I couldn't read the entire thing, though I know this thread is just about the wonderful mindless, boring, play as many notes in a second as you possibly can type of guitarists. Weeee, so 3 songs and 8 million notes later, i'm ready for something cool to listen to. :)
Not the fastest ever, but hey, there is always some of Jeff Beck's newer stuff, like the solo from Pay Me No Mind. At least he has class, style. . . the ability to write a song that won't put you to sleep in half a minute, hell TONE! He plays with a single Marshall 50 watt amp a 4 x 12 Marshall cab, and a Wah pedal, that's it.
Have you ever noticed that these guys who can play incredibly fast, have like the most. . . fake, boring "sound" you can possibly imagine? Great, they can play fast, but their notes have no impact, no bass, they pass right through you like nothingness. What ever happened to the days of real, heavy, crunchy, bad-ass tones, eh? I'm not talking, turn the Gain up all the way on your brand new Mesa amp, no no no, I mean something that has more than distortion, and really high highs and mids.
Give me something INTERESTING FOR ONCE!
The fastest guitar player that I "know" would also have to be me. My dad has been playing for 35 years, and is by all means one hell of a song writer, but he reminds me more of Eric Clapton (aka "slowhand") then say a Jimi Hendrix or Jeff Beck.
I sound like a total Jimmy Page rip. . . maybe cause I am. :D
Anyway, enough banter, time for bed (2:30 am, just got done recording In My Time of Dying).
RedZep