Howzabout Ben Harper?
Although he has been around just barely longer than 10 years.
I bet nobody here has heard of him, but a guitarist in a band called Nevermore named Jeff Loomis will blow your mind with the scales he can play. He’s even more impressive live than he is on the CD, and a really cool guy to boot (I got to talk to him for a few minutes when he was in town last).
I agree with jinty regarding Josh Homme. My criteria for good guitarists are:
- Play on great songs
- Plays for the song, not for the lead (i.e., typically not a shredder)
- Locks into interesting rhythms, holds onto them, and adds interesting embellishments while staying locked in - Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn both did this amazingly well, as does Van Halen - granted, those three all are amazing lead players, but it was how they held the rhythm down while playing amazing leads that impresses me.
- They play well constructed leads, that have a story to tell and are melodically interesting.
With that, I find myself suprisingly recommending Jack White of the White Stripes. His work on their latest CD meets all of the criteria above, IMHO.
I would also second the naming of Tom Morello - amazing stuff - my one complaint would be that sometimes it feels like he puts making interesting sounds - lead or rhythm - in front of using those sounds in great songs. In other words, he is sometimes in danger of sounding the same on multiple songs…
I hate to say his name, but Dave Matthews did help change the face of pop guitar. Spawning many imitators (I’m looking at you, john mayer) but talk about being a Clearchannel golden boy.
Junior Brown does a mean guitar/pedal steelish thing too. He gets my vote.