My top 5, no order. Just my preference.
Robert Fripp
Kevin Shields
Ry Cooder
Phil Ochs
Mick Ronson

I don't think they would ever play against each other. THink they would take a hit, grab their guitars and just jam and feed off of one another.

But to answer the question I am going to barely take SRV on this one. I like his version of Voodoo Child better than Jimi's. SRV didn't have the catchy riffs that Jimi had, but then again SRV's songs were unique in that it seemed like he just picked up the guitar and improvised in every song. He really didn't have a typical song structure.

And I still am confused on why BB isn't on this list. You said he was soley a blues guitarist, however many of the guitarists on this list are strongly rooted in blues guitar and I would label SRV a blues guitarist. The only SRV song I label rock is Voodoo Child and it is a cover. Also if you look at your critera, BB King gets an A in most of the subjects. BB King strongly influenced many of the guitarists on your list and he impacted both the rock and the blues.

Well I consider SRV blues rock, he played on Lets Dance too which was very much a pop album.

I just feel like drawing a line, adding BB would mean having to add Buddy Guy and Albert King and all the other big electric blues guitarists, and then people will say "you might as well throw in all the fusion guys too".

This is just my opinion, I'll add a few more names to it and then I want to start my little blog project.

And Robert Johnson! He became a guitar virtuoso when it was still uncool to do so, when even playing guitar meant you were poor or insignificant. I think he claimed to have met "the Devil at the crossroads" and sold his soul to learn how to play. (This is the same man the character Tommy Johnson is based upon in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou). Now that's badass for a 20's era-guitar player.

Actually, Tommy Johnson was a real guy, a delta blues musician who according to legend ALSO sold his soul to Satan to learn how to play guitar, that and his last name is just a big coincidence, he wasn't related to Robert Johnson in any way.

nice list but ur missing Herman Lee

^
Did you just google and end up over here?:p:

Anyways, Malmsteen @ 20 seems a bit high to me.
And i would certainly have Gilmour in the top 10.

Malmsteen, I'm no fan of the guy, but he was the first shred guitarist to use a very neoclassical dominated style and he's influenced countless guitarists, so he gets his props for influence and originality.

Why isn't Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah on there?

Here's my top 5

Angus Young
Brian Setzer
Eddie Van Halen
Stevie Ray Vaughan
John 5