So many great guitarists

Like nelson61 alluded to it's not always about the speed but the feel

Alex lifeson from rush is superb , Jeff beck , Jimmy page , satriani, Rory Gallagher, Johnny winter , Robert Cray , Steve Hackett in his early genesis days

But I am a man of metal and for me the king of the riff will always be Tony iommi from Sabbath

But that doesn't stop me appreciating Robert Tripp, Richard Thompson , Jeff Buckley who was a great guitarist who died too young

Let's be honest , the Beatles came up with some great guitar sounds , the little gentle licks of in my life are simple and sound superb which for me is what it's all about

A quick mention of queen's of the stone age , and his former band KYUSS

Josh homme got his fuzzy stoner rock sound by plugging his Les Paul into a bass amp !