This is easy: Randy Rhodes.
He was classically trained and never stopped trying to learn. People often try to pigeonhole Randy with his Ozzy
days but overlook his classical guitar prowess and lifelong pursuit of
mastering that art. Randy could stand the hair on the
back of your neck up with ONE NOTE using sustain. Some of his
stuff on the Ozzy albums show that, but his talent gets lost in all the
Ozzy-theme hype. One example would be the ending to 'Tonight' from
Diary of a Madman. The long drawn out solo Randy does is slowly
faded away as the song closes, but if you keep turning up the volume
you will hear his mastery of sustain and feedback. But even that
doesnt come close to illustrating what that guy could do.
There are a plenty of shredder riff guitarist out there (ala Zakk
Wylde) who can scale for hours perfectly, but it doesnt take long
to see how that can leave you empty. If you wanna see insane
fretwork go watch Jeff Watson;
the first person to lay down the incredibly tough 8-finger technique,
but that stuff doesnt touch Randy. Its all about feeling and how the notes dig in and tweak your insides.
Only guy Ive heard who can milk a note as good as Randy was Stevie
Ray. Derek Trucks is getting there fast with his slide also.
Mister can you make folks cry when you play and sing.Have you paid
your dues, can you moan the blues,
Can you bend them guitar strangs.
He
said, Boy, can you make folks feel what you feel inside,
Cause if your big
star bound let me warn you its a long hard ride.