iratebeaver

tie between three
jimmy page, paul mccartney, pete townsend

manuel

I think it was a joke. You know, a funny thing you laugh at.

</serious>

Stalker

If we speak of rock-quitarists, IMHO, they are:
Jimmy Page, Jimmie Hendrix, Richie Blackmore
What concerns classical and other guitarists: well... Paco de Lucia, Carlos Santana and many many others.

chrispenycate

I've worked with a number of great guitarists (including several on this thread) and can't think of one you could use for every style of music, let alone one who would be your first choice for every style of music- imagine having a Clapton or a Hendrix for a film session with written scores. Saying "the greatest guitarist" is saying "the best style of music"- a hubris that I've seen in a few musicians but could never share.

littlemissattitude

I think you're right, Chris. Probably why I only listed those whose work I've liked, and didn't really try to define a "best". But have you ever noticed that humans - or at least those of us who live in western and western-influenced cultures - have this mania for trying to define the "best" in everything? I don't actually think it's possible to define a best anything, because when you do that, you're only defining what is best in one particular category or, as you say here in a part of a category, such as a particular kind of music at one moment in time.

And don't you think it's too early in the morning (just past 10 a.m. local time for me) to be getting all philosophical like this? And all I wanted to do was say I agree with you.

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Syn

SANTANA - he rocks and his music creates a scene in your mind. Not only that but his music makes you want to get up and dance in the street...so to speak

Rosemary

Jimmy Hendrix is in my opion the best guitarist for his era.

Anfeidrol

ME!! lol jk :P Emppu is awesome (Nightwish) and maybe Ben or John or whatever his name is from Evanescence

lazygun

Always enjoyed listening to and watching A.Young of AC/DC.

Monty Scott

Three way tie for 1st place!

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Gary Richrath (REO Sweedwagon)*witness the "Flying Turkey Trot"!
Joe Satriani

Rosemary

Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion sweetheart...

Monty Scott

Jimi was good, but Stevie Rays' "Little Wing" is better! Sorry dear...

knivesout

SRV's version of Little Wing is definitely one of the most beautiful guitar instrumentals I've ever heard.

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ChasenFate

Rich Ward of Stuck Mojo

jenna

to me, the greatest is Slash. god damn that man can play! listening to him is like a religious experience for me, sometimes i swear i almost pass out during that bit at the end of November Rain... sigh... am off to listen to some Slashy now!