So, name your favorite gutiarists of all time. I can name a lot of them.

Here are my fave's:

Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
Robby Krieger (The Doors)
John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton (Cream/Derek and the Dominoes/solo)
David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Dean Deleo (Stone Temple Pilots)
Trey Anastasio (Phish/Oysterhead/solo)
Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
Robbie Robertson (The Band)
George Harrison (The Beatles)
Ben Harper (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals)
The Edge (U2)
Chuck Berry
Joe Satriani
Carlos Santana

and so much more.

I agree with pretty much everyone you mentioned especially Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix.

I'd also add:

Kirk Hammet: Metallica
Tonny Immoi (Not sure if thats his name): Black Sabbath
The guitarist from the Rolling Stones, his name escapes me right now!!

Neil Peart

RUSH!!!!

The name of the Stones guitarist is Keith Richards and yes I like him too.

And Neil Peart doesn't play guitar, he plays the drums. Alex Lifeson is the guitar player for Rush.

you mean keith richards of the stones.

why has nobody mentioned stevie ray vaughn. hendrix and paige are my two personal favorites.

Ones I would add:


Tommy Bolin
George Thorogood
Peter Townsend and John Entwistle (Bass)
Sting (Bass)
Jeff Beck

JAZZ
Wes Montgomery
Earl Klugh
George Benson
Kenny Burrell
Robert Johnson

My favorites:

Trey Anastasio (Phish)
Charlie Hunter
Jeff Raines (Galactic)
Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)

The problem I have with something like this is that there are a lot of great guitar players. When really great guitar players pass a certain level of accomplishment, it's difficult to judge who's better. Once a guitar player develops his own style, no one else can do what he does any better. Therefore, an objective list is rather meaningless. For example, I can play any Zeppelin song, flawlessly - does that mean I have the same feel that Jimmy Page does? Hell no! I can also play any Hendrix song I like, note by note. Does that mean I play with the same soul as him? ***** no!! But I do play certain things in certain ways that no one else can duplicate. Does that make me a great guitar player? I certainly don't think so, but some people do.

Some of my influences:

Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jeff Beck
Brian May
Roy Buchanan
Dave Murray / Adrian Smith
Tom Morello
and my favorite right now:
Steve Craddock of Ocean Colour Scene

I'm upset with you guys, no mention of Randy Rhoads?? shame shame shame.......you know your name.

other than Randy I'd go with:

Angus Young
Tony Iommi
Zakk Wylde
Slash
Jimi Hendrix


as far as technical playing goes these guys are awesome too, I just don't like that style as much:

Yngwie Malmsteen
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
etc.

Allan Holdsworth
Steve Morse
Steve Howe
John McLaughlin
Vinnie Moore
Al DiMeola

some more that haven't been mentioned:

Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
Steve Hackett (Genesis/GTR/solo)
Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna)
Frank Zappa

personal faves: Garcia, Gilmour, Clapton, Howe, Hackett, Stevie Ray, Hendrix, Brian May, Zappa, Page, Lifeson, Townsend

Andres Segovia

Listen to his classical style and hear where many metal guitar solos came from.

Being a guitar player, I take this question to heart. For me, playing guitar isn't just about solos, the rhythm is a big part of it too. That's why although Keith Richards isn't the most proficient guitarist around, he's still one of my favs. The guy's got so much feeling, while others like Malmsteen leave me cold.

But my all time favorite would have to be Pete Townshend. Again, he's not the fastest soloist, but still his guitar playing mesmerizes me. "Live at Leeds" is a perfect example of his slash-and-burn rhythm style. Oh, and he's the reason I went and bought a Gibson SG.

I also enjoy:

Jimi Hendrix (well duh!)
Chuck Berry (perfect rock and roll guitar)
John Fogerty (Highly underrated, just listen to those long CCR jams)
Tony Iommi (master of the riff, damn good leads too)
Eric Clapton (he would be on this list if he only played on "White Room", but his blues solos leave my jaw dropping)
John McLaughlin (either with Miles or Mahavishnu Orchestra, doesn't matter)

I don't enjoy:

Jimmy Page (actually he's an okay guitarist, I just can't stand Zeppelin)
Eddie Van Halen (again, he's good at what he does, but it doesn't move me)

My favorite is Stevie Ray Vaughan. To me he just had something in him that I rarely find in many guitarists. He played with his heart and soul and it is obvious from watching some of his many performances. Watch Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The El Mocambo. If you can watch that and not be completely impressed there is something wrong with your head.

Also another name worth mentioning is Mato Nanji from Indigenious.

/ modiman.

No mentions of Paul Gibert or John Petrucci???

Id also like to add Richie Sambora....

Joe Pass make all these guys look like amateurs.

Many of my favorites have been mentioned EXCEPT:

Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
Elmore James

I'm with ya bro, I had him on my list......poor Randy doesn't get credit he deserves.

Come on guys no one has mentioned
Brian Setzer "King of the Cats". You wouldn't beleive how many guitar players you mentioned were influenced by Brian Setzer.

The first two names that sprung to my mind were Randy Rhoads and Frank Zappa.

I was glad to see Robbie Krieger mentioned too. There's more to being a great guitarist than just lightning fast fingering.

And I don't think anyone's mentioned Ace Frehley. For shame.

the guy from rage against the machine, with that very weird style of playing

also, the guy from system of a down.

-Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan)
-Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
-Victor Griffin (Pentagram, Place of Skulls)
-Matt Pike (Sleep, High on Fire)

To name a few...

Johnny Marr not being mentioned in this thread is a CRIME committed by ALL OF YOU!! I sentence you all to death!!!...

1.Jimi
2.Mike Mcready
3.Slash
4.Randy Rhoads(this guy could play clasical guitar)
5.Eddie Van Halen
6.Jerry Cantrell
7.Kim Thayil
8.Jimmy Page
9.Eric Clapton
10.Kirk Hammett