It's whoever you think it is.

I think that R&R has had three transcendant players. By that I mean they made such a mark that their influence is inescapable and inarguable. Not that there aren't better guitarists from a technical sense, and none of the three are my personal favorites (I like them though), but all of them set the guitar playing world on its collective ear.

1. Chuck Berry - he invented rock and roll guitar
2. Jimi Hendrix - he re-invented it
3. Eddie Van Halen - he made it three dimensional

Now everyone's gonna say I've forgotten whoever their favorite is, but being as this is my opinion not theirs I'll assume I'm right until proven otherwise (that's humor, don't get in an uproar).

My favorites by the way are Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh and Jimmy Page. And about a hundred others.

I am very disappointed that everyone of you failed to mention Stevie Ray Vaughn! And what about Joe Satriani? well...my fav guitarists are: SRV, Satch, Hendrix, BB King, and Eric Clapton...but not in any order...except SRV first!

Basically, no one can beat Jimmy Page. Ok maybe Hendrix was more innovative, and Chuck Berry was one of the first, but Page has such diverse talents. He uses all the effects to great use and not forget composing Stairway to heaven and Since i've been loving you... the best piece of blues music ever. Hendrix is also amazin. Talking more modernly, though, slash is great cos he is also diverse, playing acoustic, electric and doing rock, heavy meatal, blues and even slightly country. For feeling alone, Stevie Ray Vaughan is the best though...just beating Peter Green. But definitely Jimmy Page is the best...anyone who can start a band as amazing as Led Zeppelin is amazing.

: who is the best rock guitarist in the world?
: Kirk Hammet-Metallica, Steve Vai, Dimbag Darrel- Pantera, Allan Holdsworth, ??????
: I was just wondering what you thought?
DIMEBAG rocks he is the best by far

: who is the best rock guitarist in the world?
: Kirk Hammet-Metallica is the best guitarist there
ever was and always will be

: who is the best rock guitarist in the world?
: Kirk Hammet-Metallica, Steve Vai, Dimbag Darrel- Pantera, Allan Holdsworth, ??????
: I was just wondering what you thought?
there is a best guitarist, he comes with all the capabilities and style of playing,his qualities are recognisable to steve vai, joe satriani, stevie ray vaughn, jeff healy, v-h, the list goes on and on, but all you have to do just ask him to play any song and he will, that guitarist is unknown and always will be, he is just some guy with his guitar and his amp making it work in his bedroom.

DDUHHHHHHHHH u r all just stupid dickheads of course kirk is the best he has the fastest fingers have u seen him play the master of puppets solo u have a listen to all ther metallica solos and tell me what u think

: who is the best rock guitarist in the world?
: Kirk Hammet-Metallica, Steve Vai, Dimbag Darrel- Pantera, Allan Holdsworth, ??????
: I was just wondering what you thought?

to me none of those, slash is the best he rocks.

Yngwie Malmsteen is the greatest guitarist ever!!!

Alex Lifeson!

: who is the best rock guitarist in the world?
: Kirk Hammet-Metallica, Steve Vai, Dimbag Darrel- Pantera, Allan Holdsworth, ??????
: I was just wondering what you thought?

malmsteen rules

there is a list of good guitarst like

1.jeff beck-2-ritchie blackmore,jimi hendrix-3-eddi vanhalen,johny winter,stive ray voaghan
-4-joe satriani,john petrocci,randy rhoads-5-yangwie malmsteen,marty friedman,jake E lee-
but jeff beck is the best He is god

There's no answer for that. The music is an art. The musiciens are artists. It's like a Van gogh painting, or a Picasso one - which one is the best? The answer is: It depends of our personnal taste. If you want to apart the guitarist's finger ability from is music, in the end there's no musicien but a pure olimpic thecnicist.