You guys have missed 2 of the all-timers. Jimmy Paige may have some of the best guitar solos ever. But for my money it's Eric Clapton. The body of his work is astounding.

My current favorite Hendrix song is
 

1983- A Merman Should I turn to be

The Album Verson:
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The apartment recording:
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If someone has a live performance video of this, I will pay you $20 for it.

I just think Hendrix was a huge tragedy- there was a LOT left in him- his newest material was some of my favorite.

If there's a heaven, and I meet with my old family and old dogs, I want Jimi to be there playing a live show for the reunion.

What happened to his music after his death is the bigger tragedy. The way the Hendrix estate has whored out every half hearted or off pitch noodling session of Jimi that was ever recorded is unconscionable. Keep in mind that EVERY time Hendrix showed up to jam or just to goof off, noodle, or experiment with an arrangement there was someone there to roll tape. He was that good. It was all recorded and his estate has squeezed every penny out of every recording they've gotten their hands on by marketing them as his completed work.

The catalog of music that Hendrix felt was worthy of release to the public consists only of Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, and Electric Ladyland. Its possible for people that want to discover his music today to go online or to somewhere like Best Buy and buy a dozen different Hendrix CDs and still never get to hear anything that was a finished recording.

If Jimi was part of a band with better vocals I would have been a bigger fan. For me, especially now, to sit & listen to Psychedelic guitar work, is not all that enjoyable. I never did find Jimi's voice good enough to carry a band. I also don't know that I am enough of a guitar purist to rank his music superior to that of a more complete band. Consequently, Jimi's music is not something I would often reach for.

I though Band of Gypsies was pretty good.

Clapton was tight. Satriani, Steve Morse, Al DiMeola are fast. Uncle Jerry could play anything with strings, any style, and with anyone. Pete Townshend was an incredible player and was smashing guitars long before the Punk bands came along. Phil Keaggy is smooth. Joe Walsh is a nut. Stevie Ray, Jimi, Jorma Kaukonen, Leo Kottke, have all made a mark. Who's the best? Depends on what I feel like listening to today.

Never a big Jimi fan, Over-rated.

Now take Eric Johnson, there's a guitar player. Recognize the two other guitarists on-stage? (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai). Big names, but Eric over-shadows them.

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And if you want to see shear speed and accuracy, here's Eric playing cliffs of dover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_y_kft_3IU

So true... same with SRV, he had sobered up and was just starting to explore his abilities... he was on his way to doing some amazing things IMHO. Very sad he had to leave. :(

I have heard some Tuck and Patti and that guys always amazes me.

Adrian Legg. NO question.

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I'm listening to Pandora.com on my computer right now, I have "return to forever" plugged in as the style of music for them to chose from.
They just played Larry Carlton "Point it up"

http://www.Pandora.com/music/song/larry+carlton/point+it+up

That guy can play a guitar!

There are technicians and inovators....Hendrix was both...no other guiatarist that I've heard was both, on the same level as Hendrix. If Hendrix wanted to play it he could. He took the guitar and played it while sitting on the pot for christs sake.

I honestly believe that if he had lived he would have been able to make the guitar speak english...just listen to Machine Gun on the Isle of Wight album..about 4 minutes to 7 minutes in.

No embedding allowedfor some reason, and just stills, but its a live version I haven't heard before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BO9InRlYCo&feature=related

Who is the best first baseman ever? Best left hander? Best hitter? Best outfielder?

The answer in all cases is it depends. You can come up with a short list of who can be considered as the greatest ever, but I don't think you can really say one was the best there ever was.

Randy Rhoades

That guy could shred, that's for sure. RIP.

Jim Root from SlipKnoT and Stone Sour...moves pretty good for a big man.

xactly.