Who is or was the greatest Guitarist?

I got into a debate with some friends the other day and we really struggled with who is or was the greatest rock guitartist? Some said Jimi Hendrix, others said Duane Allman. Jimmy Page, Santana, Eddie Van Halen...who is the best of all time? This needs to be resolved. Thanks for your input.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa Potera (Newstrand) on February 7, 2008 at 11:15pm

For sure Eddie Van Halen!!!

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Permalink Reply by Blake Cannon on February 8, 2008 at 11:28am

Consider it resolved -

The greatest guitarist to have ever lived - Stevie Ray Vaughan live at the El Mocambo
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c9b_1182285688

Fender Promotion with SRV playing "Little Wing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdYRzH10L2M&feature=related

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Permalink Reply by John Amodeo on February 8, 2008 at 11:28am

Geez, you guys need to get out more! His name is:

PHIL KEAGGY (www.philkeaggy.com)

Runner Up:
MIKE OLDFIELD

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Permalink Reply by Steven Roberts on February 8, 2008 at 12:36pm

Michael, the challenge is that there are so many more to consider, Johnny Winter, Steve Vai, Yngway Malmsteen (spelling aside), Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, Keith Richards (simply for living as long as he has!), Ritchie Blackmore, Angus Young, Joe Satriani, Michael Schenker....to name a few. In my opinion, simply due to the sheer WOW...new sound and creativity that they brought to the market, Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Van Halen would split my top billing. If you add song-writing and style/versatility however, you have to consider guys like Dave Matthews, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Prince, Joe Walsh, Steve Howe, Terry Kath, Bonnie Raitt....This likely on adds to the complication of deciding on the BEST guitarist, but for what it's worth.......

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Wilkinson on February 8, 2008 at 1:12pm

Dimebag Darrell- Pantera!

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Permalink Reply by Mark O'Connor on February 8, 2008 at 1:24pm

These debates will live forever!!
Top five:
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Slash
Angus Young

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Permalink Reply by Mark Hyman on February 8, 2008 at 4:08pm

I've got to go with Stevie Ray Vaughn

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Permalink Reply by Cynthia A Stutz on February 8, 2008 at 4:33pm

Another great is Prince.

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Gentile on February 9, 2008 at 8:59am

Yeah - go Angus. When I was in college he was THE MAN!!! AC/DC rules! Everyone else was into Styx and Yes and that sort of stuff. Angus is am original rebel -- their music is just plain fun. And ROCKIN.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen Sharib on February 10, 2008 at 7:13am

Bonnie Raitt's pretty good.

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Permalink Reply by Sylvia Dahlby on February 10, 2008 at 8:36pm

The greatest living rock guitar player is Jimmy Page. The greatest dead one is Jimi Hendrix. And the greatest of the undead is Keith Richards (methinks he's either a vampire or a mummy, doncha think he looks like Imhotep?).

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Gentile on February 11, 2008 at 10:53am

Sylvia, great post. Keith is so underrated. I used to hang with him for approx 2 years back in late 70's -- we had a mutual friend. Don't get the wrong impression -- I wasn't his best friend or anything like that but we used to hang out at a mutual friend's apartment in NYC (when he was in town). Cool guy and great guitarist -- am a true Stones fan and always will be -- even though they are as old as the hills. Keith is a bit mummy-like. He was a great pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean 3.