Who is your overall favorite guitarist?

PHIL KEAGGY!!! Phil is not my favorite but he is the best I have ever seen. I grew up in Youngstown, OH, where Phil came onto the scene with his band GLASS HARP. My then girlfriend's best friend's brother was the Glass Harp base player (John Sfarra). I have seen Phil play on stage (from Idora Park to a concert in NYC years later), in wonderful Millcreek Park in the woods and at the Flats, at parties. At age 14 I played harmonica along side him in the park (he does not know this). I have also seen and been with many, many other musicians [Joe Walsh and the James Gang at Kent State, with BB King on one of his prison tours while I was in grad school, learned even more about playing the harp from living next door to John Mayall in Laural Canyon (CA)in early 70's, Rick Derringer, Tom Petty, on tour with Todd Rundgren, on tour with the Outlaws (dual guitar band from Georgia}, and was priviliged to be helping (at age 17)on stage when Led Zeppelin introed their 3d lp at the Forum in LA (where I thought Jimmy Page was going to create a riot due to his extensive use of acoustic guitar --vs hardass rock electric-- during the show.)] Lots of bragging thank you, only to illustrate I have qualification for my choice of Phil.

I still have never seen anyone play like Phil except somewhat close was a friend and an unknown guitarist from Youngstown named Ron Rupp who was also into religion.

Phil truly can play it all and has a sound that is so unique that I only wish more people could hear it. Phil has stayed true to his beliefs. It's the only reason more people don't know more about him. Stardom seems not to be his thing.

Keep on Phil. Keep on.

Allan Holdsworth

Jimi, One of the very few Artists; Guitarist or otherwise, who profoundly changed the war any anyone who followed played, and I really like most of players listed, but for me it was Jimi Hendrix who got under everybody's skin...especially mine.

sing brother, play on drummer...

Happy New year!!!

Lifeson, Earl Slick, Knopfler, and Chet Atkins -- all incredible.

Robm321, Yngwei...yikes! Cannot agree more. Generally at least for me, I really don't appreciate those who are technically proficient or even brilliant but then insist on showing off with just fast runs on scales without real musical and emotional artistry. In a way though perhaps not a composer of the song itself per se, all do "compose" or construct their solos...I pick a well constructed solo over fast runs any day...not that the ability to play fast in a technically way is a good thing: u just need to when & how...eg. Alan Holdsworth.

Similiarly though different there are some well regarded guitarists that for some reason don't resonate with me. May just be a taste thing....Al Dimeola, Martin Taylor are two of the examples.

Some guitarists active today who find very different, interesting, and really like include

Charlie Hunter (TJ Kirk, his own group, all over the place, plays an 8 string guitar which allows to play base lines and at times imitate an organ)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Jazz, angular and intense...reminds the great John McCalughlin not sound wise but emotionally)
Jeff Parker (underground, Chicago, solo album out: tasteful and a thinking man's approach if you will but also great and interesting comping)
Rodney Jones (funk on!)
Anthony Wilson (perhaps more known for being in Diana Krall's band, but check out his solo albums!)
Eric Johnson (actually a fan for sometime, but noticed nobody seems to have mentioned him..new album Bloom is quite good though as usual a couple of duds too)