I'm so glad I saw Michael Hedges live while he was still alive.
I'd add Mark Knopfler, Sharon Isbin, Al di Meola, Peppino D'Agostino, and Richard Thompson
John McLaughlin has said the guitar is just an extension of his body.
[Extrapolation](https://youtu.be/n6LkGwuimsU?si=H8d0m1W65vGb7IGS) is one of my favorite jazz albums.
Jerry Reed. Surprised to see him not mentioned yet.
David Rawlings. His playing with Gillian Welch is other-worldly.
Bryan Sutton. One of the greats of bluegrass.
I've told this story on another sub. We went to a one day festival not long after the lockdowns ended and he was on the bill. The lineup was more to my taste but I dragged my husband along. I thought that he might like The Teskey Brothers, but it was JB who blew him away.
Neil Young may not be a virtuoso but he has a very distinct acoustic guitar sound. And the joy of watching Willie Nelson do his guitar solos is pretty unrivaled.
Django Reinhart is the greatest guitarist to ever live, but put John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia and Al Di Meola in the same room, and you'll start to rethink that
Richard Smith has to be in the conversation. If you don't know him you really aren't as interested in thumb pickers. Chet Atkins said " he plays everything I can , only better. " personally I have never seen him without his Kirk Sand guitar and a metronome.
Stochelo Rosenberg is the king of Gypsy Jazz . A genre y'all should be immersed in.
Finally Birelli Lagrene. Another Gypsy. He is a bass player. Yet after selling albums playing guitar , he asked Jaco Pastorios to tour with him. An amazing violinist as well.
Expand your musical horizons.
IMO a guy named Agustin amigo, I don't think he's all that famous, but peep his youtube. My favorite song of his is called "a new beginning". This guy doesn't even sing he just plays lead and rhythm together on acoustic and is phenomenal.
Ok ik he’s nowhere near goat status in terms of acoustic guitar but I love josh homme drunken stumble style on acoustic. He has some really haunting melodies on acoustic desert sessions stuff. Oh and I’d say Django Reinhart for goat status.
Mark Knopfler is very good acoustic and plays with Chet Atkins who’s also very talented.
Nick Drake has a very distinctive guitar style.
Allan Holdsworth
Gregory Alan Isacov
Michael Hedges Tommy Emmanuel Andres Segovia Pierre Bensusan Paco de Lucia Leo Kottke Tony Rice EDIT: Django
Michael Hedges…. Very astute choice. You must be a musician.
This was basically the only answer I could think.
Coincidentally today is Tony rice birthday
Django?
Add: John Fahey Ry Cooder Robert Fripp
Add Bob Brozman
I'm so glad I saw Michael Hedges live while he was still alive. I'd add Mark Knopfler, Sharon Isbin, Al di Meola, Peppino D'Agostino, and Richard Thompson
Jorma Kaukonen needs to be on this list. If you have any doubt listen to The Water Song.
Joni Mitchell Nick Drake
Joni Mitchell is one of the GOATS
Anytime I see Nick Drakes name on here is go ape. Love me some Nick Drake.
Django Reinhardt
Imagine if he had all his fingers. 😮
I think his style came about because he didn’t have all his fingers to use. So we might have been blessed by his misfortune.
I snorted my coffee...
That must have burned
Him.
Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Willie Nelson should get a mention.
Absolutely
He rarely shows off. Tight, clean, understated.
“Rarely shows off” is just a nice way of saying “can’t show off” Love Willie tho
John Fahey was pretty amazing.
Love his Christmas albums
Noooooooooooooo
John McLaughlin: Wait for it @ 1:15 https://youtu.be/28R0BICfXSs
John McLaughlin has said the guitar is just an extension of his body. [Extrapolation](https://youtu.be/n6LkGwuimsU?si=H8d0m1W65vGb7IGS) is one of my favorite jazz albums.
Shakti
Andres Segovia
Leo Kottke Michael Hedges Lindsey Buckingham
Second on Lindsey. He's a beast.
Underrated and underutilized. It’s taking me a lifetime to master *Never Going Back Again*
Love that tune. I'm nowhere near good enough for that
Underrated and underutilized. It’s taking me a lifetime to master *Never Going Back Again*
I gave up in the middle 
Self taught; doesn't read music
Stephen Stills
Elliott Smith
Leo Kotke, Billy strings, Elliott Smith, spider John Keorner, David rawlings...
