1st stevie ray vaughan, 2nd jimi hendrix 3rd eric clapton.....although I have begun to see how good jerry garcia really was especially in the late 70's
I have several as I like many styles. So while I have no singular fave, I have a list of awesome people. Fareed Haque (classical, jazz, jazz fusion) in the stuff closest to rock that I listen to: Steve Kimock, Mark Karan, Sam Holt, Mickey Houser, Don Conoscenti, Billy Nershi other styles: Django Reinhardt, Michael Hedges, BB King, Robert Walker, Ellis Paul, Tommy Emmanuel, John McLaughlin, Stephen Stills...just to name a few.
that depends on if you meant best guitarist as in best person who plays the guitar, best guitar player, most innovative guitarist, etc. I love Jerry Garcia as a person, but Jimmy Page is a better guitarist, and Pete Townshend, though not an amazing player, maade several innovative studio techniques
Jimi Hendrix, of coure. No one mentioned Robbin Trower from old Procol Harem fame. He's still out there touring and is awesome. Think there's even a Robbin Trower Fender guitar. Remember "Bridge of Sighs"?
Props to Hendrix, Page, Clapton. I'll also give a shout out to Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen. Word up to Stevie Ray, Buddy Guy, Robert Johnson, BB King, Albert King. Gotta represent the classical guitarits too, guys like Adrian Legg, Manuel Barrueco, and Ricardo Cobo. Then theirs my favorite jammers like Trey, Garcia, Warren Haynes, and Steve Kimmock. And Eddie VanHalen! And a bunch of others...
i can't believe no one mentioned Frank Zappa... he is absolutely amazing. But Hendrix is my favorite... if you haven't had a chance to watch a video of hendrix do yourself a favor and watch one. Dude plays the guitar between his legs