While arguments about who is ‘the best’ in music are generally unhelpful and meaningless, Allan Holdsworth must rank as one of the most universally respected guitarists by fellow guitarists.
He received superlative praise from masters of the guitar of every style from Frank Zappa (who claimed that Holdsworth “single-handedly reinvented the electric guitar”) to Carlos Santana to Joe Satriani to John McLaughlin to Guthrie Govan to George Benson to Tom Morello and Eddie Van Halen (“the best in my book”). And if forced to name just one, Steve Vai would dub him "the best guitar player".
