Favourite Guitarists

1. Buckethead

2. SRV

3. Can't decide (Michael Batio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Guthrie Govan)

I play guitar, so I lean more toward ability than compositional skills. If you asked who were my favorite composers who play guitar, Buckethead would still be at the top of the list, but the rest of the list would be different.

@digsmithd 

As a guitarist i have been on the hunt for out side the box players

Nick Johnston's Remarkably Human is the best guitar album I've heard in 30 years. I didn't list him here because, as a guitarist myself, I judge based on skill with the instrument, not skill writing a tune, and while Johnston is very skilled (although not what I would call a virtuoso - I'm very picky with that term), this album is more of a compositional masterpiece.

For acoustic, anything by Ewan Dobson is a virtuosic treat and usually a little different than the norm. My favorite may be his self-titled album. Also, some albums from Estas Tonne.

If you're into progressive metal, Michael Romeo's War of the Worlds Part 2 is an epic cinematic compositional masterpiece with virtuosic guitar. Romeo's guitar skills are up there with the likes of Petrucci. And if any classical snobs think rock guys can't write symphonic cinematic music equal to the best the movie world has to offer, well, they are sadly mistaken. Romeo plays, programs and orchestrates all the instruments. Great vocals by Dino Jelusick.