1. Tony Rice - For my money, the gold standard by which all other guitarists are to be judged.
2. Doc Watson - Little known fact but, in addition to being one of the great bluegrass pickers of all time, he was also a blazing rockabilly artist in the 50's.
3. Bill Kirchen - co-founder and leader of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. Unfortunately, his goofy stage persona causes a lot of people to wrongly believe that he's just a novelty act, but this cat can play like nobody's business.
4. Don Rich - Thirty years after his death, guitarists are still struggling to emulate his style. The man who invented "chicken pickin'". What else can you say?
5. Laurence Juber - OK, forget that he was the guitarist for Wings for ten years. His solo acoustic stuff (particularly his tribute album to Harold Arlen) is fantastic. Not only technically brilliant, but his music has a quality that really draws you in.
6. Clarence White - Brilliant
7. Albert Lee - I don't believe you become such a respected and sought after side man by accident.
8. Brian Setzer - No, really!
9. Steve Wariner - Known mostly as an 80's countrypolitan crooner, that cat had some deadly jazz chops. He could easily hold his own with guys like Earl Klugh, and Larry Carlton, with whom he frequently collaborated.
10. Norman Blake - a name probably not very well known outside of hardcore bluegrass circles, but it sure should be.
11. Peter Mayer - Most well known as lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, he also has several side projects and solo albums that feature his tasteful, warm tones.
12. Glen Campbell - It's really a shame that he gets such little attention as a guitarist, but the Rhinestone Cowboy and former Beach Boy could play like nobody else. He was once one of the most sought after session men in the business, playing on everything from "Strangers in the Night" to "Tequila".
13. Martin Barre - The Jethro Tull guitarist excells at everything from folk to rock to jazz. One of the most sadly underrated guitarists of the last thirty years.
