Me
I never put a guitar player over me.

[EDIT]
OK, the thread has changed from "best" to "favorite." So many, including:
Buddy Guy
Catfish Collins
Nile Rogers
Prince
EVH
Ted Nugent
All the guys who took turns in Thin Lizzy
George Harrison
B.B. King
Robert Cray
Rob Chappers
Bonnie Raitt
Kat Dyson
Keb Mo
Steve Cropper
Albert King
SRV
Wes Montgomery
John Frusciante
Howard Leese
Nancy Wilson
And as soon as I hit 'Submit' I'm going to think of more. I can listen to guitar all day.
[EDIT 2]
John Mayer
Brad Paisley
Alex Lifeson

alright so no1 says there is a greatest but none of you answered the most influential artist/band

all calm here man, i thought what ou posted was funny, i was jokingly thinking to myself "It's gotta be John Mayer, duh!"..

_________________
I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

The best and most influential is a group of folks, IMO. The first guy that strung one up and banged out some lick was the most influential of his time. Everyone else copied his style, melodic structurs and so-on, until someone came along and turned it all over; then that person was the best.

Throughout the eras of music, again my opinion, any guitarist that could not be easily put into one genre of music has to be considered the best of his time.

Robert Johnson was special, as was, buddy holly. Holly was copied for years.

My personal favorite and the one guitarist I feel has influenced more folks than any other in recent decades is EVH. His sound, and style have been the basis for lots and lots of guitarists all over.

Peace,
84

What the heck, my top 10 in no patricular order:
-Roy Buchanan
-Andy Latimer
-Hendrix
-Jimi Page
-Gary Moore
-SRV
-Gilmour
-Johny Marr
-Angus Young
-Frank Zappa

+1

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-Kc
"Payin' dues."

Since we 'moderated' this post from being the best to favorites, I'll give you my faves

- Duane Allman
- Jimi
- Derek Trucks
- Ry Cooder
- Leo Kottke
- Jeff Beck

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-------------------------------------
2008 American Standard Tele
1987 American Series Strat
198x G&L (for slide)
Super Champ XD
Roland Cube

Sergio Vallin (most influential for me)
Page
Santana
Eliades Ochoa
Segovia
Muddy Waters
Buddy Guy
Pat Matheny
Paco de Lucia

_________________
I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

Most influential is just as subjective. There is no right answer. I'll say The Beatles, then someone else will say Led Zeppelin, then someone else will say "it all started with ol' Blind Willie "Blues" Jenkins and his 1924 Boxcar Hobo Flim-Flam Band" or some such obscure esoteric nonsense. Then a flame war will begin

I like the direction this thread is going now where we are listing our favorites instead. We all have our own tastes in music.

Here are my top 10:
Brian Setzer
Carl Perkins
George Harrison
Buddy Guy
Marty Willson-Piper
Noel Gallagher
Jimi Hendrix
Buddy Holly
Segovia
and Brian Setzer again

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

Jimmy Page- Led Zeppelin javascript:emoticon(':lol:')
Mick Thomson- Slipknot javascript:emoticon(':o')
and slipknot is the best band ever

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Jacob Thorne

I wonder if Steve Martin plays guitar?

I've been going through a rediscovery period these past 2
years.
Jefff beck
frank Marino
pat travers
robin trower
give these guys a listen

There is no way I could list all my favorite guitarists here. I have over 700 CDs and about 97% is guitar oriented. So just a short list in no particular order:

Joe Satriani, Andy Timmons, Gary Hoey, John Petrucci, Carlos Santana, David Gilmour, Gus G., Michael Schenker, Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman, Clapton, Townsend, Hendrix, S.R.V., Iommi, Albert Lee, Mark Knopfler, Coco Montoya, Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wyldd, Freddie King, Albert King, B.B. King, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Eric Gales, Robert Cray, Jimmy Thackery, Eddie Angel & Danny Amis, Dick Dale, Chet Atkins... The list could go on forever... Etc..Etc..Etc.....

Any of the 3 Kings, and many other exponants of the blues for that matter. But as far a Rock goes I like those with a slight classical flavour: Blackmore, Schenker.

So many, and all for different reasons. The best solo ever though, IMHO, would be Hotel California (by none of the above!)

If it comes to Blues then I would say BB King hands down