Best shredder.

GoldenSpiral wrote: do you really consider jazz guitarists like Mclaughlin, Di Meola and Eric Jonson shredders? The only REAL shred guitarists on there are Malmsteen, Vai, Satch, Buckethead and Petrucci (well, those are the ones I know anyway). but the point is, a HUGE distinction needs to be made between jazz and shred.  totally different styles of playing. but, hell, dont listen to me, Im just a bass player.

Yes, it's a shame that shred has become a genre itself (although technical ability has always been respected and demonstrated with cadenzas and stuff). But if you look at the term as refering strictly to someone who plays fast, the jazz/fusion guys would fit right in. And since most of the players metioned have developed their skill to ridiculous speed, they're all roughly equal in that aspect of playing, so its logical to pick a guitarist whose playing appeals more rather than who's fastest.

There is no such thing as a good shredder.

Mindlessly fast playing is a waste of time; when you judge a guitarist by "number of notes per second" it's simply time to give up.

Most great guitarists can shred if they want (Hackett can play as fast as anyone on that list (witness his incredible acoustic playing), but he doesn't waste his time simply churning out notes at maximum rate). For another guitarist who could play with incredible speed and combine it with taste and delicacy, listen to Eric Bell on the original Thin Lizzy version of "Whiskey in the Jar" and compare it with the somewhat ham-fisted imitation by Kirk Hammett on the Metallica covers album. Jan Akkerman could also play incredibly fast when he chose (see him live for proof) but it was pointless, so he only did it occasionally.

Don't get me wrong; some on that list are excellent guitarists but don't judge them just on speed. Indeed, John Petrucci would improve so much if he slowed down and inserted some emotion!