Who do you think is the greatest guitar player of all time and why?

[hihhs]

+ 1 for Segovia, truly the master
a few I didn't see mentioned;
David Gilmour
Leo Kottke (if you never heard him, Google, amazing 12 string)
Michael Hedges
Kaki King (Woman is unreal)
Eric Johnson

[somegirl]

How do you pick just one?  I guess it would have to be Jimi.

[Big Troubled Bear]

If it has to be only one, then it should be Stevie Ray for me

[GAAN]

my medic who is a guitarist says this topic is void since Jimmy Page is the trump card

[GAAN]

what about that Morse guy from the dixie dregs?

[Langanobob]

How do you pick just one?  I guess it would have to be Jimi.

This is a great thread and it brought up some names I'd forgotten, but If you HAD to pick  just one, there's no guessing - it would have to be Jimi.  The guy was supernatural.  If there are concerts in guitar player heaven, he's the guy everyone else will line up to see.

[metallimonster]

Of course I think Kirk is the best but I love many others.

Mark Knopfler of Dire Straights

Best new guitar player;  Davie Knowles of Backdoor Slam.  If you like blues this guy will melt your face.  Trust me, you'll know of him soon.

How about steel slide guitar- Robert Randolph.

[Randimus Maximus]

what about that Morse guy from the dixie dregs?

He was in my list.

Plays with Deep Purple now.

[Grampa]

Ralph Macchio.

he had satans help..... no fair

[mrs minnesotamonster]

If it has to be only one, then it should be Stevie Ray for me

+1, that'd be my pick too. Love Stevie Ray.

[psycledelic]

What?  5 pages of posting and not one CC Deville.  I mean the man was able to make two albums only knowing 3 chords, 5 power chords, and one scale.  Now that is talent!

[redxblack]

my medic who is a guitarist says this topic is void since Jimmy Page is the trump card

I never liked Led Zepplin and found Page to be kind of flat emotionally. He's more skilled than Tony Iommi, Sabbath had so much more raw emotion and feeling. Even though Tony rarely played anything technical at all, I think he's a more influential guitar player and I enjoy him a lot more. Yet he never gets the credit and Page does seem to be the trump card in these discussions.

[sleeperbold]

Alex Lifeson!!!!!

[Langanobob]

I have a bass playing bluesman friend so I asked his opinion of the three top players.  He once jammed with Hendrix in Hawaii so I figured he'd be biased towards him and he is biased towards the blues.  His selections are Son Seals, Albert Collins (anyone mentioned him yet?) and Hendrix but I actually  had to prompt him about nominating Hendrix.  He said there's no telling what Hendrix could've accomplished if he'd lived longer.

[DesmoLu]

I never liked Led Zepplin and found Page to be kind of flat emotionally.

Sorry man, but I'm gonna have to report you to the mods for such blasphemes.