Gibson.com, the excellent web site maintained by the venerable guitar maker, has conducted several reader polls in recent months we have reported the results for.  Predictably, each ranking has produced a healthy amount of second guessing.  The latest, a poll that set out to rank the top 50 guitar solos of all time, turns out to be the kind of mine field you would expect.  The tone of comments even from critics of the results reflect appreciation of how impossible the task was. Hotel California making the top 5 was the biggest surprise in the top 10 to us.  We would have thought another Jimmy Page, Hendrix or Clapton effort or one from Joe Perry, Angus Young, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Neil Young or Slash would cop a spot in the top 10 before Don Felder.

10) Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May, Queen
9) Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
8) While My Guitar Gentley Weeps - Eric Clapton, Beatles
7) Layla - Eric Clapton, Derek & The Dominos
6) Free Bird - Allen Collins, Lynyrd Skynyrd
5) Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour, Pink Floyd
4) Hotel California - Don Felder, Eagles
3) All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
2) Eruption - Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen
1) Stairway To Heaven - Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin