Who is your overall favorite guitarist?


At 44 years of age, I personally feel fortunate to have lived in an era along with some of the finest guitarists who have ever lived. I have always had an overwhelming love of music. As I look back to my earlier years of music appreciation (I took formal piano training for 17 years) I remember how my instructor would suggest exposing myself to the many different styles and disciplines of music.

These were such valuable words of wisdom. Considering the fact that this suggestion, more or less, forced me to be more open to musicians other than those that played in strictly rock and roll bands.

Wow, was I surprised to find that I could be as entertained by Chet Atkins and Les Paul as I could be by Ritchie Blackmore or Carlos Santana. Just think about some of the finest from our time. Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Steve Howe, Al DiMeola, the list could seem almost endless. All such incredible musicians.

Although it's very hard to pick one person or style in particular, let's remember the key words, "overall favorite".
I would probably have to say that my overall favorite would have to be Steve Morse (from Dixie Dregs fame).

Who is your favorite?
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Jimi Hendrix gets my vote. I had narrowed it down to 11 guitarists. Each guitarist was awesome for their own style of playing-(David Gilmore, Steve Howe, Dicky Betts, Eric Clapton, Richie Blackmore, Neil Young, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, John Mclaughlin, Johnny Winter). It's really amazing that so many gifted guitarists came out of one era.
i like phil keagy, steve howe, and adrian belew too: theyre all really great and i do have extensive expossure to them all. i still like robert fripp most of all (i have all the phil keagy albums, all of yes... and some of howe's solo stuff, and i have a lot of various stuff adrian performed)
After reading every last post.

Glenn Campbell must be mentioned for being one of the best.

For my favorite Dan Fogelberg.
Must agree with Glenn Campbell and add Roy Clark to the list of great country pickers.