Who do you think is the greatest guitar player of all time?
My pick has to go to Stevie Ray Vaughn. It's a shame he died so young in his career. For those that don't know he died in a helicopter crash.
Depends on the music style.
Folks are mentioning Rock guitarists but dont forget the Blues ones. Some amazing ones out there.
Category:Blues guitarists - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not trying to knock anyone or not appreciating his talents but I always thought Eric Clapton was a bit over rated. I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn in concert too and he was amazing. Though not my personal favorite for music style but he blew me away how good he was. Knopfler is also up there in my opinion too and I like his style.
Though not the greatest but my personal favorites based on style is Stuart Adamson of Big Country/Skids and The Edge from U2. Another underrated guitarist is Andy Summers from the Police. I saw them over the summer and that concert was a billion times better then 1983. Brian Setzer is pretty slick too.
All of those names are up there on my list. I also think Ted Nugent can play some mean guitar.
Guitarists such as the Edge and Summers are in theory just jazz guitarists that got into Rock n' roll because they found a different "sound".
I am not taking anything away from them, they are both very good musicians. But that sound that is known as the "U2" sound is the same sound that edge uses on 90% of their songs. Its the same with Summers. In their respected bands they have phenomenal arrangements in their music. I think that is what made them good.
The likes of Clapton, Van Halen, Vaughn, Page, or or Hendrix made themselves or their band popular based on their ability to do something unique or not heard before on the guitar.
Thats why its called an opinion. Especially your last paragraph which contradicts your first two.