Well i guess everyone has had this debate at least once in there life Iwould like to share my opinion and here some of yours.Most people not in the know think the faster the guitar player the better he is which could not be farther than the truth.In rock I think the 2 most inovated plares were Hendix who took it to a level never before seen just imagine if he had a locking system and didnt have to deal with tuning problems and then when you thought it couldnt go to another level Vanhalen rewrote the book and i dont care when they say a few guys tapped before him IT DID NOT SOUND NOTHING LIKE TAPPING AS WE KNOW IT thats his bag totaly.Now these 2 guys have written some of the greatest music in rock history with chops to die for and taste but what a lot of people dont do is look at other styles of music.I am not a great fan of country music but i think country might be the hardest of all virtuoso styles,I mean listen to Albert Lee or Brent Mason or Chet Atkins playing spot on with no distortion to hide behind.Then we have the blues my personal fave being SRV and I love The way Gary Moore plays the blues just perfection.Out of all music the blues affects me the most 5 simple notes but in the right hands wow.Then you look at jazz guys like Joe Pass.Mike Stern.Wes and Charle C mind BLOWING.Danny Gatton you cant even put into a catagory the guy could do it all.Jeff Beck plays with no pick, his fingers dont seem to be moving super fast and yet there are a million sounds coming out from another world and your just floored.I saw g3 with Satc,VAI.and Yngiwe I was speechles yet when they jammed on a blues it was totaly lacking what the blues is about.So what im getting down to is all these guys are great and couldnt play the others style better, thats why i feel you cant put one guy at the top of being the best guitarist ever and that makes us lucky for it. KEEP ON ROCKING.

Well said.

I don't get caught up in "who's the greatest" guitar player thing. The way I look at it is there is so many styles, methods, techniques to judge anyone the best.

I love technical players, shredders, pop and just plain rock players. If it gets me moving then I like it. Could be three-chord pop or some crazy dminished runs.

First I disclaim this because I am not a great player but nothing moves me more then coming up with something myself or even just playing so other person's music. It is a great escape.

+1. Good thinkin'.

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-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

Every great guitarist has been mentioned and talked about in these forums and that is probably what defines a great guitarist.

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I prefer to think I am the greatest guitarists of all time...I also have several other delusional fantasies I will tell you about if you ask nicely!

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CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE

I think that it would be the guy that influenced my playing the MOST. It may not be your best but to me he is. Actually there are two;
Terry Kath and Jimi.
I'm a child of the 60's and these are the guys that have defined my style. I am aware of this not by my own opinion but that of others. As for my modern day influence it would have to be Greg Koch. I have never seen such a complete mastery of the instrument. Greg does things that are mind boggling and makes it look easy. I won't live long enough to take any of him in!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree as far as taking guitar to another level. But there is no "best".

Some others I admire in rock: Zappa, Jeff Beck, Todd Rundgren, Ry Cooder and David Sancious

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So life is just a game, and there are many ways to play -- and all you do is choose

today , not tomorow , not yesterday , what defined the greatest guitarist of all time was that he wake up and practice the material for tomorows rehearsal and i have done that this morning , so , in the words of the late Alex Harvey "Next" . (just kidding !!!)

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I don't know who the greatest is, but my dad is bigger than your dad...in other words, its hard to pick as while people all have a general definition for the word "great" and what it means, people oftentimes cannot agree on who should be considered "great"...

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

bf , bro , thanks for the smile

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

i would name 3 guitarist as the best

(1)Jimi Hendrix- his showmanship is the best in this planet. He can play the guitar in what ever position eg behind his back, with his teeth, while tuning the guitar etc etc. Plus he can sing while playing complex guitar riff. He pioneered several stage act such as burning the guitar on stage and smashing the guitar. He also often use a more than a single note to play lead. Plus he his a master of guitar articulation.

(2)Roy Buchanan- he is the only guitarist who can play better than Hendrix.But his showmanship not as wild and vocals also lose to Hendrix.His style is more on single note solo with amazing techniques.

(3)Yngwie Malmsteen- master of speed,scales and tone. Everytime after i watch his dvd, i feel my Strat sound is so dull.

Mr. Jinx be on. Well spoken.

Robbie Robertson. Watch "The Last Waltz" and you'll see why

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Just a amatuer looking for tips

Current Gear:
1968 Kay Strat
Kramer Focus 111S
Johnson 15w amp
Squier Black and Chrone Special Tele

What defines a great guitarist for me is their ability to speak with the guitar, not just play a group of notes in a melodic fashion. To be able to touch someone's emotions through an instrument requires more than skill and technique. It denotes a level of expertise and passion that can't be taught.

Who is the greatest? I don't believe there is any one player who can be called the greatest. All of the players mentioned so far are great players but the truly special ones are known or remembered more by the way they played, not what they played.

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2004 American Deluxe V-Neck Strat w/Kinman Blues
2007 American Deluxe Tele w/Kinman Broadcasters
Mesa Boogie Lonestar Classic 2X12
Fender Cyber-Twin SE