Malmsteen around 1984 had the best skills and tone of his career. Also, he had a lot of finesse and musical charisma back then that sadly, diminished slightly as he aged.

Yngwie is what you dream you could sound like. Holdsworth is what you couldn't even imagine sounding like.

Yngwie, Holdsworth and a gentleman named Shawn Lane. Trifecta of legendary greatness.

Back then they all were awesome players. We are so very fortunate that all these players and their incredible performances were recorded and are available now. Thank you for taking your time to put this video together.

When Yngwei was in his prime before the accident he shock the guitar world with hes way to play. Extreamly fast, clean, and exeptional vibrato. He was the first to really bring neo classic metal. He still is a fantastic guitarplayer. One thing is for sure. He will have his place in the history books. As a Swede my self I am proud this icon is from my country.

Yngwie was the speedking at that age, but most of all an inspirator for the rest of the club of guitarslingers! 🎯

Holdsworth is on a whole different level. Yngwie is a Rock God.

Holdsworth was from another planet.

1984 Malmsteen was a freaking monster …. But Holdsworth is from another planet altogether

I dont know about speed but YJM sounds much more pleasing

Rising Force changed my guitar playing forever. Thanks Yngwie.

I was never a big YM fan as it seemed to feel like his music always sounds the same to itself. The other guitar players provided here have more cemented history with my musical prowess BUT out of all the performances, YM was the cleanest and smoothest approach towards the scales in their respective presentations. They are all great guitar players but Malmsteen truly shines in this video with his notes all clearly defined, perfectly articulated and overall showmanship fit for a hall of fame. Its all about perspective and personal opinions may vary, but this is a good stepping stone to a worthy debate for either side of the table.

Ritchie and Uli was playing those neoclassical stuffs already in 70's.. And Yngwie said he was heavily influenced by Uli in his books.

you can´t compare malmsteen with anyone, he is second to none ;-)

In those days Yngwie was a purist. Far cleaner and concise. His approach with tone , arpeggios, and clean sound was like that of the violin. Which he stated was a major influence.

I'm just pleased I got to see most of those guys live during their peak. It's mainly the Americans I missed out on (Batio, Lynch, EVH, Jake, Gilbert) plus Sykes. For pure 'shred', Yngwie was the best, but T Mac's 'Maximum Security' is my all time favourite instrumental guitar album. I was knocked out at how good Uli JR was on that Electric Sun tour (Beyond the Astral Skies).

Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Schenker...Giants.

Just think man..we were the luckiest bastards to have all those guys. I love them all.

Yngwie and Eddie by far

1984? It's Yngwie for sure. I was there, I know.

Who really cares who was the fastest? Isn't it about who plays the most musically? :) I am a big fan of all the guitarists in the video and they have all inspired me a lot, but I have never thought, who is the fastest? It's not a competition even though many guitarists today seem to think it is a competition :)

Yngwie sounds the cleanest to me and the last dude

Yngwie unbelievable player but his songs were just okay. That’s why it’s hard to compare him to the great EVH and some of the other great players on this list. Speed solo’s doesn’t always translate to complementing the song. A lot of Yngwie’s songs are wildly overplayed.

I have a Yngwie Malmsteen's Fender, he's one of my favorite guitar players, but I do not see music as a competition between Yngwie and the others mentioned...we can learn with everyone of them and that's it. People have some attraction to things like 'the best of ever', 'the greatest', etc. That makes no sense to me in art. All of us have our favorite and that's all...our subjective lists. Days ago I saw something like "Shawn Lane X Yngwie'...well, Shawn was so brilliant (like the old Yngwie), but fans were fighting in the comments like soccer fans...I see no point about it, Shawn is not so famous outside the guitarrists and would not be in those Mojo lists, but he was outstanding like many others: Greg Howe, Jason Becker, Scott Henderson, Allan Holdswort, etc...all of these ones would not be mentioned in popular lists, like the one that put Brian May as the best of ever...Brian is a genius, I love him, but he put it rightly in an interview about the list...you can find it easily. He said he's not the best and you can't rank people...the meaning of lists: to sell a product. PS - George Harrison and Brian May are guitar players I love, they created beautiful guitar solos, few notes, a lot of passion and emotion. I love Gary Moore a lot too, great rock blues player, beautiful voice. One last note: M. A. Batio is the only guitar player in your video I do not like...he sounds like a metronome checker. To listen to him is like to appreciate a metronome...boring, no melody.

