naw. Clapton bores me beyond words. Most top guitarists of all time come in at Henrix, Page, Clapton... etc... I don't like either of them. They are all gods but I don't listen to them. My favourite:

1. Slash
2. Brian May
3. Dave Gilmour

Well yeah my favorite guitarists are Stephen
Stills and Neil Young but I know they're not the
greatest.

Very well put Emily. Personally, I don`t think there are any " greatest guitarist", but it doesn`t matter if you like them, thats all that counts. Just enjoy. Cal

I can't believe you people!
The #1 ALL TIME GREATEST GUITAR PLAYER EVER-

EDDIE VAN HALEN!

Believe it Brian. I agree that Van Halen is among the greats, but to me no one player is the greatest. They can all do things that other guitar players can`t. You just told me your favorite guitar player and he is one of my favoite rock players, but when I listen to Joe Pass I don`t want to hear Van Halen. When I listen to Brian Setzer, I don`t want to hear Joe Pass and so on. Choosing one player, no matter how good he is, narrows your field of enjoyment and I won`t allow that to happen with me. You are missing a lot of good playing. Peace. Cal

You are so right Cal! The is no universal "best", universal "most", universal "worst" of anything. It's all a question of context.

Ninon

Except for "Slash" & I put his "name" in quotes because he is paranthetic, merely a mimic, good mind you, but only vomiting others work & not original.

i change my mind every few days

All right, I think we can all agree on the first 4

Think again ...

I second that!! Cal

I'll bump it to a third and raise you my list:

1. Joe Bonamassa (If you haven't heard him yet, treat yourself.)

2. Jimmy Page (Ok, so I'm greasin' down an some Zepplin lately, whaddaya want?)

3. Joe Walsh (Someone mentioned him in a thread awhile ago and I had to dust some CD's off.)

4. Carlos Santana (The "Lotus" stuff floors me.)

Please, bear in mind, I feel that these lists are fluid. C'mon, I have a favorite of the week!!!

Carl

Carl, your first choice makes my point completely. There are so many really great guitarist out there that no one knows about, because they are sessions players and in many cases when they hear their favorite groups play, that is who they are actually hearing and just don`t know it. Joe Walsh can take simple stuff and make it sound great. Carlos Santana is way overdue for recognization. He has always been great. As for the first 4, I actually know people walking around the street that play that well and I am certain this sight has people on it that can blow some of them away. Cal

RIGHT ON THE HIT LIST..THERE OLD BUDDY..LES PAUL.BB KING ..OH OH.HERE I GO AGAIN..I,M AS GOOD AS BRIAN SETZER,CARL PERKINS..ETC.ROCK ABILLY SWINGS..HA.HA.my 25% worth.catch you later..jimb47

Yeah Jim. You and I have the advantage of having come up memory lane. Many of these young guys have never heard the players that we came up with and the players they are listing, probably are the greatest they have ever heard.
They are listing good players, but I think it is a little sad that they missed some of the old guys. Cal

I think Joe Walsh is really great too, being that
he is also from MI (as I am) I have great
respect for him. I've also met his long time
drummer Joe Vitale who was an extremely
cool guy.

And also getting to your point about the kids
not knowing any of the really old stuff, I for one
really love any of the old blues stuff. John Lee
Hooker, Muddy, Lowell Fulson, Little Walter,
Little Milton (who actually has more of a
mowtown sound), Elmore James, and Howlin'
Wolf is really great too. I like a lot of the late
50's stuff as well. Such as Carl Perkins,
Chuck Berry, Les Paul, Chet Atkins.....the list
goes on.........