Who is the best guitarist in the world?

my top 5 are
5.buckethead
4.slash
3.angus from acdc
4.van halen
5.jimi hendrix

easy question
the answer would be

Randy Rhoads

my fav. is j hendrix, but i guess its an opinion thing..

Brian May from Queen

Here's my question: how can non-guitarists be competent to answer this? I don't think I can pick a single guitarist. I'll just list a few: Django Reinhardt, Randy Rhoads and Buckethead would cover a pretty interesting spectrum of raw talent. Also, there are a few jazz guys like Al Dimeola who can do things that make me shake my head.

Some may say Slash, or Hendrix
but I say " Go Listen to SYNYSTER GATES solo in every Avenged Sevenfold song, and then come talk to me =] "

top 3
1. jimi hendrix
2. jimmy page
3. slash

Re-Question, current or past? Cause if it's open to all category of "Dead or Alive" then i'll have a problem! LOL! There are so many greats! I'll stick with "Alive" for now, and my pick is...Steve Vai. Vai is a complete guitarist , and not only that, he is becoming a 21st century important composer.

Edward Van Halen

Yngview Malmsteen, Herman Li, the Iron Maiden solo man, Dave Mustaine, Zakk Wylde, Dime Darrel (r.i.p.), Alexi Laiho, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci...

A lot of people say Hendrix, who was great for his time, but he's not the best of all time. Slash may be a tad overrated (still among the best though), as Izzy Stradlin doesn't always get the credit he deserves for writing most of the songs and rhythm parts. Yngwie Malmsteen might be the best though, although he's full of himself. Had Dimebag kept up his work from the early to mid 90's and was still alive, he'd definitely be up there for sure.

Jimi Hendrix. John Frusciante is amazing but really underrated though.

no body ever will be as good as Mr. JIMMY HENDRIX TED NUGGENT is a close second

why is this question asked so much?!? how many times do people ave to answer the same question with the same answers? if you want to know who people think is the best guitarist, look up the 10000 other questions asking this, and dont worry about the friggin points thing.

Jimmy Page.

Now? Tom Morello is my DUDE!!!!!!!!!!

me :)

uh no..

it depends on how you measure it..

the most wow factor might be grant austin taylor. hes twelve and amazing
(grantaustintaylor.com)

it might be santana,
jimi hendrix
van halen.

its probably opinion..

i personally think that john frusciante is crazy insanity- but that might just be because I like the chili peppers..

I like Frank Zappa.

i have a few how about joe satriani,steve vai,eric johnson... jeff beck

i think it's pretty unanimous that its hedrix. clapton, jimmy page, pete townshend, jeff beck, santana, john frusciante, adam jones are all absolutley phenominal as well though

Dragonforce's guitarist, Herman Lee...

Every guitarist since has just been a variation on the following seven:

Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton
Pete Townshend
Keith Richards
Chuck Berry
Neil Young

If you play guitar, whether you're a three chord rocker like Angus Young or a speed demon like Eddie Van Halen, if you claim you are not influenced by at least one of the above, you are simply LYING, and are not worth the finger gunk on your guitar strings, okay?

Top 5
Stevie Ray
Angus Young
Randy Rhoads
Jimi Hendrix
Satriani

the dude from dream theater is really good