Top 10 Rock Guitarists of All Time

[Thorn]

My favorite is Stevie Ray Vaughan, best ever!!

 
^  What Cyrfder said!

[Thorn]

I avoid "best ever" questions like the plague, so we'll just say these are 10 favorites.

In no particular order (except the first three):

• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Jimmy Page
• Carlos Santana
• Jimi Hendrix
• Frank Zappa
• Steve Vai
• Jeff Beck
• Rory Gallagher
• Dave Gilmour
• Eric Clapton

Honorable mention to Dweezil Zappa - who is his father's son, George Harrison - who is, well, George Harrison, and The Edge - who, with Johnny Marr, pretty much rescued the guitar from the garbage heap of synth pop for my generation.

[rocquelaire]

Lars is good.  Christian Eigner as well.  And who's the one-armed drummer from Def Leppard... that's a whole lotta skill.

Indeed!

I need to give mention to Dave Grohl. Although there are more technically gifted drummers, I love his passion

[Dragonoake]

And who's the one-armed drummer from Def Leppard... that's a whole lotta skill.

Agreed, although bass player Rick Savage deserves a bit of credit, here, as well

[Dark Midnight]

Indeed!

I need to give mention to Dave Grohl. Although there are more technically gifted drummers, I love his passion

 
If we are on drummers, you CANNOT leave out Roger Taylor. Makes it looks so simple....until you actually try it!

[Dragonoake]

Makes it looks so simple....until you actually try it!

That's when you know you are looking at the very best of whatever it is they do.

Peter Criss (Kiss)
Ron Bushy (Iron Butterfly)

[Dragonoake]

Honorable mention to Dweezil Zappa - who is his father's son, George Harrison - who is, well, George Harrison, and The Edge - who, with Johnny Marr, pretty much rescued the guitar from the garbage heap of synth pop for my generation.

Another one nobody has mentioned is the master of the fuzz guitar: Peter Frampton

[video=youtube;V9Yq5m9eLIQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Yq5m9eLIQ[/video]

[Dragonoake]

Not the selection I'd have gone for, but I guess it's purely a matter of taste and opinion

For those not old enough to remember Yngwie Malmsteen. here a cover of an old Areosmith tune with Ronnie James Dio, one of the great baritones of the 80's

[video=youtube;w0xM65cVh0E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0xM65cVh0E[/video]

[Thorn]

Now I'm tempted to go start a top 10 drummers thread so I can give Lars some love!

 
The holy trinity of rock drummers:  Keith Moon, John Bonham, Ginger Baker.

Amen.

[Holdasown]

• Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler)
• Randy Rhodes (Quiet Riot and Ozzie Osbourne)
• Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society)
• Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
• Dimebag Darrell (Pantera and Damageplan)
• Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
• Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Blackmore's Night, and Rainbow)
• Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
• Angus Young (AC/DC)

 
Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin
Lindsey Buckingham - Fleetwood Mac
Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits
Duane Allman - Allman Brothers
Brain May - Queen
Carlos Santana - Santana
Prince - Prince
Robbie Robertson - The Band
John Curulewski -  Styx
Jack White - White Stripes, et al.

[Fireof9]

Ok then. Not in order of preference:

Jimi Hendrix
Brian May
Tony Iommi
Steve Vai
Dave Gilmour
Steven Wilson
James Hetfield
Billy Gibbons
Matt Bellamy
Jani Liimantainan

Plus, honourable mentions to Jeff Beck and Mick Mars, who are also awesome.

 
I love you a little! Mick never gets the credit he deserves!

Top 10............................
It always changes for me as I hear new players.

I guess I will go with the ones that most consistently inspire me to pick up and play.

Steve Vai
Mick Mars
Edward Van Halen
Dave Murray
Michael and Christopher Ammot
Randy Rhoads
Zakk Wylde
Alexi Laiho
Tony Iommi

[Dark Midnight]

I love you a little! Mick never gets the credit he deserves!

 
Thank you! *blushes a bit*