Satch was always my personal favourite becuase i dont think he's always a speed freak - for me he's a player who can achieve a ballance between speed and slowness and he always keeps an individual tone and style.

That said i know very little about Steve Vai....judging from this post i think i should investigate his stuff futher.

Malmsteen.....hmmm *cough* I always admire anyone who can reach that level of speed but I agree, a lot of his stuff i feel is based on Minor scale and arpegio wanking.....his cover of Mr Crowley is a classic example. Randy Rhoads' version had feeling, speed, style and what he did with the solos added to the song......in Malmsteens version.....well, theres only one way to say it: the guy was just ****ing showing off. There was no respect for the song he just filled it full of hundred-mile-an-hour ear-saturtating garbage.

Lol, enough said :)