well mindcrime, i see paul gilbert as a guitar master. not a songwriting master. who cares what lyrics he can compose? but if its acoustic guitar you want download "the jig" by paul gilbert and you will hear masterful acoustic guitar. the way i look at it, hendrix and clapton might have made some catchy songs but i doubt seriously they have made stuff that stands against, say, yngwie malmsteen, as far as guitar is concerned. i mean they might write the most insightful or personnaly gratifying lyrics any human brain has concieved, but im talkin about guitar here. and if its good songwriting you want listen to opeth.