Clapton was a progenitor of the British Blues Boom and gets props for that if nothing else... Cream used to entertain me but the only thing of theirs I can handle anymore is the BBC sessions... Derek And The Dominoes were great, especially live, but only in certain moods, and I think Eric managed one good solo record.

SRV redefined the blues for the "modern" age and made some great discs on the way but ultimately the wave of copycats was nauseating.

Jimi died too soon to fully realize his vision - we will all be picking up the pieces for decades to come, if not centuries, and not just guitar players.

Buddy Guy's SWEET TEA moves me deeply.

Marc Ribot has more soul in his little finger than most "blues" players.

Likewise Neil Hagerty.

Jeff Beck does some cool things, but rarely am I drawn back to listen to him. I have picked up some great technique from Jeff Beck, right hand ideas and twang bar possibilities, and his sense of tone, what he can do with a strat marshall and wah, is ineffable.

How about the gent from Flower Travellin' Band? Asian blues, but blues nonetheless.

I`ve always thought of Clapton as being boring and overrated despite the fact that I do like his work with Cream, whereas with Jeff Beck I think he`s a much better guitarist than Clapton and the same could be said for Stevie Ray Vaughan as being superior to Clapton as well.

I also like Billy Gibbons and think the boogie blues 70`s sound of ZZ Top to be a great listen especially the "Deguelle" album.

As for Hendrix and Page along with Blackmore, probably the three best guitarists of all time!

Pretty good list but Slash at number 7!!!!

Guys guys guys guys- Steve Vai>all the above.

And btw you cant not like the beard on Gibbons.

I think the argument concerning technical guitarists like Steve Vai and those that play with a genuine passion like Hendrix has been flogged to death on here. Most people on here tend to get bored of the precision players like Steve Vai.

Beards and boiler suits are a rather cool look:thumb:

Why didn't you make a poll out of this?

Clapton, Beck and Page would win for me, I love Zep, Cream and Beck's solo work and some Yardbird stuff is pretty kickass. As much as I love Hendrix, you lumped him with Vaughn who I admire but never really listen to and Gibbons who is great but I really don't like ZZ Top.

Beck, SRV, Jimi, then all the rest. And to be honest, as a guitarist, Page was pedestrian; his real genius was as a producer. I mean, he's got more clams than a Maine seabed.

Have you seen him play with Zappa plays Zappa? Its insane im never bored of the improv

These comparisons are a bit precious; these are all great guitarists. We all have our favorites, and for me it's an easy pick - a tie with Jimi & Beck.