Who is your overall favorite guitarist?

Debbie Davies yes!

Robm321, Yngwei...yikes! Cannot agree more. Generally at least for me, I really don't appreciate those who are technically proficient or even brilliant but then insist on showing off with just fast runs on scales without real musical and emotional artistry. In a way though perhaps not a composer of the song itself per se, all do "compose" or construct their solos...I pick a well constructed solo over fast runs any day...not that the ability to play fast in a technically way is a good thing: u just need to when & how...eg. Alan Holdsworth.

Similiarly though different there are some well regarded guitarists that for some reason don't resonate with me. May just be a taste thing....Al Dimeola, Martin Taylor are two of the examples.

Some guitarists active today who find very different, interesting, and really like include

Charlie Hunter (TJ Kirk, his own group, all over the place, plays an 8 string guitar which allows to play base lines and at times imitate an organ)
Kurt Rosenwinkel (Jazz, angular and intense...reminds the great John McCalughlin not sound wise but emotionally)
Jeff Parker (underground, Chicago, solo album out: tasteful and a thinking man's approach if you will but also great and interesting comping)
Rodney Jones (funk on!)
Anthony Wilson (perhaps more known for being in Diana Krall's band, but check out his solo albums!)
Eric Johnson (actually a fan for sometime, but noticed nobody seems to have mentioned him..new album Bloom is quite good though as usual a couple of duds too)

A recent and drop my jaw discover for me..Bireli Lagrene...check out his Front Page album with Dennis Chambers or live trio Live in Marciac

Some suggestions: less well known, underappreciated yet fantastic guitairists...check these out

Jeff Parker: The Relatives
Kurt Rosenwinkel: The Next Step
Wayne Krantz: 2 Drink Minimum
Bireli Lagrene: Live in Marciac

Key is orginality as there are so many technically proficient. Orgniality in their solos, or a distinct style/sound...at least to me. That's what truly distinguishes the great from very good

Jimi Hendrix (the baddest of them all), Stevie Ray Vaughn (among all his impersonators only the guy in the band Indigenous can hang), Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Edge, BB King, Buddy , John McLaughlin, Wes Montgomery, John Scofield.....still so many!

So all time favorite....have to go w/ Jimmy

among the living: John Scofield

Boldstrummer: I am not saying technical proficiency is easy at all...but I still think an artist has to go beyond that to be great. Classical guitarists should be no different...its the case in any art form.

some who seem to be missing from the discussion

Reverend Billy G of ZZ Top
Robin Trower
Robben Ford (check out the band Jing Chi)
Scott Henderson (especially Vital Tech Tones w/ Victor Wooten and Steve Smith)
Warren Haynes of Govt Mule
John McLaughlin

two more who have their unique sound....Charlie Hunter with his 8 string and Bill Laswell

there are simply too many....so let's turn this around. Who is the most over-rated? To start out a bit controversially...for me one is Steve Vai. Great technique, no soul nor character. It ain't music to me. Don't get me wrong I do like metal at times. Eddie Van Halen is kool when he is on (well in the early days).