@15:50 that Holdsworth line is pure genius.

Jack E Lee......a monster

yngwie made everyone elevate their game. varney was handing yngwies demos tapes to several young shredders including vai…. yngwie was god in 84’ and until his accident hard to match in tone, skill and stage presence ashame he stopped improving his game - and stuck with a singer like joe lynn turner could have been bigger commercially maybe not eddie but much higher than he did … but yngwie will always be the king of shred

No point in comparing everyone of them. They've all contributed in some ways to the evolution of rock. Each of them have unique qualities in playing their own style. I think they're all great players; and i'm a fan in each and everyone of them. Cheers!

"Who cares?" some will say....but it's fun to look back and compare the greats! Thanks for watching @guitargodzunleashed

That was a great (and bad) time to be a guitarist. You had to be really on top of your game. Mike Varney had a lot of new killer guitarists coming out too. Yngwie sent a lot of guys to the woodshed.

Malmsteen is number 1

Absolutely amazing!

Schenker on EVH: "I love Eddie's playing, you know, he's for me, by far the best guitar player. And even though I wasn't listening to music, you could never get away [from] hearing [it] anywhere... And so really, he was fascinating. I mean, he's my favorite guitar player."

my favorit guitarist is one and only gary moore~

Great video man! Really enjoyed the shred off.😊

Different styles! And Jake is one of my top 5!!

Excellent video, tnx👍

Damn! You brought all of the heavy hitters even Michael Angelo with his real hair!

Check Vinnie Vincent out, especially from the Vinnie Vincent Invasion album (1986). Very underrated. He could play very fast in a different style to Yngwie.

Malmsteen, Allen Holdsworth, Eddie ❤

Yngwie was the best in that year. No doubt about it. That's not to say there weren't other great players but let's get real here.

i think the big diference was that ingwye start using diferent stuff whit the armonic minor mode and devolope new sounds,diminiture arpegios etc.and the rest of the players was only pentatonic or eolian,natural modes.

Glad 2 c Tony MacAlpine mentioned, up against Malmsteem. Found both, n Guitar Magazine record pulloutz, when 1st learning Guitar.

Very nice beautiful metal-guitar world mans! Dears legends! Guitar world!! Thank-you very much for tectonic-very big prof works!!! Rock n roll! Everybody!!

"I don't fuckin sweep pick" YJM Al Di Meola was a huge influence on Yngwie in His formative years & now they're practically neighbors. Others in the race may have been Chris Impelliteri,Buckethead,Jeff Watson, Vinnie Moore,Mitch Perry ,Rob Marcello,John McLaughlin;Akira Takasaki..& soon to be famous guys like Jason Becker, Greg Howe & Warren Di Martini & Ron Thal.. etc. Shawn Lane was the fastest I ever witnessed back then.

Just basing on the video, Malmsteen wins hands down.🤘(I will immediately eliminate Jake E.Lee, EVH, Uli Roth and Blackmore - although fantastic guitar players, their technique are 2 notches below Yngwie's level.) The others are like "forcing" the speed...their playing sounds "wanting" to be fast for the sake of playing fast. (except Allan who is more of a Legato/fusion player.) YJM on the other hand simply FLOWS with natural speed. Just flawless organic speed, Truly one of a kind, special generational player, proof that his technique is above the task, you won't sound that if your technique is not on par with the sound you have in your head. As Guthrie Govan said in an interview, he admired Yngwie's technique more than his peers because his "speed has intention". He is right, It's not fast for the sake of being fast. He wanted to sound like the violin, like Bach and Paganini pieces. ❤‍🔥 Apart from the great speed, he has this "Godlike Vibrato" like no other. So clearly, Malmsteen rules and dominates.🎸

All the modulation going on when Holdsworth is playing is really what sets him apart from everyone else. You have to be a genius to be able to play like that and keep track of where you are and not get lost.

