both are great, no question. different styles. eddie could do it all, speed,unique sound all his own, creating a sound and stlye all his own, copied a billion times over by guitarist world-wide. eddie is no doubt number 1 !
jimi was great , eddie was just better, remember when jimi came out there was no one out there to compare him to,,so ofcourse he was king at that time. if the 2 played side by side eddie could shoot him down with ease.,just look at videos of both---2 diff. artists--different styles-- no fence riding here--eddie van halen number 1 on many lists of all time great rock guitarists!