Technical ability reigns supreme, this includes accuracy, speed, complexity, and overall control. Versatility isn't important unless there's a tie between two players, where versatility can be taken into account. Beyond that, I don't see a need to include any other criteria. The knowledge of the editor and the other members should be enough to figure out who should be ahead of whom.

After the guitarists names you'll find links to tunes that are representative of their chops.

1. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X, Solo) - Frenzy
2. Andy James (LickLibrary) - Metalcore Shred
3. Michael Angelo Batio (Nitro, Solo) - Speed Kills
4. George Bellas (Ring of Fire, Solo) - Antimatter
5. Rusty Cooley (Outworld, Solo) Under The Influence
6. Marcel Coenen - Race Against Time
7. Michael Romeo (Symphony X) - Eve Of Seduction
8. Vinnie Moore (UFO, Solo) - Fear and Trepidation
9. Yngwie J. Malmsteen (Alcatrazz, Solo) - Far Beyond The Sun
10. Buckethead (Guns n' Roses, Praxis, various other acts, Solo) - Jordan
11. Tony MacAlpine (Planet X, Steve Vai Band, Solo) - Hundreds Of Thousands
12. Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Nevermore, Megadeth) - Take To The Sky
13. John Petrucci (Dream Theater, LTE, Solo) - Under A Glass Moon
14. Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth, Solo) - Forbidden City
15. Benjamin Schwenen (Counter-World Experience) - Amygdala
16. Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, Solo) - Andromeda
17. Ron Thal (Guns n' Roses, Solo) - Guitars Suck!
18. Ron Jarzombek (Bottled Science, Spastik Ink) - I've Got The Runs Really Bad
19. Steve Vai (Alcatrazz, Whitesnake, Frank Zappa, Solo) - Eugene's Trick Bag
20. Bruce Bouillet (Racer X, Paul Gilbert, Solo) - Scit Scat Wah
21. Kiko Loureiro (Angra, Solo) - Escaping
22. Joey Tafolla (Jag Panzer, Solo) - Bitter
23. Mattias IA Eklundh (Freak Kitchen, Solo) - Minor Swing
24. Jason Becker (Cacophony, DLR, Solo) - Perpetual Burn
25. Scott Stine - Self Indulgence
26. Chris Impelliteri - Screaming Symphony
27. Jarle H. Olsen - Airborne
28. Stephan Forté (Adagio) - Archangels In Black
29. Shane Gibson (Korn, Solo) - DucksinaponD
30. Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) - Stengah
31. Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders) - Wave of Babies
32. Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Solo) - Jato Unit
33. Akira Takasaki (Loudness, Solo) - Soldier Of Fortune
34. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) - Get The Funk Out
35. Conrad Simon - Fly High, Ride Low
36. Todd Duane - The Rain
37. Darren Housholder - Pedal To The Metal
38. David Valdes - Imhotep
39. Jeff Waters (Annihilator) - Hunter Killer
40. Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry) - Ghost Prototype 1: Measurement of Thought
41. Rob Marcello (Danger Danger)- Old School
42. Paul Masvidal (Cynic) - Paul Masvidal Solos
43. Carl August Tidemann (Winds) - Theory of Relativity
44. Jari Maenpaa (Wintersun) - Various Solos
45. Muhammed Suicmez (Necrophagist) - Various Solos
46. Art Rodriguez (Delyrium) - En El Nombre del Padre (In the Name of the Father)

Post your opinions, objections and whatever other problems you have with it.

Jesus christ. Next additions will be him and Todd Duane.

Honest question: If this is solely based on chops (it is right?), where would Kirk Hammett - in his prime (AJFA album) - place? Think like Dyers Eve solo, Blackened solo era Kirk. Would he make the top 100 for instance?

Thanks.

I don't think so. It's hard for me to answer that because I don't have 100 names on the list, and I don't think I even listen to that much metal shred.

Ah

Is that it? I was hoping you'd entertain me by making a case for Hammett's placement on this list.

Lolz. I'm not a guitarist. But it seems to me Hammett is often severely underrated in all things guitar. On the ...AJFA album he was just sick.

I'd love to make a case if I knew more...My intuition is he probably deserves a spot though if the list were extended to 100

In my experience he's severely overrated.

Hammett is a beast live (i know that doesn't matter, but I just thought I would let everybody know)

In what way? Is more technically proficient live than in the studio?

i guess you could say that. I just loved their live show

Uh, okay. I was looking for specifics, though. Anyway I don't want this thread taken over by talk of Hammett when there are so many better metal guitarists to talk about.

Well the problem with Hammett live is that he doesn't improvise enough. He played a lot of songs exactly the way it was played on the studio version. However, on the song Dyer's Eve he and Lars Ulrich traded solos for like ten minutes. It was pretty sweet. And I agree with you about Hammett, there are many better metal guitarists. He's basically just a guitar solo guy.

Have you listened to any of the links I've posted from the list?