Where is Chriss Impellitteri, Shawn Lane, Jason Becker

Jake E Lee is so underrated and but for getting stuffed by Sharon should have had a bigger career

5:51 Steve Vai being so god mode on alternate picking

Yngwie tone is unique

Great editing.. all good in their own way..excellence

They're all blindingly amazing, especially for the time period. That said, Shawn Lane was absolutely circling them all back in 1979. And he only got scarier and farther separated from the rest as time progressed. Gone way too soon.😢

no one can beat nygwie on 1980-1990

Yngwie j malmsteen...👍🤟

Didn't catch the "vs" here, loved em all.

Yngwie always looks so damned relaxed, while he is shredding his melodies. 🤘

Does anyone know what is the track in the intro ?

What’s that live from Gary Moore at the beginning ? Thanks !

This is worth the watch

You can talk speed, but his live tone was better than everyone as well except for EVH.

I prefer Allan Holdsworth, is not the fastest guitar player who lived, but i love his playing over YJM or EVH

Yngwie is my heroe my god since 1983 But there is one guitarist that did get to his level and more " Vinnie moore" But still yngwie is the boss and the master of all the shreders of the 80s and even today.

yngwie can juggling around the fretboard, while the others are very systematic and like a robot sound style. i like yngwie

Although all the guitars that I've just heard up against Yngwie Malmsteen which I love so many of them guitarists and always will Yngwie is the King to me

Holdsworth is incredibile 😮

No1, the King of all timers. The GOAT !

i think every guitar player in 84 are great in their own styles. we dont have to compare the skills that made them famous. music is not a battle but a road to success. Classical? ofcourse Yngwie is the one, he is great on this style no doubt about it.

And…Eddie VH was class and had a unique style and sound

Holdsworth is that kind of guy that everyone says “he’s a god” but no one really listens to! It’s more like “I don’t understand what he’s playing, so he might be a genius.” It's like a fashion. Makes you sound like a "guitar intellectual"

They`re different styles, I love Yngwie for being Yngwie and Jake for being Jake ,everyone plays his best they`re all special.

COOL VIDEO ! ALL GREAT GUITARIST ! YNGWIE WINS ....

Yngwie is obviously one of the greats he is fast, clean, and good tone...BUT he a niche style that he rarely deviates from, he stays in the neo classical style of scales, arpeggios, etc...for me Steve Vai is best because if the diversity of guitar stunts, scales, weird bends and ,making guitars talk etc..

Ingwie and Steve and many others plays in the same league. But my favorit on this time was Steve Morse and later Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani and John Petrucci.

Yngwie #1 by far.

the thing i like about Malmsteen is that he was the original . he didn't just play fast he had great tone and energy. it was rare for him to play fast just to play fast. man you are bringing me back to when i first started playing guitar. i was 16 and seen Eddie ,Vivian cambell and Yngwie .the same clips your playing. i used to go in my basement and pretend i was rob halford why i sang with the video. pretty much everyday. i thought i did damn good for singing that high. but yeah idk if Yngwie is the best of that year when he's up against so many monsters like Holdsworth.eddie,richie and the like. i know holdsworth does shit loads of hammer ons and pull offs while Yngwie is picking most everything.🙅

Malmsteen was not the fastest, but he had the best balance and tone.

Are you're comparing 1984 Yngwie with a lot of post 1984 footage from other players? I'd say the 70s era guys--Uli Jon Roth, Ritchie Blackmore, were just hopelessly outmatched And you'll find no bigger fan of the 80s than me. I'm a huge Jake E Lee and George Lynch fan and while they undoubtedly were great players ,Yngwie was just from another planet. It was like he was at least a generation ahead of them.

