Axiom Home Page
So I am surfing the web and see that Rolling Stone magazine has listed the top 100 greatest guitar players of all time. I browse the list and see some the greats that would normally come to mind, Jimmy Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and even Neil Young (great Canadian). There were some odd ones like Joan Jett, or Joni Mitchell (You say great guitarist and Joan Jett doesn’t even come close to entering my mind). There were many I had never heard of before (granted I am not expert and do not play guitar) and a few that weren’t on the list that I felt should have been (Rik Emmet, Alex Lifeson, Liona Boyd).

So let’s have some fun here. I want to see the Axiom crowd’s top 5 favorite guitarists. I am only interested in artists that can perform live. Studio artists don’t count. Now days they can make anyone sound great in a recording studio. It doesn’t have to be Rock n Roll either, guitar is guitar. Playing fast is great if it’s musical. Remember to rate the ability of the artist on the instrument, not how popular they are. And remember to have fun!!!

So here are my top picks.

1. Rik Emmett (Triumph) – he is not only an awesome rock guitarist, but can play blues, jazz and classical as well. Plays not only lead buy rhythm at the same time during live performances.
2. Alex Lifeson (Rush) – Like Rik, carries all the guitar load for the band during live performances.
3. Eddie Van Halen – When he is not in Re-hab – probably the best Rock guitarist ever
4. Eric Clapton – Another well rounded guitar player.
5. Jimi Hendrix – Not a huge fan of his music, but I can respect his innovation on the instrument

I want to hear your favorites, and feel free to challenge (in a nice way) my picks also.
My list will suck because I like acoustic guitar played in the classical sense, and don't have a large collection of guitar-centric music. I can really only think of a few noteworthy ones.

But, in no particular order.
  • Michael Hedges. One of the greats.
  • Michael Gulezian. What a wonderful fellow. Simply awe-inspiring when playing solo in a small coffee house. I've never heard anyone else make a guitar sing like he can.
  • Ottmar Liebert. Flamenco & spanish style guitar.

    Ninja Edit: Oh, I have always thought that Lenny Kravitz played a pretty mean guitar too.
  • 1. Jimi Hendrix - He was so far above any other player out there and to this day his playing can hold up to the very best.

    2. Stevie Ray Vaughan - I don't know what to say other than I think he is amazing.

    3. Robert Johnson - He was the reason other players had to elevate their game imo.

    4. Jimmy Page - Again one who was an innovator and way ahead of his time.

    5. B.B King - An all time favorite, just simply a master at what he does.
    Not necessarily in order:
    * Jimi Hendrix
    * Stevie Ray Vaughan
    * John Mclaughlin
    * Eric Clapton
    * Eddie Van Halen

    If I were allowed ten, add:

    * Jeff Beck
    * Steve Vai
    * Rory Gallagher
    * Joe Satriani
    * Jimmy Page
    I'll second SRV

    Also, George Lynch is one of the best.
    Keeping the list to only five is really tough, so I will mention 10 all time greats.

    1. Andres Segovia

    2. Robert Johnson

    3. Jimi Hendrix

    4. Les Paul

    5. Eric Clapton

    6. Chet Atkins

    7. Chuck Berry

    8. Jimmy Page

    9. John McLaughlin

    10. B. B. King
    All of them make my list but I'd also add Prince and Santana. If you have ever seen one of Prince's after concert concerts, you would know what I mean.
    Already sidetracking this with "Best 5 Bassists"

    5. Billy Gould - Faith No More
    4. Jerry Only (Gerald Caiafa) - the Misfits - player and luthier as well.
    3. Steve Harris - Iron Maiden
    2. Stig Pedersen - D-A-D - "With a one-track mind and a two-string bass"
    1. Flea (Michael Balzary) - Red Hot Chili Peppers

    I've left out any of the darlings of the bass magazine press (Les Claypool, Victor Wooten, "Duck" Dunn, Me'shell Ndgc... Ncgdsg... Hellojello... Ndegeocello *whew*, P-Nut, etc)

    I do feel bad there was no room on the list for guys like Will Lee and John Entwhistle, though. And anyone that played for Metallica was intentionally out of the running. Not that that would have helped Trujillo (guy couldn't find a beat with a metronome suppository)... but it does unfairly rule out Jason "Jasonic" Newsted.

    Also not mentioned are any classical or blues bassists that I would have never heard.

    B**tsy C*ll*ns automatically tops any list of bassists assembled, so his name need not be spake.

    Bren R.

