Since theres too many choices to list in a poll, who do you guys think is the best guitarist?

My pick goes between Steve Vai and BB King

Hmm, tough one. Alex Lifeson comes to mind, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Johnson...

I always loved Stevie Ray Vaughn...

As much as I love his music anyone that says Jimmy Hendrix should be stabbed because you're a cliche bastard (Not a threat since I said SHOULD be stabbed).

wow finnaly an orginal thread. I think that guitarist from the "(wiggles)" is probably the best. EVER!

This thread comes up so often but w/e.
I'm still a big fan of John Lowery (He's in my Sig), of course there's also some of the other greats though like Vai, Satriani, Dime,

Dime for his extreme legato, Alexi Laiho for his sick leads (Children of Bodom), Satriani for being damn good.

I like a lot of guitarists. Every one of them has their own style that can't be emulated.

this guy.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3591126656079548018&q=Amazin+Guitar+Solo

Yngwie Malmsteen.

Yngwie Malmsteen.
I was gonna incorporate him into my post but I forgot.

Probably Van Halen or Satriani

eric johnson usually follows vai, satch, yngwie, etc along in the whole "jam/shread" god sentences, but is usually overlooked by most people who don't know him. he's a texan from austin.. like SRV's other half.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7959518288584765325&q=eric+johnson

probably my favorite shread icon.

Tons of great guitar players out there but my favorites are Dimebag and Eddie Van Halen.

Best bass player is Cliff Burton.

imo jimmy hendrix or geddy lee

It is hard to ask who is the best guitarist. If you had named a genre, such as the best rock guitarist, it is easier. Just guitarist and you are including rock, metal, classical, spannish and all other types of guitarists.

My person favorites... (mostly rock\blues)

Malmsteen
Vai
Clapton
Van Halen
Healy (just the way he plays guitar so well and he was born blind)
Santana
Mason Williams (how can you not like the guy, he wrote classical gas!)

The best guitaristever is Slash From GnR, Have you ever heard the solo in Paradise city???? But it really matters what kind of music you like. In Rock, Slash is god. In Blues, BB. King.

EDIT: On second though, im getting rather good. :p. (Been playing for...8..9 years? Still cant shred like Slash.. tisk tisk.

Shred like Slash? Don't know what is in your definition of "Shred" but here's mine:

Rusty Cooley is probably the fastest, clealest, and most innovative 'speed' player I can think of. I really can't say a name that's faster. Listen to the sweeps. Not one clam...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6504813154525836790&q=rusty+cooley

He used to do an advanced column on metal shred in Guitar One, and I'm lucky enough.. or nerdy enough, to have every issue.

This guy is rather a bummer, though. Becker has a destroying disease known as Lou Gehrig's Disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig%27s_Disease) and he really can't perform anymore. He does, however, occasionally pop up with letters to his fans with a system of eye movements his dad developed. Check him out:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8725540685439152718&q=Jason+becker

Note how young he appears, cuz that's seriously how young he is.


One last player, sorry for the shit video, but it's Nick Catanese, also known as the Evil Twin or Zakk Wylde's "other guitar player."
He's just as fast and accurate as Zakk, and to the eye of the beholder he may be more innovative. Check out his site, he frequents his forums a LOT and is a really, really nice guy. He doesn't even drink; hands down the coolest cat in Zakk's camp imo.. other than the man himself.
http://eviltwinhq.com/


peace




ps. what i'm getting at is you can't just say "oh he's the best." and let that be it.
nobody's the best. it's not a competition. some are just.. better than others. or stand out more.

Thats what i was saying. no one is "The Best". And by the way Rusty Cooley is really good. But, in the video clips in your post he is playing in 1/64 time. Slash has played in 1/76 time. I know this since ive been playing for a long time and i can play in 1/64 time for a few minutes. 1/76 time is about 6 tabs per second more. And in Paradise city for about 15 seconds slash picks it up too 1/82 time. But fast is not all that matters, so we cant say someone is best just because they can play 14 notes a second.

ps. The cleanness of the sound depends on the settings of the distortion knobs on the guitar, amp settings and if they are useing a effects peddle or not. All "Good" guitars play clean, i dont even bust frets at 1/64 time.

jason becker or dimebag. jason for his incredible sweep arpeggios and just amazing knowledge of theory and beautiful songwriting. Dimebag for just being a sick player with tons of sick legato and an innovative style

Forgot to mention Randy as well ;)

Snap, forgot to mention Randy too.

Thanks Randy for your beautiful guitar playing.