Yngwie is on whole other level at that time.

Saw him in '86 in Phoenix with Saxon and Black & Blue

Yngwie definitely owned 1984! And Gary Moore was a true master.... Vai, Gilbert, Etc... So much great and innovative playing!

I like these older shredders because it was all part of the 'show' and generally their solos fitted the songs except when solo spots demanded a bit of showmanship. The so called players of today are mostly just blowing over a backing tracks, no real memorable hooks or song content... Uli Jon Roth is my all time fave of this bunch and rules over all of them to my ears..... Blackmore and Van Halen are up there too because they were of that time where songs mattered too.... it's a great compilation though of some great memories from back then. Having said all that Holdsworth is on another level to everybody ......

I have no issue conceding that YJM probably had the cleanest and fastest technique of that glorious era (although Gilbert was close). His vibrato is awesome, too. That said, aside from Batio, Macalpine, and Holdsworth, I like every other player on this list TONS more than YJM. Because at the end of the day, everyone here was MORE than fast ENOUGH, and most of them had more TASTE than Malmsteen, overplayed LESS, and seem to have something to say with their lead work other than "look how fast I can play." I saw YJM live with Alcatrazz when he was 19 or 20. My thought was "this guy might become the greatest of all time when he grows up -- IF he develops some taste, and maturity in his playing." Contrast the fast playing with slow playing so there's dynamic contrast -- so when you play fast, it hits harder. Play for the SONG rather than just wanking away at full speed over everything all the time. By the time YJM was pushing 30, it was clear that those things were never going to happen.

Yngwie fan is around the world bcos of his skill and creative melody solo created

Wow I forgot how many ripping guitarist there were and I got to see everyone of them

84..Malm vs Eddie

Let's Talk about musicality,Dave Martone,Neil Zaza,Steve Morse..

Yngwie, Eddie , Vai......the pedestrians.

YJM vs Jake Lee, Malmsteen was way more complex and technical with better tone overall. This is my opinion after playing guitar and shredding for soon 30 years. ( Ps. I wrote this before wtaching anymore of the video ) After watching more I am pretty convinced this will hold true vs. anyone else in the video maybe except Steve Vai, They are both totally amazing. However, Uli roth.. Without him there would most likely be no YJM to talk about at all. Gotta say in the end just love them all. They are all amazing. Evil Eye is still one of the most raw guitar shredding solo songs of all time though😁🔥💯💯💯

Yngwie was in 1984 the best new guitar player on the scene fresh new fast exciting to listen to he is realy a neo classical multi talented guitar player.back then he was.new on the scene.also comes from a family in sweden with classical training.First time i heard yngwie was 1985 riseing force album.

Back then, Yngwie was the greatest 👍. But Allan was from Earth 313, I think 🤔

Great video. I enjoyed it a lot. But, putting George Lynch's melodic solo in Alone Again, against Yngwie's shredding, is a head scratcher. Why not one of George's scorching, classic solos, such as the ones in Tooth And Nail, Turn On The Action, Lightning Strikes, or Kiss Of Death ?

Yngwie is great and was so unique and a force of nature in 1984. What a tone too.. But Holdsworth is on a different planet to everyone with maybe the exception of Vai..imho

Yngwie’s tone and precision was always better. But I am surprised Joe Satriani isn’t on this list. I would say he is the one who gave Yngwie a run for his money.

Best of the best until now Yngwie malmsteen

Yngwie definitely has the best tone

In 84, probably only the Jazz guys (Benson, Holdsworth, Joe Pass), Uli, Steve Morse, Marty Friedman was as good as Yngwie

I just have to say that when most of the other guitarist were playing very fast it just sounded like a practice exercise and not a melody in a song. Yngwie had a story going on in the music. Nothing against the other players who I mostly love.

I always held and still do-- Yngvie as THE SHREDDER, THE AXER...END OF STORY.

What about Chris Impellitteri ? 😊