As far as the classic 80s 'shredders' go, I love Satriani! The way he plays is so melodic and smooth, I really find it takes me to another place.
every guitarist is an expert in his niche and so everyone of them should be described as the best in their own turf. I am adding Antonio Carlos Jobim for latin jazz and classic as well as Chet Atkins for country music..
How could you guys even forget Jason Becker? Steve Vai? For me the list is huge, as there is no single person as the best. Music has it's different angles and so does a guitarist, hence there can never be only one. Hendrix for life!
i loved John Pettrucy, because i love his band, dream theater, love the music and the others band members, very skill and influenced my music for my recording..
Jimi Hendrick. No doubt about this. He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage. His playing was effortless. There's not one minute of his recorded career that feels like he's working hard at it – it feels like it's all flowing through him. The most beautiful song of the Jimi Hendrix canon is "Little Wing." It's just this gorgeous song that, as a guitar player, you can study your whole life and not get down, never get inside it the way that he does. He seamlessly weaves chords and single-note runs together and uses chord voicings that don't appear in any music book. His riffs were a pre-metal funk bulldozer, and his lead lines were an electric LSD trip down to the crossroads, where he pimp-slapped the devil.