Two words:

Ritchie Blackmore (listen to Stargazer off Rainbow: Rising and you'll understand)

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

As odd as it may sound, I'm gonna have to say Dave Murray. When I started playing I was REALLY into Heavy Metal. And that's the first Strat player I really got into even though I listened Jimi and Stevie all the time. Van Halen, Judas Priest, AC/DC, KISS, OZZY... Not known for Strat playing. Over time, My all-time influence has Been Steve Vai.. Still not known for Strat Playing. Probably right behind him would be Adam Jones.. Gibson player.

A few years after getting my first guitar, I listened to Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop and Blow By Blow a lot. So that would be my second biggest Strat-player influence.

Amazing how life throws you curve-balls when it comes to music. I've never been happier in my music career and I play Reggae.. Go figure.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
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Jimi

Mick Taylor

David Gilmour

Steve Hunter

Dick Wagner

Blackmore

Joe Perry

My guitar teacher first and foremost the late great Bernie Brausewetter of central NJ. I posted a link to a vid to him playing some local club...

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGravuh#p/f/6/mLgPOncHGiQ

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGravuh#p/f/7/JwYnn0GGESw

His biggest influence was Hendrix - also Robin Trower, and later on Danny Gatton

So those guys loom large in my life.

Also Gilmour, Knopfler, Vaughan ...

Oh yeah Robert Cray - I love the noises he makes with his strat.

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A lot of my biggest guitar influences are Strat players.
Holdsworth and McLaughlin are the exceptions, I suppose; after that it's pretty much ALL Strat guys who truly give me the chills and inspire me to play:

1 - David Gilmour
2 - Jeff Beck
3 - Yngwie Malmsteen
4 - Mark Knopfler

I play in a Floyd Tribute band, so Gilmour obviously is a BIG influence.

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" The spoken form is in fact a very restrained representation of what is possible in the musical language. "
- Robert Fripp

My Strat influences are "the usual suspects":

Hendrix - He made me want a Strat. Back in the day I was happy to get any electric until I saw him.

Clapton - Not just the Strat years, but the Mayall and Cream stints, too.

SRV - Inspired me to finally buy that 1st Strat and play again after a long layoff.

Buddy Guy - Reigning king of Chicago Blues.