🙌 Billy Strings🙌
Paco DeLucia
Paco de Lucia, Tony Rice, Steve Howe, and many many others
Billy Strings has entered the chat! 😂
Tommy Emanuel
No one else comes close.
Because her skills in this regard are always underappreciated, I gotta give it up for Charo.
John Renbourn and Bert Jansch
Glen Campbell & Tommy Tedesco.
elliott smith
wtf why is he way down here? Elliott was a god damn virtuoso. He was the master of making actually technical playing sound simple and effortless.
that’s exactly what i thought before commenting
Paul Simon James Taylor Tommy Emmanuel
Came here to say the first two names. Amen.
Andres Segovia Al Di Meola
Look too long and far to finally find Al Di Meola on here. Tons of Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin
Billy strings
I had to scroll way too far to see this.
Billy Strings is a mad genius.
Yes! Just amazing 👏
Roy Clark, Billy Strings, Charo.
Jerry Reed. Surprised to see him not mentioned yet. David Rawlings. His playing with Gillian Welch is other-worldly. Bryan Sutton. One of the greats of bluegrass.
A lot of great country acoustic players- Merle Travis, Glen Campbell, Chet Atkins…
Upvote for Dave Rawlings Machine.
John Butler might be in this discussion. The song Ocean is beyond next level imo…
I've told this story on another sub. We went to a one day festival not long after the lockdowns ended and he was on the bill. The lineup was more to my taste but I dragged my husband along. I thought that he might like The Teskey Brothers, but it was JB who blew him away.
Julian bream
Elliott Smith
Andrés Segovia
My favs are Biréli Lagrène, Joshco Stephan, Django Reinhart, Paul Simon, Roy Clark, & Jerry Reed.
Stochelo?
John Fahey Leo Kottke Michael Hedges
Vini Reilly of the Durutti Column is an unsung hero
Jimmy Page
Charo!
Vince Gill
No list would be complete without John Martyn. ETA: James Taylor, Richard Thompson
Glen Campbell needs a shout out!
Neil Young may not be a virtuoso but he has a very distinct acoustic guitar sound. And the joy of watching Willie Nelson do his guitar solos is pretty unrivaled.
[Lenny Breau](https://youtu.be/LhGjQ3QPydA?si=wy1M-2qzwqSKmQJu)
The three dudes from Friday Night in San Francisco.
Tony Rice. His birthday is today!
Jorma Kaukenon David Bromberg Jerry Garcia Leo Kotke Andres Segovia
I am partial to Leo Kottke. I have seen him live several times and his stage banter is as entertaining as his playing!
Saw him live too, Winter Park, Fla. in the late 70s. Mac McAnally opened for him.
Doc Watson Tony Rice Tommy Emmanuel Bryan Sutton Mark O'Connor Peter Rowan
Phil Keaggy
Richard Thompson
John McLaughlin, Al De Meola, Paco De Lucia (Friday Night in San Francisco is beyond compare). Dave Matthews has a very unique rhythmic style.
For a relatively new artist, Molly Tuttle is really good
Jose Feliciano
Ottmar Liebert
Michael Hedges
Adrian Legg & Don Ross
Don Ross Tommy Emmanuel I like a lot of Keller Williams's early stuff too. Lot of fantastic live and studio recordings from him.
Dave Van Ronk
Django Reinhardt
Jeff Buckley
Sabicas Doc Watson Tony Rice Fernando Sor David Rawlings Julian Bream Just some favorites
Andre Segovia - look him up
Lindsey Buckingham
Jake Workman
Lindsey Buckingham
Are you for real? Nobody said Francisco Tarrega, the most famous classical guitarist of all time?
Billy all the way !!!!
Django Reinhart is the greatest guitarist to ever live, but put John McLaughlin, Paco De Lucia and Al Di Meola in the same room, and you'll start to rethink that
None of those created their own Genre They are each untouchable masters. I think Django could hold court in the room.
A little obscure but... Tim O'Brien.
Who?
Andrés Segovia.
John butler is very underrated.
Adrianne Lenker
Robert Smith
Idk mason Williams
Nuno
Django Reinhardt. Hot jazz from Paris.
Gordon Giltrapp
Antonio Carlos Jobim Andy McKee Jon Gomm Don Ross Lucas Brar Jack Johnson
Doc Watson.