    Angus & Malcolm Young could do amazing things with the same two chords.
    I don't know if I have a full top 5, but I know some that should be included:

    Porl Thompson - The Cure, Toured w/Plant (or is it Page?)
    John "The Barber" Gutwillig - Disco Biscuits
    Another huge favorite is Johnny Winter, he can cut up with the best of them. The best damn albino guitar picker there ever was
    I agree with everything said so far. While he has his own unique style, David Gilmour is worth a mention.

    And as far as bass players go, Geddy Lee should be on there too.
    #1 Jimi Hendrix
    #2 Eric Clapton
    #3 Robin Trower
    #4 Jimmy Page
    #5 Johnny Winter

    Honorable mentions:

    Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
    Ted Nugent
    Peter Frampton
    Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
    Slash (G'n'R)
    Interesting and challenging topic.

    As others have observed, the hard part is narrowing it down to five. Anybody can make great speakers for $20,000, right? So all you "five more" guys are a bunch of cheaters.

    The spirit of the original question included not only "top" but also "ability", "fun" and - most importantly - "favorite". So, we're not really looking for "most influential" here.

    It's freaky how we're all stuck in roughly the same period.

    Speakergrrl?

    Eric Clapton
    Wes Montgomery
    Django Reinhardt
    Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Carlos Santana

    Great listings, everyone. Your comments certainly motivated me to revisit some tunes I haven't heard in a while.
    Can't forget the bass players! Top 5 bass players:

    1. John Entwistle

    2. Jack Bruce

    3. John Paul Jones

    4. Geddy Lee

    5. David Piltch
    Off the top of my head, based on influence to other generations:

    Eric Clapton
    Jimmy Page
    Jimi Hendrix
    Eddie Van Halen
    Tony Iommi

    Newer guitarists who do not yet have the longevity/career, but may make the list in time:

    Jack White
    Derek Trucks
    Tom,

    Thanks for mentioning Django Reinhardt. He certainly had talent. I'll go listen to some Gypsy Jazz right now.
    ---

    Thanks John for the knod for Geddy. Good list!
    ---

    Nachos, another new artist to suggest is John Mayer.

    Quote:

    Can't forget the bass players! Top 5 bass players:

    1. John Entwistle

    2. Jack Bruce

    3. John Paul Jones

    4. Geddy Lee

    5. David Piltch




    Les Claypool doesn't make the bass players list?
    He's too much of a weirdo.
    I'll add Eric Johnson to the list.
    -Don Ross
    -Phil Keaggy
    -Keith Urban
    -Ottmar Leibert
    -Hecter Pimentel
    -Steve Lukather gotta be in at least the top 25.
    -I remember the guitarist from Saga used to be really good, dunno his name.
    -Mark Knopfler

    Bass:
    Nathan East
    Jaco Pastorious
    Tony Levin
    ... from the top of my head.
    Quote:

    Interesting and challenging topic.

    As others have observed, the hard part is narrowing it down to five. Anybody can make great speakers for $20,000, right? So all you "five more" guys are a bunch of cheaters.

    The spirit of the original question included not only "top" but also "ability", "fun" and - most importantly - "favorite". So, we're not really looking for "most influential" here.

    It's freaky how we're all stuck in roughly the same period.

    Speakergrrl?

    Eric Clapton
    Wes Montgomery
    Django Reinhardt
    Stevie Ray Vaughan
    Carlos Santana

    Great listings, everyone. Your comments certainly motivated me to revisit some tunes I haven't heard in a while.



    Tom's usual perspicacious post!

    The thread title asks for our "top" 5 guitarists without specifying what criteria to use when defining "top." Are we to decide by how influential the guitarist has been, his technical proficiency (skill), his taste (what specific notes are played at a specific moment), or some other measure?

    There are guitarists (or pianists, or clarinetists, trumpet players, etc.) who, while not really being technically proficient, have been major influences on the music world. There are those who are technical masters, and have the skill to play things others simply can't play.

    And then there are those who have been neither major influences nor technical experts, but who, for whatever reason, touch us, thrill us, make our hearts sing, or whatever euphemism you chose for "their taste satisfies me." This, of course, is entirely subjective, and is probably, and reasonably, the most used criteria when someone names the "top" or "best" anything.

    So here, in no particular order, are 5 guitarists who have "floated my boat," lifted my soul, and, more than once, made me say "WOW!"

