Problem with this forum is that posts tend to be biased towards hard rock and metal. As a genre, progressive bluegrass is deserving of far more attention from aspiring guitarists if they're serious about getting ahead. There are many top flight flatpickers who can seriously burn up the fretboard, using just acoustic guitars and no effects of any kind. Unlike rock they cant get away with sloppiness and 'short cut' techniques. If anyone's serious about becoming a top notch player I recommend CDs and instructive videos from players such as

Tony Rice, Steve Kaufman, David Grier, Dan Crary, Beppe Gambetta, Russ Barenberg, Brian Sutton, Scott Nygaard, Wyatt Rice, Jon Sholle and Dobro king Jerry Douglas.

In case you think they just play hayseed country music, they dont. They may use bluegrass as a root but they also mix in other styles like jazz, blues, folk, classical, rock.

I just reckon truly talented players like these deserve wider recognition.