A poll came out about a week ago saying Jimmy hendrix was the best.My opinion,he was really good but he didnt live long enough for me to think he was the best.Country music has had alot of good guitarist,Roy clark comes into mind.Rock has had many good ones too.Theres been lots of good ones,any names that you would vote for?I could name many,but id most likely say Jimmy page.
Very, very tuff for me to give a #1. You're right, Roy Clark is a hell of a player, but thats the hard part, theres players like that all over the place. I'll throw a few players at ya that I listen to and think are among the best, here goes in no certain order:
Duane Allman
SRV
Clapton
Warren Haynes
Freddy King
Derek Trucks
Albert King
"It is not the critic who counts:The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena" Teddy Roosevelt
Mark Knopfler
You ain't dead yet! Buy a guitar and get after it.
Note to self, just because it pops into my head doesn't mean it should come out of my mouth.
I'll add Link Wray as a pioneer of many sounds made from a guitar.
Apparently non of you have ever listened to Larry the Cable Guy???
2nd and 3rd would be Roy Clark and Chet.