If you're in any doubt as to Hendrix's ability as a guitarist then i suggest you start reading up some of the biographies of other guitarists of his era; Eric Clapton, Pete Thownsend, Jeff Beck, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, all of these guys have claimed at one time or another that Hendrix was much better than they were, and some of them didn't wanted to perform on stage after him because they felt they couldn't match him (he supported the Who at a gig and Pete Townsend insisted they play before Hendrix, He was as good a guitarist as he was an innovator and groundbreaker, was he the best? nobody is the the best, all good guitarists strive to be better, but his playing still inspires guitarists today and i don't know of any guitarist that is still held in such high regard by so many, as Hendrix.