Hard cutting it down to five, but here's the finalists:

Mark Knopfler

Richie Blackmore

Dick Dale

Charo

Esteban

Cool band, but no.

Are you sure Johnny? The internet disagrees with you.

All right, already.

Eddie & the Showmen

On their few 45s though, some were listed as Eddie and the Showmen.

TO

lots of blues players in these lists. lots of 60's and 70's rock. lots of gunslingers. music has happened since, y'all. outside of the blues genre, however, there's been a move away from the guitar 'solo' (even the newer metal is getting away from flagrant guitar). players are still good, however, just contributing more to song structure and less to 'parachute in after second chorus blues guitar solo" styles.

my list:

harrison and/or townsend. these are 60's / 70's era players that refused the stereotype of the day and played solid rhythm guitar that, as a result, allowed the bass and drum players to step out of the rhythm box and create some timeless songs.

andy summers. the only redeeming thing to come out of the 80's, except for perhaps johnny marr.

morello. a player that played the song first. a standout amongst all the other derivative guitar that was happening in the 90's, except for perhaps jonny greenwood; i'd love to see a guitar cage match between those two guys.

omar rodriguez lopez. you want guitar rock? the mars volta's first album. latin? metal? prog? sure to give santana the night sweats.

ed droste. have you heard what the new alternative music is sounding like? grizzly bear? alt-j? very prog-ish. song structures that confuse the mind. weird harmonies. guitar work that supports it all.

performance bits include a short throw shifter, about 5 more hp, and sport suspension.

I have the SE pamphlet. I'll scan & post it. Boasts lots of things.

My favorites are

Robby krieger
Slash
Santana

I saw Robby Krieger at a small local bar here in like '92 or so. He rocked hard, did all doors stuff. It was great.

I had no idea but the story of his early years is pretty cool. This guy started young!
Larry Carlton - My Sonic Island

1-EVH
2-Jimi
3-Page
4-Knopfler
5-Clapton
And an honorable mention to a name I haven't seen on this thread- might be a reason for that.... John Mayer

From Larry Carlton's website:

For a time, he played in the South Bay surf band Eddie and the Showmen, still an obscure favorite among 1960s surf music enthusiasts.

Am I missing something here? What part doesn't meet the question's criteria?

Just wonderin'...........

TO

It's because I'm the judge. :p

Can't reduce to 5....how about 7? no order here..

Hendrix
Page
Montrose
Satriani
Vaughan
Santana
Eddie

There are many more but these are the masters excluding classical that is.

Damn....Forgot Alex Lifeson of RUSH...

Anybody remember him?

R-30 was my fav concert ever. Man, what a show!!!!

I noticed that Glen Campbell hasn't been mentioned. :(

I almost forgot Herman Li. I'll have to punt Blackmore from my top 5 to make room for him.

I'll play...

1) Alex Lifeson
2) David Gilmour
3) Mark Knoppler
4) The Edge
5) Jessie Cook