I agree, Stevie ray Vaughan at 29 is daft in my opinion, should be way up the list.
My claim to fame is that I jammed with him when I was 16. Tangerine studio's 1972/3. LEGEND AND SHOULD BE UP THERE WITH THE BEST(not me but Rory!)
Walter Trout, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bill Nelson, Peter Frampton and Jeff Healey would be on my list.
One more for luck.. Steve Hillage
Why do most people always go for rock guitarists when they think of great guitarists. Al Di Meola blows almost all rock guitarists into the weeds without even breaking a sweat but most people have never heard of him.
Most certainly THIS!!!
Satriani, Vai, Eric Johnson, John Petrucci, Darrell Abbott, Randy Rhoades, Eddie Van Halen, Malmsteen, must all be deserving of place if that list is anything to go by.
Buckhead- Umm, never known him to play a 12 string, or Jazz, or play in a rock orchestra and also Shred, so might as well drop Alex Skolnick in instead, who has done all these.
What I just said. Taste in music. Also what people think a guitarist's job is varies from person to person. You will never get agreement on these lists.
From a quick google it would seem that guy is a bit of an bedroom guitarist (amazing technique but no melodic talent), am I wrong?
I'll always be more impressed by Paul McCartney or Thom Yorke playing 4 chords on a piano than 10,000 notes in 10 seconds and similar technically clever stuff.