Took me 4 years but didn't have a band and practice for an hour a day. With time I realised perfection doesn't lie in speed but in feeling. It's great to have speed and anyone who practice hard will get there but feeling comes from within and is harder to master.

I also beleive that you become better faster if you play in a band. There are some things you cannot learn alone.

Play as often as you can with other guitarist.