[SteveFord]

I don't know how but I missed the incomprable Nigel Tufnel.  Please forgive the oversight.

[eclein]

Diamond Dog--Tommy Iommi?? I vaguely remember hearing the name but tell us what he did, I'm curious now...thanks..
 Ed

[Phil A]

Diamond Dog--Tommy Iommi?? I vaguely remember hearing the name but tell us what he did, I'm curious now...thanks..
 Ed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Iommi

[geowak]

I forgot one, and I do apologize. How could I?

Duane Allman (Under rated and died too early. Look at the clips, did alot to get southern Rock started)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIwqo9PD_es
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st-0_4JWowA&feature=related

[milford3]

My favs are these two:  Robin Trower and Joe Satriani.

[dB Cooper]

As great as they are and were, I'm convinced that SRV would have evolved into one of the greatest guitarists that ever lived.  I think I'll spin some more SRV today in honor of a great musician who left us far too early.   

I think SRV was one of the greatest ever... The mystery is where would he have gone in the future (if only he had had one).
There are and were quite a few fine guitarists. One of the things that makes a player great (to me) is that, even though there are many ways to play a song, the greats have a way of making every note, every silence, every intonation sound inevitable, as if nothing else could possibly have been there. SRV had this in spades. Same for Frank Zappa's best work. BB King is another one. Ditto Charlie Baty for those who ever saw him live. Trane did it on the sax. It's more than technical prowess, though the greats have that too. It's musicality.

[jackman]

I can't pick ten because it's impossible for me to compare someone like EVH to Grant Green or Wes, or Les Paul or Merle Travis.   How do you do that?  For that reason, I'm sticking to Rock and Roll! 

This list is not in order and I could not narrow it down to ten but the first five or so are in my top 5 of all time and Jimi is 1.  Also, these guys are not best technical ten, just the ones I feel are the most influential and the ones I like best.  Also, I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple that I'll regret, but what the heck, here goes!

1.  Jimi Hendrix - one of a kind genius, redefind the instrument. 
2.  Stevie Ray Vaughn -
3.  David Gilmour
4.  John Fruscante (Red Hot  Chili Peppers). No one plays like he does.
5.  Jimmy Page - not for his live work, for studio and amazing Zepplin work. 
6.  Duane Allman
7.  Jeff Beck
8.  Johnny Winter
9.  EVH - Eddie is  often overlooked but he deserves to be in top 10.
10. BB King/Albert King/Freddy King - love the 3 Kings! BB is my favorite but the others were awesome.  No one was bending strings before BB. 
11. Eric Clapton - he deserves to be in the top 10
12. Chuck Berry - guitar pioneer and visionary
13. Randy Rhodes how can I leave this guy off my list? 
14. Angus Young - his leads are simple yet beautiful.  Makes me want to pick up  guitar every time.  Also, Malcolm deserves to be on this line.  It's impossible to separate these brothers. 
15. Don Felder - his work with the Eagles was stunning (and I hate the Eagles)
16. Dimebag Darrell - if you like this kind of music, Pantera, (I do!) there was no better Metal guitarist in my book.  RIP DD.  EVH put his '79 black and yellow strat from VH2 album in Darrell's coffin. 
17.  Billy Gibbons
18.  Gary Moore - RIP
19.  Slash - I don't care what anyone says.  AFD guitar alone puts him on the list.
20.  Mark Knopfler - should be higher but I just remembered to include him.  Awesome player, one of my favorites.
21. Keef Richards - Name a person who has come up with more Rock riffs?  You can't because no one has.  Like him or not, he is a monster riff machine.
22. Scotty Moore - Elvis' guitarist.  Overlooked great. 

[jimdgoulding]

Interesting.  When I read the topic, my mind went a totally different direction, as I just don't listen to rock much anymore.

1. Andres Segovia
2. Angel Romero
3. Paco de Lucia

For sure, some of the finest players known to me, too.  Four other very fine players can be heard on Russell Dawkin's recording, International Guitar Night II.

[CSI]

Six of my top ten favorites have been mentioned. Here are four more fine jazz guitarists not yet listed:

Tal Farlow
Emily Remler
Ron Eschete
and most certainly,
Barney Kessel

[tull skull]

Oooh, oooh, can't forget Ronnie Montrose!

[tull skull]

Six of my top ten favorites have been mentioned. Here are four more fine jazz guitarists not yet listed:

Tal Farlow
Emily Remler
Ron Eschete
and most certainly,
Barney Kessel

enjoy  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrv9aXOCnA&feature=related

[golfugh]

Great list!  I'll add one acoustic

Ottmar Liebert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBPvdWyotw&feature=related

[SteveFord]

Lots of greats already mentioned.  These 3 certainly influenced a lot of people:
Bo Diddly
Leslie West
Martin Barre

Albert Collins was pretty good, too.

[jackman]

Six of my top ten favorites have been mentioned. Here are four more fine jazz guitarists not yet listed:

Tal Farlow
Emily Remler
Ron Eschete
and most certainly,
Barney Kessel

Wow, great choices!  I did not want to name any Jazz players because my list was already too long.  Barney Kessel is an awesome one and, along with Tal would absolutely be at the top of my favorite guitar player list.  I feel bad now because I should have included Jazz players!  I would also have to include Joe Pass, Grant Green and Herb Ellis on the list.  That clip someone posted with Kessel and Ellis was smoking.  The work Ellis did with Oscar Peterson (piano genius) was pure magic.  Can I change my answers?  I'm in a jazz mood!

Check this out!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKW40qCeql8&feature=related

[Scottdazzle]

Ry Cooder
Leo Kottke
Clarence White
Jimi Hendrix
Lowell George
Tony Rice
Pat Metheny
Albert Lee
Bill Frisell
Joni Mitchell

[dflee]

Add a couple of Browns to the mix
Junior
Gatemouth (passed away during the hurricane in New Orleans)

[jimdgoulding]

Six of my top ten favorites have been mentioned. Here are four more fine jazz guitarists not yet listed:

Tal Farlow
Emily Remler
Ron Eschete
and most certainly,
Barney Kessel

Boy, that ain't no lie.  How could I have forgotten Barney Kessel

[putz]

A little late to the party so some love for the overlooked:

Robbie Krieger- When the Musics Over
Dave Davies-You Really Got Me was groundbreaking. Get well little brother
Todd Rundgren- Black Maria
Muddy Waters- Not just the greatest Blues singer
Pete Townsend- Windmill chords, smashing guitars. Where's the love?
David Boatwright- Loose Caboose, The Equalites. For all the great guitarists out there who never made it big but play for the door$$ because they love what they do.

[MttBsh]

Jimi
Martin Barre
Buck Dharma (Donal Roeser)
John McLaughlin (a long time ago)
Jimmy Herring
Al Dimeola
Shawn Lane (RIP)
Pete Townsend
Leslie West (a long time ago)
Warren Haynes

[chadh]

Apart from my 6 and 8 year old sons...

and apart from a bunch of guys that have been mentioned several times...

Tommy Emmanuel
Jeff Healey
John Scofield
Vernon Reid
Jimmy Rosenburg
Stochelo Rosenberg
Biréli Lagrène
Ian Moss
Sonny Landreth
Derek Trucks


Chad