I got an email this morning and was actually asked by a member who was my favorite rock guitarist of all time, being I talked about Hendrix they wanted to know if it was him, and the second part of the question was did I have a favorite Rock video, so I will answer with just one answer, a must see from beginning to end. The art of passion unfolds at every technique, enjoy this one, for me it just pulls me in and I feel his playing with almost tears of joy , great listening with headphones

Steve Vai, was a student Joe Satriani

Yes I was aware of that, it seems as if though the styles of path went different ways between them other than the speed, to me Steve is more a Melodic player and Joe plays like a can of Red bull wide open most of the time

Wow - thanks for posting that link John - that was a goosebump experience. Very powerful.
 
Via played with Zappa also - that says enough right there.
 
Rock guitarist is hard to define. . . so favorite guitarist becomes even harder to define. . . Kinda like having to pick 'just one' favorite Dead album :-)
 
the Zappa's (Frank and Dweezil) are great.
Steve Morse, David Gilmour, Alex Skolnick, , ,  
currently Nels Cline is at the top of my list.
 
Thanks again for posting that link.

Personally I don't believe in the best any more.
 
The best guitarist will never be televised.

Thanks John, it was nice to see that one again this morning!

Another guitarist I enjoy a great deal is Chris Poland of OHM, Megadeth, Damn the Machine fame.  
 

Music is subjective, so anything, or anyone can be someones best or favorite. Jimi certainly changed the way electric guitar is played. But to call him the best, I don't know. I've heard it said that in heaven, Jimi sits at the feet of Frank Zappa.

Jerry.
 
'nuff said.
 
Bill, tgo

The thread title said favorite not best. There is no way to judge who is best. There is no official scorer at a concert, as far as I know. After all, it's art, not sport.
 
I've enjoyed many guitarists over the years but if I had to name a favorite, I guess I'd go with Pete Townshend....
 
-JP

I don't know that I have a favorite and the answer kind of depends upon what you classify as a rock guitarist. I've always been partial to Larry Carlton's work with Steely Dan and Tommy Bolin with whoever he was with at the time. I also like their work in jazz and fusion.  
 
Keith

Thanks for the link.  Billy Sheehan playing some tasteful bass lines as well.  Steve was one of the first friends at the Alembic myspace.com page.
 
I still enjoy the king of the whammy, Adrian Belew.  He and his Power Trio are on tour coming soon to a city near you.  Worth the price of admission.

My favorite.
 

One thing I always like here is that you can expand yourself....
Danno - thanks for the Ohm link that is SUPER cool. What an awesome trio!!!
I never heard of them and probably never would have save for this community.
 
THANKS!

You are most welcome. I support him by buying his cd's from his site. Same for Trip.BTW thats Ginger Baker's son on drums.