough to beat a guy as accomplished and versatile (not to mention as legendary) as Beck, but again, he faces another icon in Round 2...  Will it again be a question of public profile?  Or influence?

Joe Satriani(11)[19] vs. Pete Townsend(22)[32]  -Lotta love and respect for ol' Pete out there- as much a Rock & Roll icon as anyone out there...  But he faces an uphill battle in Round 2, IMO...

Randy Rhoads(12)[31] vs. Alex Lifeson(21)[20]  -Alex made a late charge, but Randy also made quite the splash in his short time here in a genre where trying to steal the show is what it's all about...  Will he have met his match in Round 2?  Stay tuned, folks!

Mark Knopfler(13)[17] vs. Chuck Berry(20)[34]  -Chuck's a legend, and tough for anyone to go up against the guy many perceive as the father of rock guitar...  But his next match may well be up to it...

Steve Vai(14)[23] vs. Robert Johnson(19)[28]  -This was rather surprising, I must say!!  But speaking of "fathers" and "legends"?  They don't come much bigger than RJ...   Will it carry him into Round 3?  He faces a pretty tough challenger...

Johnny Winter(15)[25] vs. Slash(18)[26]  -This was razor close, and forced me to do a recount.  Could be considered something of a "phyyric victory" considering who the victor must face in Round 2, though-  not an enviable task for anyone...

and

Yngwie Malmstein(16)[17] vs. Buddy Guy(17)[34]  -Soul wins out over lightning speed...  But hey, while he doesn't shred like Yngwie, Buddy's no slouch, either...   But Buddy does face a buddy of his in Round 2 with a much higher public profile...

So here are the matchups for Round 2, foilks!  They are interesting (and tough) indeed!  Original seedings, again, are in parenthesis...

Eric Clapton(1) vs. Buddy Guy(17)

Jimi Hendrix(2) vs. Slash(18)

Stevie Ray Vaughan(3) vs. Robert Johnson(19)

Carlos Santana(4) vs. Chuck Berry(20) 

Edward Van Halen(5) vs. Randy Rhoads(12) 

Jimmy Page(6) vs. Pete Townsend(22) 

David Gilmour(7) vs. Jeff Beck(10)

Duane Allman(8) vs. BB King(9)

-I'll take this opportunity to again remind folks that this is open to all who are interested-  not having voted in the preceding rounds does NOT exclude you from the succeeding rounds.  I'll also take this opportunity as well to to thank everyone on the "What Are You Listening To?" thread- best group of folks you're likely to meet. 

-So!!  Will there be any upsets or shockers in Round 2?  You guys be the judges...

-Thanks again to everyone who has been an active participant to this point, and a big welcome to those who haven't!!  Have fun!! 

-Voting for Round 2 will officially conclude midnight Thursday, June 19, EDT.