    Chet Atkins
    Eric Clapton
    Jim Messina (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina)
    Django Reinhardt
    Segovia

    There are certainly many more, but those are the ones that popped into my head




    I dont know abot TOP but some of my favorites.
    In no paticular order.
    1.Johnny Winter
    2.SRV
    3.Chet Atkins
    4.Lightin Hopkins
    5.Robert Johnson
    Yeah, I want to see all of these people play Guitar Hero.
    Quote:

    Quote:

    Can't forget the bass players! Top 5 bass players:

    1. John Entwistle

    2. Jack Bruce

    3. John Paul Jones

    4. Geddy Lee

    5. David Piltch




    Les Claypool doesn't make the bass players list?




    Good one. Of the current crop that guy is a standout with a unique almost flamenco way of strumming the bass strings. He'd have to be considered in a top ten list of bass players.
    I would offer up Joey Santiago of the Pixies...without them, grunge and Nirvana definitely take a different path.
    Victor Wooten is an amazing bassist. Seeing him live leaves you in awe.
    Quote:

    Victor Wooten is an amazing bassist. Seeing him live leaves you in awe.



    Good call Peter. That solo on Live Art is one of my favorites to hear on the Axioms. Each member in that group is outstanding.

    Shall we move on to the top 5 banjo players of all time?
    Still some amazing guitarists left unmentioned: Howzabout Leo Kottke? Or Robert Fripp? Adrian Belew?

    On bass: agreed, you haven't truly lived until you hear Wooten's bass solo on Live Art. Damn!
    Quote:

    Shall we move on to the top 5 banjo players of all time?


    5. Earl Scruggs
    4. Earl Scruggs
    3. Earl Scruggs
    2. Earl Scruggs
    1. Earl Scruggs

    Bren R.
    Quote:


    Nachos, another new artist to suggest is John Mayer.





    How could I forget!?!
    Too tired to read all the other responses yet, but here's my top 5 (in no particular order)

    Eddie Van Halen
    Joe Satriani
    Prince
    SRV
    Steve Vai
    1)Neal Schon - Journey
    2) The Edge - U2
    3) Brian Setzer
    4) Slash - GnR, Velvet Revolver
    5)Prince - Most versatile guitar player ever IMO
    Quote:

    Victor Wooten is an amazing bassist. Seeing him live leaves you in awe.




    What a style! Thanks for the link. I like the guy's comment below the vid, "Amazing bass, how great the sound..."

    Another strumming bassist that is worth mentioning is Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big. Saw him/them open for Rush on the Presto tour (1990)!
    No mention of bassist Mark King?

    I bought a Level 42 concert video many, many moons ago just to see this Mark King bass solo... YouTube 1... though now that I search YouTube I think this one is better....YouTube 2.

    I think the guy is amazing, but you need an EP500 for it!
    Quote:

    Can't forget the bass players! Top 5 bass players:

    1. John Entwistle

    2. Jack Bruce

    3. John Paul Jones

    4. Geddy Lee

    5. David Piltch




    Anbody ever hear of Mark Brownstein with the Disco Biscuits? AMAZING!!!!
    I'll have to check him out. Great youtube of Victor Wooten.
    Jeez, there's so many. How does any one narrow it down to 5? The new gaurd? Older stuff? Classical? Jazz?

    No particular order, and tomorrow could be different:

    Pat Metheny
    John Petrucci
    Joe Satriani
    Al DiMeola
    Steve Vai
    Quote:

    It's freaky how we're all stuck in roughly the same period.

    Speakergrrl?




    Hey, Tom, thanks for the shout out, man! Back at ya baby!

    I like Weezer, Foo Fighters, Nirvana ... so I will say Rivers Cuomo, Dave Grohl, Kurdt Cobain (RIP) ...

    But I am more of a drums n bass grrl, so I get more excited about "Dave on drums" as we like to shout at the FF concerts. tho Taylor Hawkins is plenty fine, that's right, take your shirt off baby!

    Tre' Cool - get it? cool gremlin! with Green Day is an underrated drummer, IMHO. When I saw them, Billie Jo introduced him as the greatest drummer in rock n roll, and that night, I believed it!
    Whitney, I'll agree regarding Tre Cool....but the others....? Not so much!
    Quote:

    I'll have to check him out. Great youtube of Victor Wooten.




    Get the Live Art 2-disc set. It's considered one of the best, and has the Amazing Grace solo on it. Just in case there are some who are un-aware, Victor Wooten plays bass for 'Bela Fleck and the Flecktones'.

