is this the best guitar ever

That LP was recorded during a US tour that followed a European tour by the original trio which included Larry Coryell. When they went to the US DiMiola replaced Coryell. I finally managed to find a DVD of a European performance and it's wonderful & I find it superior to the LP performance.

The LP is fun the first time, but doesn't hold up to repeated listens in my opinion. Hot licks -- and those are some super hot ones -- are more superficial, like really thick and really sweet icing on a cake that's pretty small and not that great.

Chet Atkins, who was known to never have a bad word to say about another guitarist, when asked about Al DiMiola reportedly said, "All dressed up with no where to go." His speed and accuracy are phenomenal, but there's an emotional center that's just missing.

Again, this is very subjective and I apologize in advance if I've angered any Al fans.

McLaughlin, De Lucia & Coryell DVD is called "Meeting of the Spirits" about an hour long. It's a "Region 0" DVD & has about 20 various company names all over it making it impossible to tell just who put it out. The front cover was assembled by someone who thought it would look pretty but obviously not a guitarist as 3 matching Martin-looking steel string acoustics fram individual pics of John and Larry playing big hollow-body jazz electrics.

The performance is from Spain I believe and is really lovely and the quality is OK. I found it on eBay where I bet a search under "mclaughlin coryell" for DVDs would find it.

Coryell doesn't have the speed or precision of Dimeola, but he's at the same level as the other two players and has an emotional core that makes for some really lovely moments. The other guys have a good night too and the audience is very appreciative as well. If I had a DVD burner I'd burn you a copy.