We need something to get this moving again - And for that, I am borrowing this from Gibson4Life on Dinosaur Rock Guitar (Tx for this)

We often talk about great guitarists and their strenghts as well as their weaknesses. I will list many aspects of guitar playing or musicianship and you will have to tell who's the best for each category and who's your favourite overall. For example, your favourite guitar player might be Jeff Beck, you can rate him as first in musicianship, but I doubt you'll say he's the best songwriter. You can choose from Rock players and you can put the same player in different categories...

Musicianship:
Solos:
Chops:
Taste:
Songwriting:
Teamwork:
Rhythm playing:
Riffs:
Tone:
Versatility:
Speed:
Creativity:
Attitude:

OVERALL:

I'll start (took 2 mins off the top - I'm sure it will change) ....

Musicianship: Steve Vai/Steve Lukather
Solos: EVH/Blackmore
Chops: Shawn Lane/Guthrie
Taste: Michael Schenker/Jeff Beck/Kossoff
Songwriting: Blackmore
Teamwork: The Ash guys
Rhythm playing: EVH
Riffs: Iommi/Page
Tone: Blackmore and Pre-Blues Gary Moore
Versatility: Jan Akkerman/Howe/Lukather
Speed: Lane/Gilbert
Creativity: Jimi/Jeff Beck/Steve Vai
Attitude: Slash/Buckethead
Improv: Blackmore/Duane

OVERALL: Ritchie


Right - Lets get going .....

After everyones faves have been done, maybe we can restrict to players in the 70-100 range, and get the feedback and use to update the list. Then 100-150 etc

Musicianship: EJ, CARL
Solos: allman, schenker
Chops:
Taste: timmons, knopfler
Songwriting: satch
Teamwork: gilmour + splicing devices
Rhythm playing:
Riffs:
Tone: EJ
Versatility: gatton
Speed: gilberts drill
Creativity: jimi/jeff/vai
Attitude: malmsteen
Improv: allman, blackmore, gatton, jimi

LOL Teamwork rv - Stroke of genius !!

Could even add Jimmy Page and Jake Holmes/Blind Willie Johnson/Kansas Joe McCoy/Bert Jansch/Joan Baez/Moby Grape/Spirit/Otis Rush/Willie Dixon/etc.

Off the top of my head...

Musicianship: Gilmour
Solos: Clapton
Chops: McLaughlin
Taste: EJ
Songwriting: Hendrix
Teamwork: Green/Kirwan
Rhythm playing: Townshend
Riffs: Iommi
Tone: Beck
Versatility: Beck
Speed: Friedman
Creativity: Hendrix
Attitude: Cobain

What would you call Pete's best 'rhythm moment'?

Probably My Generation from Leeds, but he has soooo many of them.
Clash could probably give a better answer here...

for townshend, HAS to be this.....

Also, my list....

Musicianship: Jeff Beck
Solos: Roy buchanan,
Chops: Guthrie Govan, Joe Robinson
Taste: Gary Moore, Beck, Gilmour
Songwriting: Hendrix, Page
Teamwork: Duane Allman n Dicky Betts
Rhythm playing:
Riffs: Tony Iommi, Jerry Cantrell, Mustaine
Tone: Joe Bonamassa/Kossoff ,
Versatility: Beck, Akkerman
Speed: Buckethead
Creativity: Hendrix, Buchanan
Attitude: Page, hendrix

OVERALL: Buchanan, Beck n Page

Wow - a nod to Joe Robinson - Has rv been bending your ear ?

He is a seriously talented young man - Have you heard/seen any of his electric pop/rock/blues material?

Interesting that you mention Bonamassa for tone. He has just about the finest guitar collection out there (over 300 I believe). His latest CD 'Driving Towards the Daylight' is truly superb. My favourite for a long time. It comes with a 50 page digibook detailing 20 or so guitars from his collection. It includes a '55 LP Custom 'Black Beauty', a '61 ES-335, various other 50's Les Pauls and a '63 Strat - All beautifully photographed and discussed.

Whilst I like his 'Johnsonesque' tone, I would like him to dirty it up a bit, especially on the Black Country Communion recordings.

Incidentally the recording for BCC3 is complete. They were in the studio for around 4 or 5 days last week. Expect an autumn release !!!!

I listened to Joe before I knew rv was into him as well. Heard what I could from his album and all his youtube stuff. Absolutely insane player at this age !!!

I mentioned Bonamassa for tone cause he doesnt stick to one, and I really like anything coming out of his guitar.

I have to listen to his latest CD, especially if you're talking so much good about it. Dust Bowl is truly one of my fave blues rock albums of all time.

The new one is far 'bluesier' than Dust Bowl - check your messages later on !!

Saw EVH live a few weeks back... man that guy still rocks

I was asking because I've always felt that people underrate Townsend massively as a guitarist. Now, I'm impressed.

Musicianship: Buckethead
Solos: Eric Johnson
Chops: Shawn Lane/Guthrie Govan
Taste: David Gilmour
Songwriting: Jimi Hendrix
Teamwork: Adrian Smith/Dave Murray
Rhythm playing: Eddie Van Halen
Riffs: Tony Iommi
Tone: Brian May
Versatility: Buckethead
Speed: Shawn Lane
Creativity: Buckethead
Attitude: Slash

OVERALL: Buckethead

ookkk.....

forgot May for tone though.....