Who is your overall favorite guitarist?

There is no right answer here, only opinion - way too many greats and way too many styles. With that said, SRV stands out for me. He's gone now, I rarely listen to his music anymore - shame. But, at 43 years old, I too have seen many of the greats and SRV was one of the few who always made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I don't know what that's called, but SRV physically affected me every time I saw him. He could play jazz, funk, blues, classical, you name it. He must stand at or near the top of the list. I've heard the technical wizards and virtuosos, but if they don't have soul, it just ain't there...IMHO

Joe Satriani...amazing!

Lowell George played for zappa and just rocked out with little feat.great slide player.to bad hanging out with kieth richards did him in

Here are a few I'd like to add to this excellent discussion: DANNY GATTON, as adept at country/blues Telecaster squeal as Roy Buchannan but also capable of moving into virtually any territory.

Both Danny Gatton and Chet Atkins, when asked the "Who's the BEST?" question had the same answer: LENNY BREAU. In my opinion, Breau is the closest thing on the guitar to what Art Tatum was on the piano. I've never heard anyone better.

JOE PASS, in particular the "Virtuoso" series LPs he cut for the Pablo label are as good as anything in my experience.

LARRY CORYELL. Everyone who plays guitar knows that there is a border within which he or she can play confidently and beyond which it's dangerous to tread. Coryell spens more time on that other side of the fence than anyone. His acoustic recordings are my favorites.

DAVEY GRAHAM, best known as the author of "Anji" and creditied with inventing the DADGAD tuning. Totally brilliant.

MICHAEL BLOOMFIELD imo is the greatest blues-based rock guitarist ever. His solos on Butterfield's "East/West" and the first Electric Flag LP are as good as it gets.

Leo Kottke said that the thing that makes the guitar different from all other instruments is that someone who's been playing a short time can find something, some approach, some way of attack, etc., that noone else has stumbled onto yet.

Few other names: Wes Montgomery, Ralph Towner, Bola Sete, Steve Tibbets, Vernon Reid, Jimi Hendrix, and so on forever.....

Doc Watson, Norman Blake are hard to beat for accoustic.
Jimmy Vaughn (Stevie Ray's brother) is bonafide. And the younger guy that is touring with Eric Clapton is ferocious. I can't remember his name.