I hear ya on the "gently weeping" part of it.  And maybe he was trying to "steal the show."  But the lady can sure play!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkU_E7jFvSk

Not saying he's the best (how do you even begin to qualify that?), but as far as modern rock guitarists go, Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine just might be:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkeEhSjokQ&feature=related

And as far as underrated goes, The Edge from U2 doesn't get nearly the amount of recognition he should:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G48v_94KGlI&feature=fvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v5YWSBD23U

You're kidding right??

And this means what exactly? That you think he's overrated or that you think he already gets enough praise?

Don't see how anyone could say who was the "best". The all had their own styles & influence but Hendrix would def have to be up there among the best. Groundbreaking at the time & probably more instinctual with raw purity & tangents that were unduplicable in those days. Alot of great folks I'm sure I haven't heard (& probably many noone ever has that could blow you away) but of the 1's I have, some of my favs for just pure guitar work -

Hendrix, SRV, Plant, J. Beck, Alvin Lee, Carlos, Knopfler, Sartriani, Eric Johnson, D. Allman, Clapton & alot of the older blues guys - B. Guy, BB King, B. Miles, etc. All good stuff -

Meant Page, not Plant 

But hell if you threw in some of the country or all-around guys, you'd have to bring in folks like Chet Atkins, Willie, Roy Clark & on & on. But top 3 of the most influential, powerful & innovative at the time would prob go with Jimi, Page & SRV -

imagine how much more diff rock would sound w/out him...

Well said, cashin.

J. Beck, Alvin Lee, Carlos, Knopfler, Sartriani, Eric Johnson, D. Allman, Clapton

These guys all think Page as being the best. Great list though Cashin..... 

methinks you kinda meant.....best ROCK guitarists of last 25 years or so......like best QB ever discussion with only recent guys mentioned......wtf?
too many to mention.....here's a few that can play a little....
chet atkins
wes montgomery
robert johnson
ry cooder
george benson
DJANGO REINHARDT     most influential pre-rock guitarist hands down.....les paul's favorite....Hendrix' "band of gypsies"....named in honor.....(he was a gypsy)....due to accident only had 2 fingers he could play with....very interesting dude
stevie ray vaughn....don't think was mentioned
stanley jordan......check him out here....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjXN3OLgoqs
  

Frank Zappa is untouchable.  This is 1969 before he really crafted the art of the guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS-QT49oL0A

Willie the Pimp   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVrzpstCyi0&feature=related

Solo starts about 1:30.  Guy was insane. 

I'm rescinding my whole opinions and thoughts on "best" in terms of guitarists.   Backing the heck out. What a bee hive I walked into. LOL

Gut check, in studyig around looking for info on my point that I am amdandoning as far as guitar dudes go....I had a blast learning about a lot of history that I didn't know of, and revisiting much that I did. Anyway, going through all that stuff as far as anything I could find as far as "guitar" goes was a lot of fun, enlightening, see your point mded in your posts above, and nailed about 40 more cool tunes to feed the music library......No hard feelings, right?

typo tard

Another incredible guitarist I hadn't thought about in awhile or seen mentioned here is Leo Kottke. When it comes to innovative acoustic pickin, this guy was tremendous. 6 or 12 string & could do it all - folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, a bit of rock, you name it. Caught him a couple times in the 70's & once about 10 yrs later & he'd just sit there totally expressionless almost trance-like & amaze folks. Hear he's still around & doing shows - good to know.

cashin, how smart are you on buning a disc out of itunes?

Actually want to burn a movie.

I put it into "playlist" and recall doing it from there. Can you be of any help?

DH - sorry, no help here. Don't know much about that stuff other than it can be done. GL bud - I'm sure there are peeps here who could help

I argue that hendrix is the reason why we have such crap music today. After him everyone and their momma took up guitar and never really got to the skill level he had...so we were left with the winger's and smash mouth's of the world.

Andres Segovia

and thats not even his best shit....

Jimmy was the best.

One notable not mentioned - Ace Frehley

forgot about this one......Hendrix hangin backstage with the Stones....song is one he did with Brian Jones.....'67 or so....."my little one".....pretty damn cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqqaw9iN0Js&feature=related

randy rhoads