I'm absolutely amazed that this managed to make it to 25 pages, covering technical virtuosos and even shred guitar throughout, and there wasn't even so much as a single mention of Jason Becker. Becker was an absolute shred pioneer at the very least worthy of mention or something. For sheer technical skill, speed, clarity, and even improvisation, Vai can't touch him, Stump can't touch him, Malmsteen can't touch him. In fact, the only person who I'd even venture to say could come close to him in any of those categories would likely be Impellitteri, but he still gets sloppy (Not necessarily a bad thing) at times. Becker was a neo-classical god, a complete prodigy at sixteen, and even after becoming permanently paralyzed, continued to write and compose music for nothing but the sake of music. Whether it's blues, classical, or some over-the-top shredfest, Becker has no doubt done it with complete and utter ease.
And then people mentioning influential guitarists and nobody bothering to bring up Link Wray even once? The guy practically introduced the entire concept of distortion, popularized power chords, and was really an innovator in guitar playing. Sure, guys like Hendrix came along and influenced countless more and set these 'standards', but there are more than enough music critics and enthusiasts out there that say Hendrix and that entire playing style wouldn't even exist without guys like Link Wray.
Are either of these guys the 'best'? One might be technically so, but that's it. Is either the greatest? Likely not. But they at least receive a hell of a lot more recognition than some of the guys being thrown out there.
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