I don't give a rats ass about technical ability. Mark Knopfler, Santana and Clapton (post Cream) and Gary Moore (post Lizzy) bores me to death. I have no particular fondness for Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen and not even really Hendrix. I love Iommi, of course.
I realize that all the ones mentioned in this thread are brilliant guitarists. It doesn't matter one dime to me when their music says nothing to me about my life.
Which brings me to my next point. My favorite guitarist, hands down, must be Johnny Marr of The Smiths. He may not be able to lay down a solo like Gary Moore or Eddie Van Halen, but to me his playing stile is far more unique. There are thousands of technical masters out there, and frankly I can't tell the difference. To me it's much more about the melodic tone and style of the guitarist, and of course the sound. Johnny Marr is unique, his sound is unmatched, his picking style completely his own (okay, Peter Buck comes close when he's at his absolute best), well, not only his picking style. Play me some Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen and I can't tell the difference. And I can't be bothered to even try. Play one tone from Marr and the entire world will come a little more into focus.
I mean, listen to this, for god's sake:
The Smiths- The Smiths- 06- Still ill - YouTube
The Smiths- William, it was really nothing - YouTube
The Smiths- This Charming Man - YouTube
Brilliant! Yeah, you can shove your solos up you know what for all I care.
Man, Mark Knopfler can play guitar from now till kingdom come, and he will never even in his wildest dreams, in terms of melody and style, come close to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=700I5J_305I