no question it's Hendrix... uhm, and malmsteen comes next in my opinion..

Fair enough.... I wasn't disputing the fact that the guy was incredibly talented... but quite obviously, the first person who comes to mind when the words "best ever guitarist" are uttered, is going to be Hendrix.

So I figured.... maybe the question could be "greatest guitarist apart from Hendrix", perhaps? Cos he is obviously the greatest. Nobody can dispute that.

I adore Hendrix, but the thing is that he was primarily innovative for his "sound", there are plenty of players that play just as well if not better...in terms of raw technical prowess, I'd probably say Al Di Meola is hard to beat...Joe Pass, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Robert Fripp are also very high on my list...but in terms of pure "listenability", Bill Frisell's probably my all-time favorite...

What about Robert Johnson (I think that's his name)? There is a legend that he sold his soul to the devil to be the best guitar player ever (they also reference him in Oh Brother Where Art Thou-- he is the African-American guitar player that they save from the KKK).

Robert Johnson was a great bluesman, but I wouldn't consider him to be the greatest guitar player ever...

No that was Jimi Hendrix that's why he died at such a young age (besides the fact that he was a drug adict)
Anyways the second after hendrix would be Eric Clapton. Not saying that he was the best at playing the guitar but he had a lot of great songs.

Actually, BJF -- the legend does refer to Robert Johnson: http://www.deltahaze.com/johnson/legend.html

i would have to say jimmy page or jimi hendrix

some of my favorites:

David Bowie
Trey Anastasio
Hendrix
Prince

Robby Kreiger
SRV
Pete Townshend
Nigel Tufnel
Keith Richards
Jesus
Ralph Machhio in crossroads