timbowabo absolutely. Paisley is as fine a telecaster player as anyone out there and he is probably better than most

James Ryan Agree 100%. Paisley has a huge repertoire of nifty tricks he invented plus a gift for melody and timing few can match. His solos on that Telecaster can go to otherworldly planes far beyond the country genre. He even does this in his Christmas music. I rate Brad as the “Nashville cats’” counterpart to Jeff Beck. Here’s a track in which Brad is responding to famous rock riff challenges from a DJ. Eventually Brad quits fucking around and dives into Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher”. He’ s got some chops!

No. Tommy Emmanuel is a far better player, even on the Telecaster. In fact, he was barely known here in Australia until he quit The Bushwhackers in the 1980s and went solo on Telecaster. In the late 1990s he went back to acoustic almost exclusively and then buggered off to America because all our great music venues were booked up with DJs and most Australians fell in love with American “R&B” bullshit. Thanks Yanks. Tommy Emmanuel is far more experienced, faster and more refined as a musician and composer - his music actually has something to say other than “ever-body lookit me!”

@@johnmoyle4195 Your loss has been the world's gain. I've been able to see Tommy 5 times, and every time he proves why he is probably the best acoustic guitar player on the planet. That said, why you dissing Brad Paisley? He more than held his own. And you know Tommy has said his brother Phil was actually the better player.

No.....Brad has played this tune for years, Tommy is just a world class player. Brad has his thing, but not in the same league with Tommy.

No you won't. He plays 350+ concerts a year and every performance he looks like he's playing his last one. It's amzing.

Tommy doesn't really know what he's doing. Just playing along with it

Only a select few guitarists on earth would bother sharing the stage with Mr. Emmanuel. One is Ricky Skaggs. For Brad to do it took guts.

sorry man u don't compare apple with banana or coffee to black tea.u just dont and be frankly there are still dude like Doyle or some bluegrass masters.u probably a die hard fan of Tommy but take deep consider before u leave common like this next time.

Dear Mr. Walis, I appreciate your respect for all the other unnamed wonderful guitarists. I really do. That is why I NEVER say someone is the "best" at anything. I prefer to think of it as they are all great at something. Frankly, I disagree with the comparisons (who is "better") of guitarists! If I love the way someone plays, I try to just appreciate him or her, without all that comparing.

I'm appraciated that man!!I wish those die hard fans would feel the same way as yours.

Well said, Gil. I think people make comparisons such as better or worse just because they are expressing their love for the music in their own personal way. I love the music they made together, and enjoy the delight they have in each other's playing.

Tommy spent many years in the 'secondary' role with his brother Phil Emmanuel R.I.P. (search for videos of the two together...it's electrfyiing). Phil was every bit the player Tommy is but was more of a lead guitarist so that's how they played together, Tommy on rhythm, Phil on lead. Phil used to intrduce Tommy as the best rhythm guitarist in the world....and he wasn't kidding.

If you can manage it, GET TO ONE OF HIS CONCERTS... I went when he played this small theatre in southern Illinois (!) and it felt like we were sitting in his livingroom... He is just as gracious when he's in concert.

Oh absolutely. Tommy smokes them all but he will hold the reigns to let the other guy shine. He is THE MAN!

Absolutely love how you put this, and its so true. What's even better is that he lifts you up and carries you along for the ride. He's wonderful.

Mitur Binesdurdi nope

@@randymyrol4697 actually, yep. this is like walking a dog for Tommy.

he is waaaaaay out of Tommy's League

Some milk and cheese I think.

he did just fine.

Well said .

Totally agree. Mad respect for Brad

ona acoustic Thommy is god...on Tele Brad

+Cory Brown top 3 , no doubt----- thats a tall order and subjective considering all acoustic players

+Cory Brown you r correct sir.

+Cory Brown Check out Naudo.

Naudo makes lots of mistakes! He can't compare with TE!

***** yes, he is good. But TE is on another level, really hard to compare Tommy with anybody.

Not even close. He did well, but he's no match for Tommy lol

sunlion333 For sure. Tommy E just doesn't happen to have the MTV/CMT profile, and doesn't use vocals either. So many musicians come and go and no one knows about them because the popular airwaves didn't happen to tell the masses they were good.

