Favourite Guitarists

As a guitar player for 50 years, my standard for "greatness" is measured by how many other musicians play your stuff. Jeff Beck wins hands down. Nobody tries to emulate his playing.

+1 (from another guitar player - of 46 years)

I don’t think anybody tries to emulate his playing because nobody CAN emulate his playing. Jimmy Page used to flummox me as a young player, until I discovered his alternate tunings.  Jeff Beck?  I've never even bothered to try, not once. His style, technique, tones...........simply amazing. Otherworldly.  His "Live At Ronnie Scott's" DVD is one for the ages.  There's a great Youtube video of him being interviewed about the gig and what he thought the best moments were and why.  

And another +1 for Rory Gallagher.  Highly, HIGHLY underrated.  When someone once asked Hendrix how it felt to be "the greatest guitarist in the world", his reply was "I don't know, go ask Rory Gallagher.”

'Nuff said.

Guitarists ahead of their time:

Jimi Hendrix

Jeff Beck

If the Op likes females:

Kaki King

Too bad he died:

Michael Hedges

Guitar Duos

Rodrigo N Gabriella

Guitar Trios

Al DiMeola / John Mclaughlin / Paco Delucia -The Guitar Trio

Rock Group Performance

Nils Lofgren --- The Niis Lofrgren Band Live

Rory Gallagher was really cool

Without letting politics shade my opinion Eric Clapton

- Jerry Garcia

- Stephen Stills

- BB King

- Mark Knophler

- Jorma Kaukonen (Acoustic)

- Leo Kotke

- Derek Trucks

- Jeff Beck

- Jimi Hendrix

- Ry Cooder

-Stevie Ray Vaughn 

Pure R&R:

Eddie Van Halen

Blues, toss up:

Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duane Allman, and Joe Bonamassa is very near their level

Jazz, 3-way tie:

Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Stanley Jordan

Classical, toss up:

Paco DeLucia; Sharon Isbin

Flamenco:

Carlos Montoya

Last but not least: Tommy Emmanuel. He can do it all. His live performances are electrifying.

Read through this whole post.  Did not see Michael Schenker mentioned once. Maybe I missed it. Man wrote his first published song at 12 years old. Credited on over 60 albums.