Jack White is an amazing guitar talent. I never thought so when I first heard the White Stripes, because he plays a lot of simple chords in a lot of songs.
Listen to ‘Little Red Shoes’ from the new Loretta Lynn Album. The whole song is Loretta talking while White plays a solo guitar. Very cool.
Speaking of Jack White… Did anyone see this year’s Grammy awards? He did a medly of “Seven Nation Army” segueing into “Death Letter”, and he just blew the roof off the dump. Some pretty good solos in that one, too.
Eric Clapton on the Yardbirds’ “A Certain Girl.”
Further on Television, I’ll single out the incendiary second solo on “Ain’t That Nothin’” from the double-CD live set issued as The Blow Up, but really the whole thing is essential listening for anyone who’s into loud, raucous guitar bands, as Television was much more abrasive and less arty live than in the studio, IMHO.
Steve Hackett in the live version of “Firth of Fifth” from Genesis’ Seconds Out album.
Frank Zappa’s “Watermelon In Easter Hay” from Joe’s Garage.
Ditto Steve Howe’s solo at the end of “Starship Trooper”.
Just about anything by Duane Allman – there are moments of breathtaking guitar throughout his career but especially on “Whipping Post,” “Layla” (that’s him at the forefront, not Clapton), “Mountain Jam” and anywhere you name.
Bruce Cockburn’s solo in “if I Had a Rocket Launcher” is killer, and even better for being unexpected.
Hendrix’s guitar washing through you from channel to channel in “All Along the Watchtower” may be the most powerful and sublime moment in rock.
Jorma Kaukonen’s work for Jefferson Airplane was lyrical and gorgeous, and it’s hard to pick a particular solo. Almost anything on the Volunteers album is wonderful, and “Wooden Ships” (very different from the CSN version) has some especially great work in it.
The dueling guitars in Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” are impossible to copy via air guitar, but are sure fun to try.
Gary Sanford’s frenzied solo on Joe Jackson’s “Friday.”
Phil Manzanera, the lead guitarist for Roxy Music, may be the most underrated lead in rock. The notes blasting open “More Than This” on Avalon could be the greatest album opener of all time. And listen to his symphonic guitars on, say, “My Only Love.”
Carlos Santana. “Black Magic Woman.” Or “Everything’s Coming Our Way.” Or…
Lindsey Buckingham. “Rhiannon.”
Kirk Hammett’s solos in “Fade to Black,” “Master of Puppets” and “One.”
Not sure if it counts, but Stevie Ray Vaughan’s cover of “Little Wing.”
Not a common choice, but Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” has a nice solo.
Jimi - Machine Gun - the one on Band Of Gypsies, New Year’s Eve 1969-70. My fav Hendrix song of ALL TIME
Jimi - Voodoo Chile - NOT Slight Return… altho I love that too… Jimi and “Little Stevie” 
back and forth on guitar and Hammond B3, gives me goose bumps! Plus that’s the first song I EVER “jammed” with, I’ll NEVER forget it!
Jimi - Still Raining, Still Dreaming - At the same time… Wah-Wah 101, 202, 303, 404, 505, … 
Jimi wrote the damn book!
Pete Townsend - Love Ain’t For Keepin’ - that wonderful acoustic lead (and the whole damn song.)
Eddie - Eruption - nuff said…
Clapton - Crossroads - with Cream. A classic.
Jimmy Page - I Can’t Quit You Babe - he plays things that just don’t even belong in that chord structure, and THEY STILL WORK! Just amazing, out-of-the-box playing! For my money, Page is the best pure blues player of all.
Gotta give props to Frampton, Do You Feel Like We Do?
Blind Willie Johnson - God Moves On The Water - Amazing acoustic slide-piece.
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) - Cheap Sunglasses - Billy has such a nasty, gnarly sound. I love it.
Alex Lifeson (Rush) - 2112 - Just SOOO many interesting parts in that! A masterpiece!
many others I’ve left out… MANY others.
NOW I read this thread! Great song Marley! And also Dogs, by Pink Floyd. I used to be able to play that…
No way that was Paul!!! Really??? Hee hee! Cool! Great solo!
Last post… :o
I forgot Neil Young’s one note solo from Cinnamon Girl.
Frank Zappa’s guitar work in Son of Mr. Green Genes (off of Hot Rats) is beyond reproach.
Other Zappa songs come to mind:
<list of 100 songs snipped>
John Petrucci on Once In A Livetime.
shiver…
David Gilmour- Shine on You Crazy Diamond.
Kirk Hammet- Sanitarium
Carlos Santana-Europa
Jimmy Page- Battle of Evermore
Mark Knopfler- Brothers in Arms
CRUD!! um. Almost forgot:
George Thorogood- One Burboun, One Scotch, One Beer. GREAT song, incredible solo.
Ye-Har! I thought I was the only fan of this song. The solos are all way edgier than anything off DSoTM or WYWH and can’t think of any other tune where Mr Gilmore plays harmony parts (there’s one phrase in Shine On) and it finishes with a squeal of feedback, I guess he was playing loud?
I’ve not read all the posts yet but in case it hasn’t come up, Frank Zappa’s Watermelon in Easter Hay off Joe’s Garage. It’s just possible that for once Frank didn’t have his tounge in his cheek. Ship Ahoy is cute too.
Any one mentioned Steve Vai’s For the Love of God yet? They have now.
Still can cute chord sequence. What happened if6 lose your guitar? How about Hendrix stuff? And thanks for bringing up Love ain’t for Keeping I like that too but I wouldn’t have thought of listing it as a solo.
I’ve got two that stand out. Neither of which are that awesome but there ya go.
Jeff Beck/Yardbirds - Mister You’re a Better Man than I
Muddy Waters/Johnny Winter - Manish Boy (the Blue Sky label Hard Again albumn) 
I believe he always plays loud :). There is a song on David Gilmour’s first (self titled) solo album called So Far Away (I think), it has a solo with harmonies quite similar to those on Dogs, played over much the same chord structure as the chorus of Comfortably Numb.
I used to be able to play the solos from Dogs as well, I always wanted a Boss Delay/Harmonizer so I could do the harmonies by myself.
Cor Blimey Ray you another ex-guitarist? C’mon you can still do the outro from Sheep yes?
I once had a harmoniser (IIRC actually a vocal processor called the Vocalist) which could do diatonic harmonies. It could make you sound like tracked-up Brain May (not so hot on Thin Lizzy type harmonies). I don’t think it would have worked for Dogs because of the modulations in the chords, you’d have to keep dialling in different keys.
I have that David Gilmour album somewhere, thanks for the reminder I’ll dig it out tonight.