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OK, Since Ben thinks it's a little quiet in here, I thought I would stir up the pot a little.  Everyone knows the most famous players and those whom are deemed "the best", but who are the most underrated axemen?  I'll start with a couple.

The single most underrated player, at least in North America, is Gary Moore.  His stuff in Thin Lizzy, especially Still in Love with You, was great.  His solo "rock" stuff was great.  The "we want moore" live album has some of the best guitar work ever.  And his blues stuff is just brilliant.  The solo in "Still Got the Blues" could rip your heart out!

Obviously Rik is pretty damn underrated.

Michael Schenker, especially his stuff with UFO is amazing.

One of the most amazing players I've ever heard was a young shredder from the 90's named Blues Saraceno....man that dude was smoking.

 I'm actually going to say that I think Richie Sambora is pretty underrated as well.  I'm not a Bon Jovi fan at all, but his playing is pretty effortless

Who's next!

well, I'm not sure about the "rated-ness" of guitarists lol, I didnt grow up with them so I'm not sure how often their names came up back then, and thats the spirit Cool Down!!

I dont think Paul Gilbert got a whole lot of exposure, but I could be wrong

Jan Akkerman from Focus does some sweet stuff with the guitar

I'm going to say Brian Greenway from April Wine is a bit underrated, he did some pretty awesome stuff with them

thats my list for now 

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Can't you feel the magic, feel it everywhere, Can't you hear the music, there's something in the air, There's a celebration, deep within a song, Celebrate this feeling, you know it can't be wrong

Vito Bratta from White Lion

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Never Surrender

Vito Bratta... I only know White Lion's one song - When the Children Cry. Nice solo on that one, quite lyrical.

Underated guitarists? Well Rik is under-rated by rock fans generally, but other guitarists respect him.

Warren DiMartini from Ratt, I always liked his stuff, too.

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The time has come to face the music again...Back them up against the wall and bring the hammer down...

Adrian Belew. And, if it's OK to mention an axewoman, Patty Larkin.

thunderdawg:

Vito Bratta... I only know White Lion's one song - When the Children Cry. Nice solo on that one, quite lyrical.

 The solo on Wait is really cool,

here is the video for it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtbC0mZYfw

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Never Surrender

T-Dawg I'd agree with Warren Demartini

Adrian Vandenberg??

I think Ronnie Montrose did some pretty cool stuff with the Edgar Winter Group and Montrose
 

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Can't you feel the magic, feel it everywhere, Can't you hear the music, there's something in the air, There's a celebration, deep within a song, Celebrate this feeling, you know it can't be wrong

Some of the above I agree and will have to reiterate:  

Ronnie Montrose

Paul Gilbert

Adrian Vadenberg

Also on my list:  

Randy Jackson (Zebra)

Trevor Rabin (formerly Yes)  

Dave Meniketi (Y&T)  

Ross Childress (Collective Soul)     

 

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Don't look back in anger, don't look ahead in fear. You just keep takin' her as she comes, until she comes in clear. The love you send out, returns to you in time.

Oh yeah, on the odd chance with Rabin anyone's going 'Trevor who--?'  see if you can find a download of the song 'Shoot High, Aim Low'  (from Big Generator by Yes) if you  just want to hear a really interesting piece of music with some stunning axe work. It's not too proggy...  Rabin was pulling them away from that direction, before Jon Anderson had a fit and politiced him out...     

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Don't look back in anger, don't look ahead in fear. You just keep takin' her as she comes, until she comes in clear. The love you send out, returns to you in time.

Now it's my turn to fall out of the chair, BPBri. I've been talking up Shoot High, Aim Low since Big Generator came out. Never thought I'd hear anyone else speak so highly of it. Outstanding piece of music, definitely my favorite song of the Rabin-fueled Yes.

Since the mid 80's, I've been telling anyone who would listen Rik Emmett is the best guitar player no one has ever heard of, or knows by name.  As far as Trevor Rabin is concerned, 'Can't Look Away', Rabin's solo LP from 1987 (I think) is one of the best LP's no one has ever heard.  The title track, which opens the album, is fantastic, as is the only single, 'Something To Hold On To'.  I'm at work, so I'll have to give other underrated guitar players some more thought. 

Gary Richrath (ex-Reo)

Jeff Carlisi (ex-38 Special)

Brad Gillis (Night Ranger/ex-Ozzy)

Ricky Medlocke (Skynyrd/ex-Blackfoot)

Jim McCarty (The Rockets)

This person...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMejjSWStaw&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Tu09S_GO8

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Bruce Bouillet of Racer X...did all the stuff Paul Gilbert did on stage...twin leads doing the same shredder stuff, or how about when Paul and Bruce played the solo to "Detroit Rock City" with their teeth??

I guess to get those solos down together they would practice for up to 8 hours a day before the rest of the band would come in 

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Can't you feel the magic, feel it everywhere, Can't you hear the music, there's something in the air, There's a celebration, deep within a song, Celebrate this feeling, you know it can't be wrong

BG is despised by Yes fans generally, but I thought it was a really strong record, for the most part, with the exception of one or two songs.  

Did you by chance listen to Open Your Eyes at all, the 1997 release?  Another underrated Yes disc, IMO.   To me it sounds a bit like a bridge between the Rabin era and more classic Yes.   They brought Squire's songwriting partner, Billy Sherwood, on as the second guitarist, and there was no permanent keyboardist at that point, so it is a much more guitar dominated sound compared to much of their other work.  

The title track, predominantly a Squire/Sherwood tune, with Chris taking some of the lead vox, is a killer!     

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Don't look back in anger, don't look ahead in fear. You just keep takin' her as she comes, until she comes in clear. The love you send out, returns to you in time.