Best guitarist of all time.

[rubecube]

I'm also going to throw out Nels Cline.

[Hack&Lube]

This is never going to work because there are so many different styles of guitar. If you want to really ask who's the best guitarist, it is best to specify the genre!!! You can't even really define it in terms of either pure skill or pure musicianship/feeling.

They all play very differently, for instance, those that like Gilmour have to realize that his style actually evolved from him admitting that he had very limited technical ability, could not play fast, could not use complicated chords, fast rhythm, etc. and that's why you get so many great slow note to note melodies from his guitar because that's what he could play so he concentrated on only that.

My personal best guitarist is actually Prince. In fact, even Steve Vai said once that Prince was the best guitarist. I'll post some actual guitar videos later because he's being a d*** these days and killing all the online videos of himself (I have to upload them myself then) which is too bad because most of his good stuff, he plays in obscure venues and he rarely showcases his real talent (especially with Acoustic Guitar) because he's so eccentric sometimes...except that time he was on Muppets Tonight! which was totally hilarious.
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/...hb_muppets_fun

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

My personal best guitarist is actually Prince. In fact, even Steve Vai said once that Prince was the best guitarist. I'll post some actual guitar videos later because he's being a d*** these days and killing all the online videos of himself (I have to upload them myself then) which is too bad because most of his good stuff, he plays in obscure venues and he rarely showcases his real talent (especially with Acoustic Guitar) because he's so eccentric sometimes...except that time he was on Muppets Tonight! which was totally hilarious.
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/...hb_muppets_fun

Prince hit this one out of the park on SNL (can't find that clip, this is the video for "Fury"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQr-ERh1hjc

Brian May playing the Brighton Rock solo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m69BrvJNfg

This is bizarre; the Eels playing I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man, in their pajamas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qyncEp9ABA

Pat Metheny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApI-zA6suXE

[Regulator75]

Here is another massive guitarist thread from a while back.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=32112&

[peter12]

You could also argue innovation over skill. I'd say Johnny Ramone was pretty awesome. His sounds basically saved rock n'roll by taking it back to the basics to sounds over aesthetics.

[Rathji]

Randy Rhodes was always one of my faves

[Flames_18_22_12]

Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page are my favorites.

I also like Jeff Beck, Randy Rhoads, Mark Knopfler, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, Neil Young, Robert Fripp, and Eric Clapton.

As for the more recent artists I like Tom Morello and John Frusciante.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

You could also argue innovation over skill. I'd say Johnny Ramone was pretty awesome. His sounds basically saved rock n'roll by taking it back to the basics to sounds over aesthetics.

What was the innovation? I love the Ramones, but they only played three chords.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

What was the innovation? I love the Ramones, but they only played three chords.

Haha, I know. I was sort of saying that in an age of big stadium rock, the Ramone's sound dared to go back to the basics rock.

[bobrick]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Randy Rhodes was always one of my faves

Forgot about him, he was really something. Its a shame he died so early as he never really reached his full potential.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

Haha, I know. I was sort of saying that in an age of big stadium rock, the Ramone's sound dared to go back to the basics rock.

I hear you. Then, folks like Husker Du and the Pixies added technique to the punk sound - loud and melodic.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

I hear you. Then, folks like Husker Du and the Pixies added technique to the punk sound - loud and melodic.

Yeah, I'd totally agree. Wow, I also love the Pixies and Husker Du. What about The Replacements?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, I'd totally agree. Wow, I also love the Pixies and Husker Du. What about The Replacements?

Sure, love the 'Mats too. What a scene in the Twin Cities - Huskers, 'Mats, Prince, Soul Asylum . . .

[metallicat]

My favorite has always been Kirk Hammett. I really don't know if he is the greatest or not, I am certainly not qualified to answer that.

[Muta]

Adam Thomas Jones.

[ernie]

Beyond the obvious ones my favourite has always been Ty Tabor of King's X.

[stuck_in_chuk]

Jandek

[HalifaxDrunk]

Come on people! Hands down it's Eric "Eternal" Nystrom, I mean head-to-head he clearly beat "Primeaudonna", "Hot Hot Keet" AND "The Smith"!

[Kipru]

Randy Rhoads

Glenn Tipton

John Sykes

[Montana Moe]

I agre with Hack&Lube that you really would need some defined parameters to decide the greatest guitarists.

Whether you like the music or not, there could be a whole separate thread of country music guitarists that are out of this world.