Tim Baxter wrote: Not solos, since they're all instrumentalists, but you cannot go wrong with the Holy Trinity of instrumental guitar: Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, and Link Wray. Sheer perfection, from all three.
Along those lines, Jessica from Duane Allman, Little Martha from the same, and Duane and Dickey Betts on Blue Sky (technically a solo, but could stand up as a song on its own).
Also, Cliff's of Dover.
Other than the ones mentioned, plus Clapton, Gary Moore, Django Reinhardt, B.B. King, Son House, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Chet Atkins and on and on...
This one stands out for me as a relatively recent entry, one that you really wouldn't expect (it really starts around the 3:28 mark):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y
Santana's Black Magic Woman (full length) and a lot of SRV's stuff.
SRV is one of the few people who I remembered exactly where I was when I heard he had died.
So far, I've heard them all, and in my humble opinion, SRV is still the king. Too bad we can't demand a face off.
But then again, we haven't heard from Johnny A. or Derek Trucks fans yet, which I don't happen to be one of. But I don't deny their skill and ability.
Boston's Smokin always gets me. Its actually not the greatest guitar break, but any song that can rock that hard with a harpsichord is cool in my book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GzMx9CnhVk
Nugent's Stranglehold is pretty sweet too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3d7QgZr7g
Lindsey Buckingham's Big Love in the live version kills it. Anyone who can play triplets along side even beats with one hand is berkeleying talented. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZZp76M4NGc
Zeppelin's I can't quit you baby has some genius in it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPDs_4gW2ns
Dylan's Boots of Spanish Leather has some brilliant picking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am4xcYmdJiw
So does his I was Young When I left Home. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_00ShGEqB4
Tallest Man on Earth has some talented picking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG2ccH8jlCA
Not my favorite, but I really like Tom Morello's solo in Like a stone. Bears mention as he has his own way of assaulting the eardrums.
curtis73 wrote: Nugent's Stranglehold is pretty sweet too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3d7QgZr7g
I'm +/- on Nugent but I consider Strangelhold to a be a masterpiece.
The late, great, John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom."
As a kid in Montana, I never heard blues music, until I saw The Blues Brothers. I was never the same.
No Eric Clapton love?
drummerfromdefleopard wrote: No Eric Clapton love?
One of the finest for sure. His acoustic album is in my perennial favorites; I could put signe up there. But he isn't on the same solo level as the rest. Think of him like a Miata. Amazing. But a corvette, or an s2000, or an e36 m3 is better in the extreme.
In reply to drummerfromdefleopard:
I mentioned Clapton as well, as I am a fan of his music, plus he influenced a lot of the younger guys on the list.
This is the best classic rock-styled solo that too few people have heard. There was a point in the early 90's when I obsessed over every note and nuance of it. Between this and the shoegaze era, it pretty much defined how I approached guitar. 
For whole song-anything by buckethead Favorite solo-guitar solo after slow section in gamma ray's "new world order"
curtis73 wrote: Lindsey Buckingham's Big Love in the live version kills it. Anyone who can play triplets along side even beats with one hand is berkeleying talented. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZZp76M4NGc
Not to mention sing while playing it. Yes - possibly one of the most amazing solo guitar/vocal pieces ever.
Duke - Not sure I agree with you about EVH and his solos. They pretty fit the overall tone of the song perfectly.
And I agree with Tim about Cinnamon Girl. 
Randy Rhodes' Mr Crawley is defintely a favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3LvhdFEOqs
SRV- Riveria Paradise, Lenny and Life by the Drop all give me goosebumps when I hear them.
I am a fan of Derek Trucks but there isn't one of his songs that stands out to me. Same with Joe Bonamassa.
Tom Morello is a machine. Rage Against The Machine's debut album is just a solid guitar album from start to finish. It was so good that I don't think they could match it the rest of the time they were together.
novaderrik wrote: Kirk Hammett pretty much kills it in the solos in Unforgiven 1 and 3..
I think he said in interview that he felt his solo for Unforgiven was what he felt was his perfect guitar solo.
