I need to think about the top 10, but Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Slash will definitely be there.

In no order:

Charlie Christian

Roger Troutman

Nile Rogers

Miki Hendrix

T-Bone Walker

Santana

Eddie Hazel

Prince

Jesse Johnson

Johnny Guitar Watson

My favs:-

Eric Clapton

Mark Knofler

Prince

Steve Lukather

Michael Landau

Dan Huff

Michael Thompson

Brian May

Jay Graydon

Steve Vai

Nile Rodgers

Trevor Rabin

Valensia

Jose Feliciano

B.B. King

George Benson

Jesse Johnson

George Harrison

Steve Cropper

Nancy Wilson

Joyce Moreno

Steve Hackett

Ernie Isley

Igor Presnyakov

Maybe the Gypsy Kings

I forgot Neal Schon and Paul Pesco.

Love some Carlos Santana too.

[Edited 12/5/11 15:59pm]

No particular order:

Prince

Nile Rodgers

Eric Clapton

Jeff Beck

John Mayer

Ernie Isley

Al McKay

Johnny Graham

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Slash

Buddy Guy

Jimi Hendrix

Carlos Santana

Prince

Bruce Springsteen

Clint Black

Brad Paisley

David Schwope (local guy)

Angus Young

Steve Cropper (Funkiest White Man Alive)

Billy Gibbons

Toy Caldwell

Ronnie Montrose (up until about 1980)

bobbyperu said:

Some good feedback so far, thanx! Of course y'all name some guitarists that I like but forgot to mention such as Steve Cropper, Eddie Hazel, Buddy Guy... Mark Knopfler is also good, even though I can't stand Dire Straits. Just like Brian May and Slash are good, but Queen and GN'R just isn't my thing. Different strokes 4 different folks...

I mentioned him

Harlepolis said:

bobbyperu said:

Some good feedback so far, thanx! Of course y'all name some guitarists that I like but forgot to mention such as Steve Cropper, Eddie Hazel, Buddy Guy... Mark Knopfler is also good, even though I can't stand Dire Straits. Just like Brian May and Slash are good, but Queen and GN'R just isn't my thing. Different strokes 4 different folks...

I mentioned him

I think that bobbyperu was saying that other posters are mentioning guitarists that he likes that he forgot to mention. I hope that makes sense.

random order

prince

keith richards

dave mustaine

paul stanley

eddie van halen

joe perry

robert fripp

mick ronson

adrian belew

b.b. king

mick taylor

chuck berry

carl perkins

carlos santana

paco de lucia

kerry king

eric clapton

adrian smith

glenn tipton

the edge

mick mars

phil manzanera

jimi hendrix

steve r. vaughan

prince

stevie ray

dean ween

john frusciante

jack white

frank zappa

matthew sweet

thurston moore

brant bjork

rich robinson

johnny marr

dan auerbach

david gilmour

marc bolan

MY favourite guitarists (in no particular order):

Richard Thompson: both on acoustic and electric guitar he is a 'beast', especially live. Very intuitive, even instinctive playing, mesmerizing often.

Prince: he doesnt show it enough (both live and on record) unfortunately, but when he is at his best, he succeeds in finding a nice balance between the more primal, bluesy tones of Jimmi Hendrix and the more sophisticated, stylish output of Carlos Santana.

David Hidalgo (Los Lobos): Nothing spectacular, no shredding, no 'showing off' in his style, but he takes he takes the schemes of BB king, puts warmth and emotion into it, and just delivers in that field.

Nick Drake: a master on acoustic guitar. He uses that 'simple' instrument to the greatest effect: just listen to the fingerpicking on 'Cello song', its brilliant: who needs a whole band, when you have such skills on a single instrument?

Peter Buck (REM): technically he is a rather limited player, he often seems to 'struggle' with his solo's, but when you listen to his repetitive riffs, you can tell he is a master at them. He did take what Roger McQuin (from The Byrds) did before him in a folk-rockisch way, he did apply the 'hookieness' of the new wave on them, leading into gorgeous sounding riffs like those from: St. Central Rain, Welcome to the occupation and Imitation of Life.

First props to you bobbyperu for the way you formed the question.

I have too many favorites to list but i'll deal with one for the moment for a very specific reason.
There are 2 recent posts about artists (Dobie Gray and The Dynamics) that this particular guitarist was involved with.

Bill Black's Combo
Elvis Presley
The Highwaymen
Don Covay
Solomon Burke
Dusty Springfield
Wilson Pickett
Neil Diamond
Buffy St. Marie
Esther Phillips
Oscar Toney Jr.
B.J. Thomas
The Dynamics
Dobie Gray
Herbie Mann
Dionee Warwick
Waylon Jennings
Joe Tex
Bobby Womack
Johnny Rivers
J.J. Cale
Earl Scruggs
Blind Boys of Alabama


I could go on but I think you get the point.
He's not Star/Celebrity type, just a hard working musician that was good enough to record will all these people.
And what makes him a standout for me is that he's also one of the nicest, non-ego driven individuals you could ever meet.


Speaking for himself...




...Reggie Young

Reggie suggests that Elvis doesn't play the acoustic guitar during the recording at the 3:53 mark of True Love Travels on a Gravel Road.


Great interview with Reggie Young by Premier Guitar magazine:
http://www.premierguitar....Young.aspx


Bottom line is that you can't solo all the time.
The guys, like Reggie, that continue to get the call are the ones that can play parts that compliment the song.


Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records