Most of my Top 5 are based more on their amazing songwriting abilities and uber-solid rhythm playing than their “shredding” talent – though most of them have laid down some tasty solos over their careers (though it is doubtful any of them would have been described as “shred”). Again, as others have said in previous posts, there are 1001 ways to describe “best,” these are my highly subjective picks:

1. Paul Weller (The Jam, Style Council, solo)
2. Andy Partridge (XTC)
3. Bernard Butler (Suede)
4. Bill Frisell (monster avant-garde creative genuis…and nice guy)
5. The Edge – definitely NOT a “shredder,” but truly original.