Who is the Greatest Guitarist?

[D]

jimi hendrix, robert johnson, jimmy page, eric clapton yadda yadda yadda

satriani may be the greatest shredder but i cant think of one memorable riff, solo or song he has ever done i go for players that stand the test of time with their incredible music

slash and prince are two of the greatest

slash's riff's solo's are damn near the greatest most memorable

prince is a master of so many guitar styles, he can play jazz,funk,metal,rock, pop etc etc etc

[Mr. Dick Purple]

Oh, and for the record, for me:
3) Jimi Hendrix
4) Jimmy Page
5) Eric Clapton
6) Brian May
7) Slash
Eddie Van Halen
9) Kirk Hammet
10) Dave Gilmour
Honorable Mention: Carlos Santana

Same for me, no change at all  

[guitarpatch]

Where is Jeff Beck on everyone's list?

[MCT]

<pondering> "Who IS the greatest guitarist"?...........
That's just a tough question..........there are so many ways to look at it..............I mean you could say "Who is TECHNICALLY the best".........."Who has the best portfolio (so to speak).........what I mean is who has written not necessarily the most technically demanding stuff...but the most popular stuff......(Jimmy Page comes to mind/AngusYoung/Hey even Mick Jones from Foreigner is THAT category...................Then there's the question of who you as an individual LIKE the best.......for me Slash and Zakk Wylde come to mind.........Some of the guys I just Mentioned are Really good technical guitarists.....but the're not GREAT..........

So to try and make a long story short I'm just gonna give MY top few choices for the title of "Greatest"

Yngwie Malmsteen
Steve Vai

A step down from those two guys are these guys, some of my "favourite"

Slash
Zakk Wylde
Vitto Bratta (White Lion)
Buckethead
Randy Rhoads
Dave Mustaine
The dude from Dream Theatre (Can't think of his name/I'm not a big fan of the band anyway/But he's pretty good)

Traci Guns (in my opinion) is way underrated

I really like Glen Tipton (of Judas Priest fame)
..................

Oh well can't think of a whole lot more to say.........there are others but right now I'm drawing a blank

[axl_rose_700]

1. Hendrix
2.Page
3.A Young
4.Slash
5.Brian May
6. Me

[tippasaurus]

Where is Jeff Beck on everyone's list?

He's at the top of Slash's list...so i sorta tend to agree with Slash.   Jeff Beck, the most underrated guitarist of all time...especially judging by the list we have going so far!!

You'all should download Jeff's "Brush with the Blues," that's some nice bluesy guitar work!  And he doesn't even use a pick!!  He has one finger on the vibrato bar, and the others on the tone and volume knobs at all times!  The man is just so amazing it's not even funny.  

[j.axlrose]

not in any order:

Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton
KK Downing
Kirk Hammit
Angus Young
Zakk Wylde
Eddie Van Halen
Dave Navarro
Tony Iommi
Randy Rhodes

[Ignatius]

I am. You just don't know yet.  

[popcorn]

Being drunk & all........I honestly feel that Buckethead is invicible. He's #1 overall, but i digress to influence. I'm partial to SoCal late 80's players, as I think that is where the guitar peaked (much like the skateboard). So, I'll go:

1)Jimi Hendrix
2)Edward Van Halen-took it to the next level
3)BigB
4)Satch
5)Vai
6)Muthafuckin' Ywengie Malmsteen
7)C.C. Devile.........Not!
8)Slash, he's the man, he's my alltime fav. Emotion baby!
9)Roger Stevens.....No Rain makes me happy every time I hear it!
10)tie......Agnus & Navarro...they both rock.

[nevermore]

 my personal top 10 is this :

1. Jimmy Page
2. Slash
3. Eric Clapton
4. David Gilmour
5. Brian May
6. Satriani
7. Vai
8. Eddie Van Halen
9. Yngwie Malmsteen
10. Jeff Beck

 but i mean no 4-10 change a lot ... that was more or less of my mind.... Slash is a genius... maybe not as technical as Satraini or Yngwie , but he sure has more feeling..i'd go w/ Slash anytime as being better.... as for no.1 for me without a doubt Mr. Jimmy fuckin' Page .. i mean i never even thought of anyone being as good as him...
..by the way id did notice hendrix  wasn't in here....as for eric johnson,petrucci, angus young, bettencourt just forgot.....
 as a new guitarist not that technical but awsome i'd go w/ Tom MOrello now at AUdioslave.... Petrucci is more of old school than new guitarist....
...Kurt Cobain was a  guitar genius beacause of his amazing ideas and way he could play....wasn't exactly satriani..could barelly keep the guitar straight ...he was a great songwriter and musician..but not one of the best 20 guitarists of all time...
..also as as guitarist George Harrisson is pretty under-rated
Hail to the GUNNERS!

[Butch Français]

Im not gonna say who's the greatest guitarplayer, cos nobody can agree on that, I can tell you who my fav guitarplayers are:

Slash
John Frusciante
Rogers Stevens
Dave Navarro
Angus Young
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen

[chineseilusions]

Zakk Wylde
Kirk Hammet
Slash
Eddie Van Hallen
Brian May

[Acquiesce]

Slash
Jimmy Page
David Gilmour
Jimi Hendrix
Zakk Wylde

[slashnbuckethead]

Duff, he just plays bass because he is humble like that.

[FoR_wHoM_tHe_bEll_ToLLs]

Slash. Eddie Van Halen or Zakk Wylde

[Mr. Dick Purple]

The dude from Dream Theatre (Can't think of his name/I'm not a big fan of the band anyway/But he's pretty good)

His name is John Petrucci  

[GNR_AXL_ROSE]

not my fav., but a great guitarist----------> Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

[DEAD HORSE]

Slasher
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
David Gilmour - from Pink Floyd
James Hetfield
Tony Iommi - from Black Sabbath
Brian  May _Queen
Joe Perry  
Darrel son of a bitch Dimebag - from Pantera  
Randy Rhoads r.i.p  
John Lennon
Dave Murray - from Iron Maiden
Tipton - Judas Priest
Malcom Young - from Ac Dc
Dave Mustaine
Keith Richards
The guitar player  from The doors ,sorry i forgot his name   He is amazing ..  

[slash2001]

I dunno who is the best guitarist(well,i know who I think is the best but we could argue that forever more) so heres my top 20 (a top 10 isnt enough space to mention some of my faves)
1-Slash
2-Jimmy Hendrix
3-Stevie Ray Vaughan
4-Dave Gilmour
5-Jimmy Page
6= james/kirk
7-John Fruciante
8-Joe Perry
9-Eddie Van Halen
10-Buckethead
11-Tom Morello
12-Randy Rhodes
13-Jeff Beck
14-Ritchie blackmore
15-Steve Vai
16-Justin Hawkins(the Darkness)
17-Brian May
18-Dimebag Darrel
19-Jerry Cantrell
20-Matt Bellamy(Muse)
there we go,I could go on to do a top 50 list but better leave it at 20.

[Jagged Little Pill]

1.Slash
2. Angus Young