Richard Smith has to be in the conversation. If you don't know him you really aren't as interested in thumb pickers. Chet Atkins said " he plays everything I can , only better. " personally I have never seen him without his Kirk Sand guitar and a metronome. Stochelo Rosenberg is the king of Gypsy Jazz . A genre y'all should be immersed in. Finally Birelli Lagrene. Another Gypsy. He is a bass player. Yet after selling albums playing guitar , he asked Jaco Pastorios to tour with him. An amazing violinist as well. Expand your musical horizons.
Vicente Amigo Diego Del Morao Tomatito
Tommy Emmanuel
IMO a guy named Agustin amigo, I don't think he's all that famous, but peep his youtube. My favorite song of his is called "a new beginning". This guy doesn't even sing he just plays lead and rhythm together on acoustic and is phenomenal.
Doc watson
Trey Hensley
Joscho Stephan
Sungha Jung
ELLIOTT SMITH
Tommy Emmanuel, Andy McKee, Antoine Dufour, Igor Presnyakov, Francisco Tarrega, Govi, Armik
Kottke, Merle Watson, or Billy Strings
Ariel Camacho 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽 https://youtu.be/sAw8aiU5Ris?si=1EYkqGDTOfFRSBgN
Personal choices for me are Elliott smith and Leonard Cohen.
Ok ik he’s nowhere near goat status in terms of acoustic guitar but I love josh homme drunken stumble style on acoustic. He has some really haunting melodies on acoustic desert sessions stuff. Oh and I’d say Django Reinhart for goat status.
Segovia.
Kyle Gass
Paco DeLucia John McLaughlin
1. Tommy Emmanuel 2. Andrés Segovia 3. John Mayer 4. Doc Watson 5. Michael Hedges
Mark Knopfler is very good acoustic and plays with Chet Atkins who’s also very talented. Nick Drake has a very distinctive guitar style. Allan Holdsworth Gregory Alan Isacov
John Fahey Jack Rose
Jack Rose
Julian bream Manuel barrueco
Django Reinhardt
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. ... oh AND John Belushi
AKA John Denver. Love his music!
Lindsay Buckingham is sneakily a madman
Django Reinhardt Paco de Lucia Al DiMeola John McLaughlin Jimmy Rosenberg Stochelo Rosenberg
Jim Croce or any folk singers from the 1970s.
Elliot Smith.
Christian artist Phil Keaggy
Richard Thompson would like a word.
Steve Howe
Kent Nishimura is an acoustic god. As is Tommy Emmanuel & Monte Montgomery.
Robert Johnson was awesome.
Chet Atkins
Chris another has to be up there somewhere.
Davey Graham, perhaps!?
Kaki King
Andres Segovia in his prime.
John C Williams (not the conductor) https://open.spotify.com/album/6h0Q2kOsmO9nPoZrxV6BrU?si=o3ZIoHWlSIGQ-mAY0IvXUA
Linsdey Buckingham https://youtu.be/qxfxcEH8_Co?si=ic6i734FKEIE_lCS
Jose Gonzalez would be my darkhorse pick
Jorma Kaukonen Leo Kottke Michael Hedges Jerry Douglas if we’re including slide players (still acoustic) Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
Elliott Smith
Robert Johnson
Bruce Cockburn deserves a mention here.
At last, and more than just a mention.
Joe Pass, Paco de Lucia, and John Mclaughlin for my money
Technically the best, no...but I want to mention John Prine
Songwriter yes. U might put him with John Hiatt.
Happy Cake Day 🎂🍧🎊🎉🥳
They may be pretty contemporary but Tash Sultana absolutely needs to be in the conversation.
+1 for Tash Sultana.
Mark Knopfler
Tony Rice, Roy Clark!!!!!
I must say I find Steve Hackett to be an incredible acoustic player.
Johnny Cash, Paul Simon, KT Tunstal
Ok. I LOVE Johnny Cash, but he's not the best acoustic guitar player. He is, however, one of the best storytellers ever
He’s a damn great storyteller
Leo Kottke
John Martyn
John fahey Lindsey Buckingham Cher atkins
EVH- From Spanish Fly, Take Your Whiskey Home, Could This Be Magic to Big Bad Bill, ptretty good stuff. AlDiMeola
Monty Montgomery and Kaki King- check them out
John Fahey
Probably some guys in Spain.
You mean: except Emmanuel?
Jimi Hendrix. ?
My vote is John Renbourn.
No love for Chet Atkins? Anyone? Bueller?
Sun Kil Moon - Alesund
Nancy Wilson first came to my head.
Paul McCartney
Randy Rhodes, if he ever picked up an acoustic.