    Bren, if Earl Scruggs in #1, then Bela (pronounced bay-la) would be a very close #2.
    that is funny Whitney talking about good drummers, you mentioned as a guitarist someone who is widely regarded as the best drummer in the world - Dave Grohl! That man is an animal on the skins.
    Quote:

    that is funny Whitney talking about good drummers, you mentioned as a guitarist someone who is widely regarded as the best drummer in the world - Dave Grohl! That man is an animal on the skins.


    Speaking of Nirvana... I heard Krist Novoselic playing with Jello Biafra recently, good to see you can still get a job after ruining music forever.

    Bren R.
    1. Lenny Breau
    2. Howard Alden
    3. Bucky Pizzarelli
    4. Wes Montgomery
    5. Tchavolo Schmitt
    Great drummers:

    Mike greenfield
    Joe Russo
    I'm going to give this thread jacking thing a try...

    The five best rock drummers:

    #1 Clem Burke (Blondie)
    #2 John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
    #3 Keith Moon (The Who)
    #4 Buddy Miles
    #5 Mitch Mitchell

    Honorable mentions:

    Buddy Rich (not rock, but..wow.)
    Jerry Edmonton (Steppenwolf)
    Tommy Aldridge (Black Oak Arkansas)
    Van Halen (Eddie's brother)
    A worthwhile hijack. My top 10 jazz and rock drummers:

    1. Buddy Rich

    2. Ginger Baker

    3. John Bonham

    4. Keith Moon

    5. Gene Krupa

    6. Ari Hoening

    7. Ron Wilson (Surfaris-"Wipeout")

    8. Art Blakely

    9. Neil Peart

    10. Phil Rudd
    you could add Carl Palmer & Steve Gadd...
    Adding to the drum thread:

    Two more drummers that suck less than the rest of them

    -Sandy Nelson
    -Um... I did say 2, right... there's always... uh... *whistles and walks away*

    I kid, I kid.

    Bren R.
    I personally think John Petrucci of Dream Theater is one of the best technical guitarist out there.

    And for metal, I think Darrell Abbott of Pantera is unsurpassed.
    Also, no one has mentioned Kirk Hammett (Metallica) ...
    Amazing bass player....

    Billy Sheehan

    I've seen this guy play live three times. Twice with David Lee Roth and once with <cringe> Mr. Big. As far as rock and roll bass players go...I don't think there's better.

    It was quite a stunning thing to witness a dualing guitar solo between Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan. Wow.


    Quote:

    <cringe> Mr. Big



    snicker. snicker.
    I only went to see Billy play. They played at "Club Casino" in Hampton Beach, NH. I knew a guy that worked there and we ended up watching the entire show standing and leaning on the stage. I think Mr. Sheehan may have sweated on me during his solo (ewwww).
    Quote:

    Also, no one has mentioned Kirk Hammett (Metallica) ...




    I would also say that James Hetfield should be the one to gush over - the king of riffology!!!

    If we are mentioning drummers, Danny Carey from Tool must be put into the equation.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlRdd-Ih8kc&mode=related&search=
    I'm going to say Regina Spektor. I mean, she barely BARELY plays guitar, but come on, she's Regina Spektor.
    Hu....no one mentioned Angus Young. I've stood front row at three different AC/DC concerts and thought he was pretty amazing. Like the eveready bunny on a fist full of yellow jackets.
    You know, Mike, it's funny you should post about Angus. I was thinking the same thing last night. I think he's too easily dismissed. Probably more compelling as an "entertainer" than a "guitarist", but he certainly has mad skills.

    I'm also surprised that Chris Squire of Yes hasn't gotten much traction from the bass player posts.
    Re: I'm also surprised that Chris Squire of Yes hasn't gotten much traction from the bass player posts.
    Steve Howe (guitar) and Alan White (drums) could receive honorable mention...
    Quote:

    Quote:

    <cringe> Mr. Big



    snicker. snicker.




    Mark is snickering because ?

    a) he likes Sex in the City and has fond memories of Carrie's boyfriend
    b) he is poking fun at spiff for seeing the cheesy rock group
    c) he is thinking about what his wife calls Mark's johnson


    Quote:

    Hu....no one mentioned Angus Young. I've stood front row at three different AC/DC concerts and thought he was pretty amazing. Like the eveready bunny on a fist full of yellow jackets.




    Actually Mike if you look back through, I made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Young brothers earlier.

