I think there is too many great guitarist out there to just pick one,be it the shredding of satch and vai to the texas blues of srv and johnney winter to the guy sitting in his basement that we havent heard,or will never hear.My advice would be,be open to all types of music,because you can learn from everything.Don't wear your influences on your sleave be original.As joe satriani put it a telecaster will always sound great through a vintage amp .but he is glad people are trying new stuff ,because things would be stagnate after awhile...............rock on