For sure John Petrucci!!!
Jimi Hendrix
thar is no favorite guitarist because the guitarist that is selectively doing his hit song whether rock blues or contemporary is proubably the best at what he does and outhers are simply mimiking him also rock riffs seem to be combined or built a lot from some outher artists styles ? to mention a few Alvin Lee, Johnny Winter ,Joe Walsh Keith Richard,Jimmy Hendrix,Tony iommi,Zakk Wilde, ect
I like Jimmy Page (ignoring the use of a violin's bow as a mere gimmick) and Tony Iommi because there was a sense of adventure in their music. The guitar just seemed to take you somewhere when they played it, and then return back to the beginning in a full circle. Jimi Hendrix pioneered that kind of guitar playing for sure, but those two guys perfected it and made a bullet train out of a bobsled (if that metaphor makes any sense).
i'd have to say my favorite guitarist is jimi hendrix, he really can't be touched. shuggie otis and john scofield are definitely some of my all time favorites though.
Jerry Cantrell, anything he does is amazing! Oh, and who could forget Buckethead?
And my fave bassist is Les Claypool.
John Lee Hooker is pretty damn amazing
Too fucking many to choose one, but at the moment I'd say either Joe Satriani or David Gilmour (speed isn't everything)