There have been countless great guitarists, but none have quite captured the attention of fans like Jimi Hendrix, as the results of this survey prove. Hendrix, who tragically died in 1970 aged just 27, gained almost 40 percent of the total vote, more than double that achieved by any of the other guitarists on our shortlist (or any others suggested by our readers). 

Hendrix, as Grunge readers seemingly agree, had it all: virtuoso technical ability combined with an idiosyncratic playing style and experimental bent, which expressed itself in progressive, genre-bending studio recordings and show-stopping, headline-making live performances. That he achieved his iconic status in just four years, according to Britannica, only makes his achievements all the more impressive, and that he commands the respect of guitar-lovers 50 years after his death is a testament to his enduring artistry.

But though there can be few complaints about Hendrix being definitively crowned the greatest guitar player of all time, our readers suggest there was a glaring omission on our shortlist: the late, great Eddie Van Halen, who was chosen by over half of the 11 percent of survey responders who voted “Other.” Isn’t it heartwarming to see that Eddie, like all the other greats on this list, looks destined to “not fade away?”