Not In Order...

John Mayer
SRV
Jimi Hendrix
John Squire
Eric Clapton

Not sure who the best is. That's a relative question. People have a lot of different opinions on "BEST". I have my favourites and influences......in no particular order are:
Mike McCready
Stone Gossard
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Eric Clapton
John Mayer

I'd have to say that SRV was the better guitarist. I'd put BB King right up there with them. Both are awesome guitarists, AND awesome musicians. IMO, the heart of a good guitarist is in his musicianship.

My weiner tingles when I watch SRV's Little Wing video.

Here's mine.

1. Jimi, of course
2. Brian Setzer
3. James Burton
4. Duane Allman
5. Chuck Berry

I know "Rolling Stone" has a thing about putting Kurt Cobain in the top ten , but I'll be leaving him off (Nirvana rocks though).

Nirvana sucks balls

Eh, I'd say more like way overrated.

Jimmy Page is my Guitar Hero if you want to call it that.

But i play Psychedelic Rock which is more of in the Style of Hendrix or Harrison.

I would say Jimmy Page if it wasn't for him i would have never picked up a guitar, Hendrix inspired me to get a strat but he is not on my top 3 of favorite guitarist sadly.

I wouldn't rate any of these Guitarist over another because every Guitarist has a different sound.

My Fave 4

Jimmy Page
George Harrison
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jimi Hendrix

Indeed, dear friend.

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."

You pretty much said it all. Thats the way i feel....guitar as musical instrument to play the song with, the song being the #1 most important factor. without the song guitar is.....well, steve via and all those ! An athletic event, but like you i can also appreciate it and desire to be able to play like that. Except that i would use it to embellish great songs instead of using songs that are mainly as a vehicle for the playing. To me one of the few incredible players who can play virtuoso guitar withing a great some and embellish it w/o making it a solely athletic event is Brad paisley. VH did that too back in the day, tho today he's nothing more than a wanker and shadow of his former self and he's lost it. brad is on top of his game at the moment and a joy to watch because the tunes are great and the playing supports them.

Here's my top 5

Hendrix
SRV
Gilmore
Page
Clapton

1. Page
2. Malmsteen
3. SRV
4. Gilmour
5. Hendrix

I think Steve Howe and Eric Johnson are couple of the best guitars ever.
They aren't necessarily my favorite players or the most rocking players or the most influential, but the range of their skills and musical knowledge eclipses most everyone else.

And for fun and surprise, I came across this video of Alvin Lee, usually a Gibson player, playing a Stratocaster! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K53GEesphEY

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Its always the same names time and time again. None of the reoccuring names are really that good, certainly nothing in playing terms of the likes of ravel, rodriguez or segovia. Their just better known. What about larry carlton, John Williams or John Scofield. Dont confuse popular with better.

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No no and no

This is true, but I think it's debateable if it was an all around good thing, just look at all the horrible mediocer EVH wannabe's in the 80's. It took damn near a decade to flush that away.