HELLO?
 

anyone heard of LES PAUL? only every great guitarist uses his freakin guitar.

after him, his descendents, in order:

Hendrix
All the Yardbirds guitarists(beck, clapton, page)
slash
santana

alright...

for rock: Eric Clapton
for jazz:
John Scofield
Pat Metheny
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Wes Montgomery
Charlie Chirstian
George Benson
Grant Green
Ralph Towner

Clapton rules.

Nobody's mentioned Russ Freeman yet, maybe his music isn't to everyone's taste, but I've seen him live, and he can play.

I won't state the obvious ones (most of whom have been noted many times over already). What about Slash though?

John Petrucci
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Adam Jones

Dave Davies (the KINKS)
Brian May (Queen)
Slash (G-n-f'n R)
Keith Richards
Pete Townshend
Eddie Van Halen
George Thorogood

The best is too hard to imagine, so I'll say, on completely different ends of the rock spectrum, Steve Howe and Leslie West. After listening to Close to the Edge by Yes, Steve Howe became a master in my eyes, and Leslie West is just pure emotion dripping from every note, the way rock was meant to be played.

the best guitarists of all time =
jimi hendrix (obvious)
Jimie Page (obivous)
Tom Morello (obvious)

thats it

btw though i am a huge nirvana fan, sorry buy cobain was not one of the top guitarists of all time

IMHO, the name Kurt Cobain doesn't belong in the greatest guitarrists list. He's an okay guitarrist, and he has character, but come on...He's wirtten some of the worst solos ever, and his technique is average.
But that's just what I think.
Names that I think should be said more are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi, Clapton, Jimmy Page, Albert King, John Renbourn.
My all time favorite is SRV. "Cold Shot, babe!"

I guess I never knew he played the lead in his songs. Maybe because I've never seen him live or many videos of him playing. Anyway, after hearing some of his songs I'd say he's a little underated in that case.

My favorites
Page, Iommi, Hendrix, Mustaine, Friedman, SRV

i'm going to toss out Tim Reynolds. he does some amazing things with an acoustic. plays with dave matthews at acoustic concerts on occassions. pretty amazing.

Ritchie Blackmore is my guitar hero.

Listening to his work on the live album Made In Japan when I was 18
got me into playing the guitar myself.

Peter Green from the early Fleetwood Mac was also a real talent.

http://www.murodelrock.com/il_muro_d...lmour-6685.jpg

http://www.thirstyearfestival.com/features/hh2.jpg

http://www.johnsgriswold.com/Slash%20.jpeg

http://www.veen.com/greg/images/johnnygreenwood.jpg

I agree with bobdobbs: Django Reinhardt!

The skill! (His left hand had the use of only two fingers)
The innovation! (His jazz quintet used no drums or rhythm section)
The influence! (Chet Atkins ranked him the #1 guitarist ever...)

Others that he somehow influenced include:
Jimi Hendrix
Allman Brothers Band
Jeff Beck
Carlos Santana
B.B. King
Jerry Garcia
Mark Knopfler
Les Paul
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Denny Laine
Robert Fripp
Steve Howe
Charlie Christian
Trey Anastasio
Tony Iommi
Willie Nelson

All you guitar lovers... pay tribute: listen to a Django Reinhardt recording if you haven't yet.

My vote goes to:
Joe Pass
Django Reinhardt
SRV
Joe Satriani

How could ya'll have forgotten Chuck Berry??

stevie ray vaughn
jimi hendrix
jimmy page

it's all about the blues

Jerry Garcia - the dead
Peter Frampton - Humble pie and solo
Dickie Betts or Duane Allman- the allman brothers
Joe Walsh - the eagles
Tony Iommi - Sabbath
Zakk Wylde - Black Label Society/ Sabbath
Uli Jon Roth - The scorpions
Ritchie Blackmore = Deep Purple
Gary Moore -Thin Lizzy

Sir Alexander from Cradle of Filth amazing