    I'm a big AC/DC fan, and I've had more than one person mention that (to them), it sounds like they play the same 3 chords. I tell them, "Yea, but man they can rock those three chords like nobody else....."
    Git-ar (no order):

    Jimi
    Eddie
    Jimmy
    Slowhand
    Robert Johnson (he is the "/" in the rock guitar filesystem.)

    Thumpers:

    James Jamerson (insanely driving triple-stop grooves. Good golly.)
    John Entwistle (RAWK bass starts here.)
    Larry Graham
    Geddy Lee
    There's like a dozen others that could be here. I can't pick one.
    Quote:

    Quote:

    Hu....no one mentioned Angus Young. I've stood front row at three different AC/DC concerts and thought he was pretty amazing. Like the eveready bunny on a fist full of yellow jackets.




    Actually Mike if you look back through, I made a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Young brothers earlier.

    I'm a big AC/DC fan, and I've had more than one person mention that (to them), it sounds like they play the same 3 chords. I tell them, "Yea, but man they can rock those three chords like nobody else....."




    That pretty much sums up what I think about AC/DC. Has anyone written as many killer riffs as them?

    What about Rodrigo y Gabriela? So fickle are the boards...
    Quote:

    What about Rodrigo y Gabriela? So fickle are the boards...




    Si
    Gabriela's such a badass.
    Quote:

    Gabriela's such a badass.




    Si.
    Some geetar players I've been liking, but not mentioned so far:

    - Earnest Ranglin (Surfin' and his album w/ Monte Alexander - forget the name - would be 2 I'd recommend.)
    - Jeff Beck
    - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
    -
    Hey! I mentioned Jeff Beck!!
    Sorry. How about adding Scott Henderson, then?
    pick 5? might as well pick your 5 favorite orgas...er...never mind

    need catagories: rock, jazz, classical and then list 25 of each

    Steve Howe
    Allan Holdsworth
    Adrian Belew
    Jeff Beck
    Steve Hacket
    David Gilmour
    Duane Allman
    Derek Trucks
    Brian May
    Les Paul
    Steve Carlton
    Carlos
    Eric
    Jimi
    Veron Reid
    and, so forth...

    ok...maybe 200 per catagory

    stay tuned for bassists

    Levin
    Squire
    Entwhistle
    John Paul Jones
    Percy Jones
    Velvet Jones...er, not
    Sting...yes, Sting
    Jeff Berlin
    Stanley Clarke
    Jaco
    and, so on...

    and those are just in my finite world of listening

    of which I have left off more than I've listed

    like whoever played the bass on "Something" it couldn't have been Paul, could it?

    I guess I'm party poopin'

    or, trying to make a point

    Rolling Stone couldn't get it right with 100

    and they got paid for it!
    Quote:

    pick 5? might as well pick your 5 favorite orgas...er...never mind


    Not the first one, for sure. That freaked me out.
    i was just passing by and did someone say 'orgas...'?!?!
    now we're talkin!!!

    ha ha, Peter is very self-revealing, gotta admire his spunk.
    Aren't orgas those black and white whales that kill seals?
    Quote:

    i was just passing by and did someone say 'orgas...'?!?!
    now we're talkin!!!

    ha ha, Peter is very self-revealing, gotta admire his spunk.




    dam girl!! don't encourage him!! he doesn't need any, really......
    Quote:

    dam girl!! don't encourage him!! he doesn't need any, really......




    Does this mean I shouldn't have mailed him a gift certificate for a free Bljoe Joeb?
    oh sh.... cough... sputter.... ugg espresso through the nose on that one. Great, just great. I'll be smelling coffee all day now.
    geez...what did I start?

    this water cooler is my new fav forum!

    gets blue in here quickly...bring protection
    I don’t know… I smell that this girl is just the altered ego of one of the regular forum members, where’s the doctor? Dissociative Identity Disorder perhaps?
    Either that, or the Axiom booth at the Toronto Interior Design Show a few months back opened some can of worms
    I'll let you know when she sends me the pic she promised me. I told her to take a pic with her sitting next to a monitor with the Axiom forum on it as proof.
    Just got her pic. Opening it now...


    Oh, goddammit!


    <Chris Hansen>

    Hello there, why dont you take a sit...

    </Chris Hansen>

    You and Bren are thinking alike, IIRC. MarkSJohnson and I were talking about this very issue and agreed that Bren probably has the most street sense of any of the Axiom regulars.

    Peter, heard any sirens lately?!
    No, silly, cuz I'm of legal age, duh, doctor!

    Maybe my new tag line should be "I am just a figment of your imagination".
    OMG...great stuff Peter!
    Quote:

    Where’s the doctor? Dissociative Identity Disorder perhaps?




