I like this topic more than just knowing who your favorite is because it let's us see some diversity in your appreciation for guitar players.  Also, this just isn't your top four favorites, it should be who you view as the four best, the innovators, the masters, the legends.

 

For example, my personal favorite is Slash, but I know he doesn't make the "Mt. Rushmore" list.  I would give him an honorable mention because despite him and Axl being nitwits and ruining one of the all time great bands, he is an incredible talent.

 

 

Atop my Mt. Rushmore in no particular order:

 

Jimi Hendrix

Jimmy Page

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Eddie Van Halen

 

 

Picking just four is no easy task, leaving off names like Beck, Clapton and even Les Paul seems wrong, but that's my list. 

 

 

Yours?

My top four...

 

Jimi Hendrix

Brian May

James Hetfield (For being able to sing and shred at the same time, that is beyond skillfull)

Jimmy Page.

 

James Hetfield (For being able to sing and shred at the same time, that is beyond skillfull)

 

As much as I'm not a Metallica fan I do have to agree that that combination of skills is exceptional.

Angus Young

Billy Joe Armstrong

Lil Wayne

Kurt Cobain

Adrian Smith

Joe Satriani

Steve Morse

Jimmy Page

hummm  :???:

 

Jimi Hendrix

Frank Zappa

John Mclaughlin

Rory Gallagher

David Gilmour

DIMEBAG

Jimmy Page

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Eric Clapton

Mark Knopfler

Steve Howe

Jimmy Page

Jimmy page

Ritchie Blackmore

David Gilmour

Angus Young

my list is:

 

Buckethead,

Jimi Hendrix,

Kurt Cobain,

Robin Finck,

John Frusciante,

Kirk Hammett,

Eddie Vedder

 

from this top four:

Buckethead,

Jimi Hendrix,

Kurt Cobain,

Kirk Hammett

Those are some pretty solid lists!

 

I see Angus Young mentioned a couple of times and he's another guy I had a really hard time leaving off the list.  Maybe I should have done a baseball team and asked for your "starting 9"?

 

So many great talents that narrowing it down to any number almost seems unfair.

Paco de Lucia

Jimmy Hendrix

Pierre Bensusan

Jimmy Page

 

Although Pat Methany might belong in Pierre's place.

Hmmm tough one to narrow down. for me im thinking

 

Jimmy Page

Jimi Hendrix

Slash

Mark Knopfler

 

And for the reserves:

 

James Hetfield

Zakk Wild

Eric Clapton

Eddie Van Halen

 

Now to imagine all 8 on stage having a 4v4 shred off. Wow

Jimmy Page

Eddie Van Halen

Al Di Meola

Yngwie Malmsteen

Mark Knopfler

Hmmm tough one to narrow down. for me im thinking

 

Jimmy Page

Jimi Hendrix

Slash

Mark Knopfler

 

And for the reserves:

 

James Hetfield

Zakk Wild

Eric Clapton

Eddie Van Halen

 

Now to imagine all 8 on stage having a 4v4 shred off. Wow

 

An exceptional list of 8 you have there.  Not to be morbid, but imagine the talent and knowledge the world loses when these guys pass away......  I know others will take their place, but imagine the talent and guitar knowledge we lost when Hendrix passed way too young and imagine what he COULD have done has he lived another 27 years (at least).

Jimmy Page

Eddie Van Halen

Al Di Meola

Yngwie Malmsteen

Mark Knopfler

You have a bigger Mt Rushmore than most...... :mrgreen:

Tom MorelloRobin FinckDaron MalakianAdam Jones

 

RUNNER UPS

Kurt Cobain

Aaron NorthShaun Morgan

John 5

For me, not in order:Kiko LoureiroJames HetfieldDave MustaineAngus youngSlashJimi HendrixEddie Van HalenRafael BittencourtAnd the Top 5Jimi HendrixVan HalenJames HetfieldDave MustaineKiko loureiro

http://i.imgur.com/Itjow9e.jpg

My top four, in order:

 

John Petrucci

David Gilmour

Slash

Michael Romeo

my list is:Buckethead,Jimi Hendrix,Kurt Cobain,Robin Finck,John Frusciante,Kirk Hammett,Eddie Vedderfrom this top four:Buckethead,Jimi Hendrix,Kurt Cobain,Kirk Hammett

Interesting you chose Eddie Vedder. I do like his style. Just Breathe and The End are good examples of his style that I like.

Jimi Hendrix

Eddie Van Halen

Mike McCready

Adam Jones

Jimmy Page

Slash

Jimmy Page

John Frusciante

Mark Knopfler

Thurston Moore / Lee Renaldo

 

so many other gretas being left off, but that's my list

 

Brian May

David Gilmore

Lindsey Buckingham

Buckethead

 

would be my runner up list

Buckethead

Zappa

Johnny Greenwood

Dean Ween

Mikael Akerfeldt

Robert Johnson

B.B.

Jimi

Jaco Pastorius

(I know, he was a bassist, but innovative as crap) 

Zappa (with a good lead)

Jimi

Adrian Belew

Joe Pass

My 2 pennies worth.

Steve Vai: ( He played for Zappa at the ripe old age of 19. Are you kidding me ? ) He was  listed in the liner notes as Impossible guitar parts and stunt guitar, by Frank Zappa.

Randy Rhoads: ( Not necessarily the cleanest player out there but at the time he was doing things no one else was ) ( Career cut WAY to short by his untimely death. )

Darrel Abbot ( Dimebag ) : Frigging woke the metal world up with a new sound and different style.  Some of the best solo's I've ever heard. ) Brilliant.

Dave Mustaine : Highly underrated and a frigging genius as far as song writing goes. ( Don't believe me ? Try playing Lucretia . ) Holy Wars/ Punishment Due is composed as well as almost anything I can think of.

Many others but if I HAD to choose just 4,. I would gladly take the ability to play like any of them. I put Steve Vai at the top of this list because I KNOW he could play any of the others stuff.

Edited March 29, 201510 yr by Attitude
Because I'm yet to perfect a post on the first attempt.