My current favorites are:
Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule)-The most amazing guitar tone and playing I've heard probably ever. You owe it to yourself to listen to this guy's playing (even though he sings like Bob Seger)
Brian Blush (the Refreshments)-Tone from heaven. I know Raskolnikov is chuckling at this right now, but even though this fellow's lead playing isn't godly, he's melodic, and has a completely individual style, and he's a cool dude.
Trey Spruance-(Mr Bungle, former Faith No More, Secret Chiefs 3) versatile dude. This guy's good. There is no one that can touch Bungle in creativity, individualism, style, awesomeness, you name it, they got it.
I'll have to limit it to 3 for now. The main thing I'm into is tone and creativity. The two best guitar tones i've ever heard on record were from the first two guys i mentioned, listen to the first chord played by the electric guitar in 'dont wanna know' by the refreshments on a GOOD CD PLAYER (not napster) and you will hear tonal nirvana. This also goes for the Govt Mule stuff. That guy's tone is always flawless. (trey is up there because he's damn good, but his tone isn't the most amazing, just a G&L thru a fender twin and a Marshall JMP-1)
The other interesting thing is gear. Both Warren Haynes and Brian Blush use Les Pauls, and good ones. Both use Les Paul Customs and Standards, and nice amps, namely, Matchless for Blush, and Soldano for Haynes.
Well, i've blathered quite enough.
Atomic