Top 5 guitarists

[Bear]

Vinnie Moore
Michael Schenker (I still give him mass props for his early stuff)
George Lynch
John Petrucci
Michael Romeo

I have lots more but thats my top 5

Bear

 

[Braxil]

1) Michael Romeo
2) Andre Olbrich
3) Kiko Louriero
4) Kai Hansen
5) Timo Tolkki

 

[sccaldwell]

Tore Ostby (Conception/ARK/DC Cooper)
John Petrucci
Nuno Bettencourt
Steve Vai
Alex Lifeson

Other favorites:

Steve Morse
Eric Johnson
Joel Gregoire
Joe Satriani

Don't know if he's still active, but if so, I'd definitely add Stanley Jordan to the list. He's not even close to metal, but he's amazing.

I saw him live (several times, actually) about 10 years ago, and he actually played two guitars at once. Well. For those who aren't familiar, his style is about 95% tapping/hammer-ons. Incredibly innovative.

Craig

 

[J-Dubya 777]

2) Mattias "IA" Eklundh (JayDub, I wanna see that footage!)

Edit: I found IA @ NAMM 2006 on YouTube. HOT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4nHuwlH860

Cell phone cam VS Pro cam........

J-Dubya

 

[Magius]

Where are the Candlemass and Cathedral fans?
Tony Iommi should be on this list somewhere.

 

[GreggSuspyre]

I can't believe no one has said Frank Gambale. He's not in metal bands, but his playing is extremely metal (check out the CD by MVP called "Truth in Shredding"). He is the greatest player I've ever seen and he was the nicest guy when I met him too. He's very innovative in the fact that he sweeps every time he switches strings; he only plays an even number of notes per string when he's changing directions (down picking to up picking and vice versa), otherwise he plays an odd number of strokes on each string to keep the sweeping consistent. It's sort of confusing at first but it makes sense if you try it. Technique aside, his lines are beautiful.

So my top 5 in no particular order and all for various reasons:
1. Frank Gambale
2. Allan Holdsworth
3. Mattias IA Eklundh
4. John Petrucci
5. Steve Vai

Honorable mentions: Ron Jarzombek and Kiko Louriero

 

[Cheiron]

Don't know if he's still active, but if so, I'd definitely add Stanley Jordan to the list. He's not even close to metal, but he's amazing.

I saw him live (several times, actually) about 10 years ago, and he actually played two guitars at once. Well. For those who aren't familiar, his style is about 95% tapping/hammer-ons. Incredibly innovative.

Craig

You might want to then put Michael Angelo Batio over Stanley Jordan. But up to you =D


And... I don't think anybody has mentioned BB King. Weird.

 

[BROKENSPIRIT]

Steve Vai
John Petrucci
Olaf Thorsen
Mattias IA Eklundh
John 5 (solo projects)

 

[Thorn23TX]

1. CC Deville
2. CC Deville
3. CC Deville
4. CC Deville
5. CC pick up that guitar and-a talk to me!

Seriously: (In no particular order)

1. Michael Romero
2. Ronnie Le Tekro
3. Andy Timmons
4. Tom S. Englund/Henrik Danhage tandem
5. Stephan Lill

 

[BABS]

Steve Vai
The California Guitar Trio (all of them)
John Petrucci
Mikael Akerfeldt
Michael Romeo

 

[J-Man]

It seems that Micheal Romeo is the top vote getter followed by Petrucci, IA, and Rusty Cooley, and Stevie Vai.

 

[Bryant]

Favorites....

Wolf Hoffmann
Jorn Vigo Lofstat
Akira Takasaki
Vito Bratta
Stephan Lill

Honorable mention..... David Gilmour, Mick Mars (if you pick at me because of this pick, I'll prove his excellence) Al Di Meola, Greg Howe and Billy Gibbons.


Bryant

 

[J-Dubya 777]

(if you pick at me because of this pick, I'll prove his excellence)

Bryant

GAME ON! This oughtta be GOOD!

Mick Mars is to innovative guitarists as John Wayne Gacy is to the International Clown College!

J-Dubya - Bring it, Bubba!
:Smokedev:

 

[Taliwakker]

Mick Mars (if you pick at me because of this pick, I'll prove his excellence)

....no other corpse can hold a candle to Mick.

 

[J-Dubya 777]

....no other corpse can hold a candle to Mick.

I think Ace Frehley might even be a better guitar player than Mick Mars.
(maybe even on a week long bender, too!)

J-Dubya - Eagerly awaiting proof of MM's greatness....

 

[J-Dubya 777]

::::: Bump ::::::

/me thinks Bryant has no balls!


J-Dubya - Still waiting for the proof......

 

[yoshi14]

in no particular order:

Chris Impellitteri
Yngwie Malmsteen
Dave T. Chastain
James Byrd
George Lynch

 

[Yngvai X]

I don't know about innovative, but heres my top 5:

1. Michael Romeo
2. Alexi Laiho
3. Jason Becker
4. Victor Smolski
5. Allan Holdsworth

 

[TXHOSER]

Most of the regulars have already been covered but if you want something a little different check out Monte Montgomery. He's like a cross between Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray but almost all acoustic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i0Zza8kMMU&search=monte montgomery

Unfortunatly this was all I could find. It's a cover so you don't get the full picture of how different he really is. He has won best acoustic guitar player in Austin for about the last eight years and has been featured in several guitar magazines.
Check him out. You won't be dissapointed.

 

[rubthebuddha]

Steve Rothery
Jake E Lee
Jeff Loomis
Nuno Bettencourt
John Petrucci