Personally, my favorite is the bit near the end of "One" with the descending sets of quadruplets. I'm not a music-talkin'-guy so here is a link: https://youtu.be/sXPkmIwwobA?t=6m34s
This sucks in a way because I hate the actual song. It's too repetitive and egregious.
Jumper K. Balls wrote: I am a bit of an odd duck. I am a guitar player who pretty much hates guitar solos. Particularly the really technical ones. Most of the time they pull me out of the melody of the song. Some players just do it because they think they have to, as in "OK guys the song is halfway over, time for me to wank off for a few measures" I like em short sweet and simple. I think the Undertones nailed it with "Teenage Kicks" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAtUw6lxcis If I never hear another triplet again I will die a happier man.
I agree, so much, with all the things you just said. That's why I like "Bold as Love." Those two solos are as much an integral part of the song as the verses. That's the genius of Hendrix. His guitar playing was so much more than just "wanking off for a few measures." Also, thanks for that. I laughed into my scrambled eggs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5PeDMIEMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyg1xh_mBw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HGNnsKO8jc
Stevie, Robin, Joe, Jimmy, Dick & more all rolled into one.
Not a wanker or hacker or a flailer very polished. So many different sounds.
The first song of this mix he has a sustained pace that (would make Roy Clark blush) is unbelievable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKtP-_ZzxYA
akamcfly wrote: Not my favorite, but I really like Tom Morello's solo in Like a stone. Bears mention as he has his own way of assaulting the eardrums.
yeah, "assaulting" is a good word to describe it..
You know... I really dig SRV, Jimi, and understand why folks like EVH (though not my sound), but I took a listen to Brothers In Arms, and it is just so gripping... Knopfler is not only technically excellent, but takes that to another emotional level that EVH can't.
In reply to Teh E36 M3:
I agree. As much as I like Stevie Ray, I enjoy Mark a lot, maybe because he's still with us and continues to entertain us. I actually think he's improved with age, like a lot of artists. One of my absolute favorite performances is his "Brothers In Arms" live in Berlin, 2007, available on YouTube to anybody interested in investigating (no link ... I'm an enabler, not a spoon-feeder). Another great song of his is "So Far From the Clyde," from his Get Lucky CD. The best. Mark is definitely an "intellectual" artist. Love his guitar work and love his lyrics! You know, he's a car guy too?
I adore Slash to bits. Also a big fan of Brian May. But my current fave is this Canadian, Ian Thornley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuhzlSQovxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HmW9rVAtVs
BlueInGreen44 wrote:Jumper K. Balls wrote: I am a bit of an odd duck. I am a guitar player who pretty much hates guitar solos. Particularly the really technical ones. Most of the time they pull me out of the melody of the song. Some players just do it because they think they have to, as in "OK guys the song is halfway over, time for me to wank off for a few measures" I like em short sweet and simple. I think the Undertones nailed it with "Teenage Kicks" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAtUw6lxcis If I never hear another triplet again I will die a happier man.I agree, so much, with all the things you just said. That's why I like "Bold as Love." Those two solos are as much an integral part of the song as the verses. That's the genius of Hendrix. His guitar playing was so much more than just "wanking off for a few measures." Also, thanks for that. I laughed into my scrambled eggs.
I'm right on board with you. I'm a self-loathing guitarist. I hate obligatory "look at me" solos where the guitarist is less interested in contributing to the song and more interested in his 8 bars in the limelight. Don't get me wrong--I love a ripping guitar solo, but I can't stand the "just wait til the solo!"-type guitarists.
In my early days of playing, my guitar teacher told me not to get too hung up on Hendrix's solos and to listen to his rhythm playing. This was while I was trying to learn "Ezy Ryder", which is essentially a funk song. The funk is all about rhythm.
Hendrix's extensive work as a soul sideman gave him that rhythm and touch. He was a SPECTACULAR rhythm player.
In reply to Lesley: re Ian Thornley
I like his voice and his playing. I'll add Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar and Grady as another Canadian who knows his way around a guitar. Often a double neck SG.
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