    That's a controversial diagnosis, but I'm in the camp of those who do believe that it exists. You get bonus points for not using the archaic term "multiple personality disorder"

    But I'm off the clock now and made a promise a while ago to leave my shrink couch off the forums. It doesn't go over very well and it pays even worse!
    Quote:

    Bren probably has the most street sense of any of the Axiom regulars.


    With that said... I'm okay with that assuming that street sense doesn't translate into any other sense at all.

    And mostly I'm just bugging SpeakerGrrrrrrrl, not often we get female users here... and even rarer that we get an embryon... er, such a youthful one.

    Just something to add to the standing jokes of Jack being old and BigJohn lovin' his ports.

    Bren R.

    p.s. there... changed my avatar back so I don't look as "street"
    Quote:

    You get bonus points for not using the archaic term "multiple personality disorder"



    I’m not particularly familiar w/ mental disorders, it just so happened that due to the recent terrible event at VT I did some ‘googling’ on mental disorders; I stumbled w/ an article that stated they don’t call it MPD anymore. Fascinating stuff... I’m a software engineer, with computers everything boils down to 0 or 1; black or white. Working with the human mind is 0,1 and a colossal spectrum in between; I don’t know how you do it.
    Quote:

    I'm okay with that assuming that street sense doesn't translate into any other sense at all.




    No, no - I was not trying to imply anything of the sort. Just an affirmation of street smarts. Lots of people have both kinds of "smarts", and I see no evidence of you lacking either.

    Quote:

    p.s. there... changed my avatar back so I don't look as "street"




    Uh oh, what have I done?! Come back, street Bren!
    Quote:

    Maybe my new tag line should be "I am just a figment of your imagination".




    Yes she is. This is actually her:




    YOU GO SPEAKERGRRL!!!!!
    Quote:

    I’m not particularly familiar w/ mental disorders




    Oh Sure! Of course not. Why would you be. Nobody ever said you were crazy or anything. You got some kind of persecution complex or something? How defensive can you get? Methinks you do protest too much. I'll bet you've got one closet full of prescriptions and another closet full of, well, whatever it is you apparently hallucinate. Shrooms and PCP in your past perhaps? Some People!



    Jaime, that's a joke, you know?

    Going to self-medicate, now...

    It really p!sses me off that you east-coasters are three hours ahead of me in happy-hour time.
    I knew that was coming when I reread my post shortly after I clicked postit
    I should have said, ...not knowledgeable or educated in the field of mental disorders.
    [quote

    It really p!sses me off that you east-coasters are three hours ahead of me in happy-hour time.




    ya friggn lush...
    Quote:

    Quote:

    I'm okay with that assuming that street sense doesn't translate into any other sense at all.


    No, no - I was not trying to imply anything of the sort. Just an affirmation of street smarts. Lots of people have both kinds of "smarts", and I see no evidence of you lacking either.


    Nah, I was taking a bit of a shot at myself at the kinds of smarts.

    No harm, no foul...

    Bren R.
    Quote:

    Working with the human mind is 0,1 and a colossal spectrum in between; I don’t know how you do it.




    Yeah, that's both the beauty and the beast right there.

    The brain really is the final frontier of medicine, so things will always be interesting here. Still, no matter what medications there are or will be, behavior is basically free will with some level of control applied by a bunch of complex factors: genetics, environments past and present, personality, physiology ...

    I remind myself, and the occasional patient who needs a reframe, that this is not one of those fields of medicine in which you get the quick fix. It's also important to let them know that improvement requires significant effort on their part.

    It gets tough sometimes, but there's lots of tough jobs out there, and this seems a good fit for me. Thanks for the kind words!
    Quote:

    This is actually her:

    < image of dysthymic middle-aged man >




    Yeah, maybe - I think the lips are a match ...
    Quote:

    Yes she is. This is actually her




    Close, that's my Uncle Vernon! Luckily I get my looks from the other side of the family

    Quote:

    YOU GO SPEAKERGRRL!!!!!




    Oh, I do! Thanks! Why'd I lurk so long when I could have been getting this attention all along?
    Quote:

    Quote:

    YOU GO SPEAKERGRRL!!!!!



    Oh, I do! Thanks! Why'd I lurk so long when I could have been getting this attention all along?


    I completely misread that as "[going] is why I got this much attention all along."

    I must need sleep.

    Bren R.
    That's golden, Bren.
    © Axiom Message Boards