Dave Gilmour. He has an iconic sound and style, and the solo from the live version of Comfortably Numb on Pulse has got to be one of the greatest of all time.
when i listen to "Bombay Vindaloo", (Dream Theater) i am emotionally moved. and the first time i heard Petrucci's solo on the "Once in a LIVEtime" album, i pulled my car off the road and replayed it about 5 times.
i don't like guitar idols per se, but these are the guitar sounds i dig: brian may on innuendo whoever that guy was on def leppard's hysteria, the whole goddamn album the edge on achtung baby i've had people who tried to turn me on into guys like yngwie, satch and the likes but i don't like guitar sounds on their own, i prefer how they work within a song/album.
Dino Cazares Devin Townsend Ralph Sontolla Chuck Schulinder (RIP) Trey Azagthoth Rusty Cooley gets a nod for breakneck/wtf speed. ... and although i'm not crazy about his playing style, Jeff Loomis is pretty impressive. I often thought he could have been the next BIG thing.... He just didn't find the right band to make him better known. I concur. Not necessarily the fastest, or most technical player that's been mentioned so far.... but one of my favorites.
In no order Hendrix Mustaine Page Iommi Malmsteen (I don't like his sound, but few can do what he does with a guitar) Whenever a lead guitarist leaves a band, and the first qualification for the new lead guitarist is "can you play his (the old guitarist) music?". You know you've lost something special!