Tommy is my absolute favorite. Tall Fiddler is a spectacle. His Beatles medleys are beyond fantastic.

Put it this way….. if you start watching his live concerts… you always get to the end and wonder why there’s not more. Insane guitar player and performer. The the Best

Phil was as good as Tommy but his specialty was electric guitar & he was voted the worlds' fastest picker. Check Tommy & Phil playing "Nashville Express"& "Cumbanchero" & also Phil flat picking Jerry Reeds' "Lightning". Here in Australia we called Phil "The Wiz" because he was absolutely brilliant. Phil & Tommy were both self taught & neither one of them learned how to read music. The Legends from Downunder.

.....and with personality and warmth.

Who? Just everyone who ever got or downloaded his CDs. Every one has instrumentals.

Is that a joke? BP is one of top guitarists of all time, other guy is a cover player.

@Larry N. Guy He is much more than just a "cover-player". Look him up before you judge.

Larry N. Guy You need to do some research, a lot of research

40 yrs worth already, but here we go-- watch TE play any Chet Atkins song, eg. Dark eyes, then compare with MrShazzar, an 18 yr old who plays Chet's most complicated songs with much more fluency and accuracy, then tell me if you see the difference ?

While the whole planet could only dream to reach Tommy Emmanuel's greatness, you are here arguing. That's the difference.

That's the problem with TE... Probably the only guitarist nobody can out-do.

Agreed Grant... !!!

I'm 8 years too late, but you are right. He's from another planet where virtuoso guitar players reside lol. He's absolutely amazing.

+Pat Brennan Check out Naudo doing Hotel California or anything really. Best one man guitar player in my humble opinion but would also sell my soul to play like Tommy or Brad

+Tony C just watched his "Hotel California" performance and expected something... But comparing him to Tommy Emmanuel must be a joke. Either you haven't watched anything from TE or you are just a bit hard of understanding.

+Pat Brennan What everyone seems to forget is that Tommy plays so many different styles plus his list of songs is insane and he plays them all top drawer. There are a lot of great players but Tom's list of songs is in the hundreds if not thousands. Seen him 3 times and he's the best entertainer/guitarist package out there.

I guess what I mean is there are many fingerstylists out there but what Naudo does is very special. Bass during solos even. And the more I discuss with other muscians the more we seem to agree that Tommy may be the best ever. Hoping to see him live some day soon!

Keep in mind that Brad 'chicken picks' with his other fingers. Tommy does the same. When they need to really flatpick, they use their thumbpick as a regular pick and alternate back and forth between their fingers and the solo pick.

And keep in your little mind: Half of that freakin solo Tommy is doing with his thumbpick and index finger, not even plek.

Best Acoustic Player I have ever seen....

Ditto !!!

Emmanuel is one of the few guitarists that can play as many different styles as well as he does. I am 100% sure that those who have negative things to say about him are insane.

Well said. Rommy vs. Segovia on classic G?? Clapton on electric?

Not famous? I think people outside US don't know Brad, Tommy is famous all over the world and gives over 300 concerts a year, on every freakin continent. I would say overall TE is much more famous, especially in the guitar community and world wide, than Brad.

Can you read? I didn't say not famous. I said not as famous. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the biggest TE fans there are but I'm realistic. If you still want to debate that.. go look up facebook likes or itunes downloads for both of them and then come back and tell me who's more famous. Tommy and Brad are both famous all over the world not doubt. Brad plays sold out arenas in large cities. Tommy plays a lot of smaller venues in even more cities. Either way.. if you ask someone on the street if they know who Brad Paisley is vs Tommy Emmanuel.. I think we all know what they outcome would be 9 times out of 10. Tommy is a hero to a ton of guitarists including myself.. but so is Brad. If you fail to understand that both are great for various reasons, then I feel bad for you.

Well sorry if I got you wrong. Ask someone on the street outside North America. No one has ever heard of Brad Paisley. And I wouldn't equate fame with sold albums in the US. And I never said anything about that Brad is not great. TE is it anyway, we two might be the biggest fans of him :D

Agreed, Tommy is probably the most technically gifted player on the planet. My response may have been a little harsh. Sorry about that. Good to know there are plenty of people really passionate about his playing.

do you play guitar?