Over the past few years one of my favorite guitar websites has been EssentialGuitarist.com. Unfortunately, last I checked they're no longer online. One feature I liked on that site was their essential album reviews - classic shred stuff, like "Ominous Guitarists from the Unknown".

I'm often asked what albums and artists I recommend, so I've finally complied a list of over 100 of the greatest instrumental guitarists and albums. The focus is on virtuoso "shred" guitar in the progressive metal, hard rock, neo-classical, rock-fusion, and progressive acoustic fingerstyle genres since the late 70's. The list doesn't significantly cover jazz, jazz-fusion, blues, country, classical, or flamenco guitar, so feel free to make recommendations.

Most of these artists have several fantastic albums under their names, so it was difficult to pick just one from each player. In some cases I picked the album I personally thought was the strongest, but mostly I chose albums based on their significance in the artist's career - groundbreaking debuts and famous releases, as well as plenty of underground jewels.
 

Essential Instrumental

Alexi Masi - Vertical Invader

 
While perhaps not as famous as Alexi's debut instrumental ("Attack of the Neon Shark", which featured Allan Holdsworth, and was actually nominated for a Grammy in '89), "Vertical Invader" delivered heavier playing and still managed to sell out completely. Luckily, Lion Music re-released it! It probably sounds a bit dated, but tracks like "Finn" and "Silver Memories" certainly still hold up.

Adrian Galysh - King Friday

 
King Friday is a post-2000 instrumental rock release that surpassed Adrian's debut, "Venusian Sunrise". This album has been a favorite of mine for a few years now because it's always a fun listening experience. Plus it features Mike Keneally (ex-Vai / Zappa) on keys. Perfect for anyone looking for soaring melodic rock in the Satriani / Vai vein.

Adam Fulara / Fool-X Trio - Doubleshred

Not quite the classical affair that Fulara is known for on YouTube - this is pure two-handed tapped Jazz. Very hip stuff! Great for Stanley Jordan fans, or anyone looking for a prime example of advanced double-neck two-handed tapping.

Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy

 
This is Al's second solo CD, and probably his most highly-regarded release. Classic tracks include, "Mediterranean Sundance" (a duet with Paco DeLucia) and "Race With Devil On Spanish Highway".

Alex Machacek - [sic]

 
Jazz-fusion at its best. Machacek has been highly praised by listeners and fellow guitarists such as Shawn Lane and Allan Holdsworth. John McLaughlin said it best with, "Alex Machacek's music starts where other music ends."

Alessandro Benvenuti - Sonic Design

The Italian axe-master's debut album, featuring guest appearances by Frank Gambale and Prashant Aswani. Top notch sound and mature songwriting. Definitely a must-hear for rock-fusion fans!

Allan Holdsworth - The Sixteen Men of Tain

 
One of Holdsworth's finest albums. A superb blend of guitar and Synthaxe. Look for the special edition.

Antoine DuFour - Naissance

 
The aptly titled "Naissance" (meaning Birth) was progressive fingerstylist Antoine DuFour's first full-length album, and was the result of three years of writing. It features percussion and bass on some tracks, as well as virtuoso violinist Tommy Gauthier. This is prog fingerstyle in the truest sense, because many of Antoine's musical inspirations are prog rock bands, such as Dream Theater. DuFour's playing is very rhythmic (full of Don Ross style funk elements), but also flowing and melodic at all the right times. Antoine often experiments with odd tunings and partial capos, along with lots of slap harmonics and acoustic percussion.  However, he's no Hedges clone; Antoine certinaly has a style of his own, which draws on a lot of influences outside of fingerstyle guitar (check out the acoustic-meets-electronica track, "Technoguitar").

Andreas Öberg - Young Jazz Guitarist

 
Gypsy jazz for a new generation. Absolutely blazing fretwork! Mattias IA Eklundh recommends!

Andrew Roudny - Zero Words or Less

 
High energy punk-rock instrumental fun! A favorite find of '05.

Andrew York - Hauser Sessions

 
York's newest and arguably his best. Played on Segovia's own Hauser. This is my favorite contemporary classical release of all time! Highlights include "Letting Go" and "SunWalk".

Andy James - In the Wake of Chaos

 
Andy James is certainly one of the most exciting 7-string prog-metal shredders to hit the scene in recent years. "In the Wake of Chaos" is his newest and strongest release yet, but also definitely look for his debut, "Machine".

Andy McKee - Art of Motion

  
YouTube sensation Andy McKee's fingerstyle masterpiece. Some of the most well-developed and innovative acoustic guitar playing to date, but of course the songwriting is always what stands out with Andy.

Andy Timmons - Resolution

 
Some of the best electric guitar tones ever captured on a recording, as well as some of the best playing! Virtually no overdubs - Andy switches between rhythm and lead work seamlessly. The songs were composed and the solos carefully thought through and perfected over a few years. This is Andy's latest and greatest, so don't miss out.

Buckethead - Population Override

 
I have over 40 Buckethead records, and "Population Override" is probably my favorite of them all. It features virtuoso keyboardist / record producer Travis Dickerson, and good old Pinchface on drums. I'd describe it as melodic fusion-metal. The track "Super Human" is one of my favorite instrumental guitar ballads of all time. Even Buckethead himself says the album has, "The best playing I've done yet!"

Blues Saraceno - Hair Pick
 
"Hair Pick" was Blues Saraceno's third and final solo album, and is considered his greatest release by many (myself included). "Stinky Kitty", "Feedin' The Box" and "Rabbit Soup" are still some of the most beloved underground guitar instrumentals around. Blues' quirky signature sound is instantly recognizable, and he will forever go down as one of the most unique voices on guitar - especially for a guitarist who was so sonically mature and technically proficient at such a young age (Blues received his first record deal when he was only 16). 

Brett Garsed - Big Sky

Brett Garsed / T.J. Helmerich - Quid Pro Quo

Brian Gore - Legacy

Bumblefoot - 9.11

Conrad Simon - The Wrath of Con

Craig D'Andrea - Crazy Is Catching

Chris Poland - Return To Metalopolis

Darren Housholder - Darren Housholder

Dave Uhrich - Fret' No Tized'

David Pritchard - Velocity

Derek Taylor - Dystrophy

Derryl Gabel - Visions & Dreams

Don Ross - Passion Session

Dweezil Zappa - Automatic

Elias Viljanen - Taking the Lead

Elliot Holden - Radiance

Eric Johnson / Joe Satriani / Steve Vai - G3: Live in Concert

Erick Turnbull - Erick Turnbull

Erik Kowalak - Peace of Mind

Erik Mongrain - Fates

Frank Gambale - Live

Frank Zappa - Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar

Fabrizio Leo - Cutaway

Gary Hoey - Animal Instinct

George Bellas - Turn of the Millennium

Gonçalo Pereira - Tricot No Pais Das Maravilhas

Greg Gilbertson - Limited Vocabulary

Greg Howe - Greg Howe

Guthrie Govan - Erotic Cakes

Ioannis Anastassakis - Suspension of Disbelief

Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn

Jeff Beck - Wired

Jeff Scheetz - Woodpecker Stomp

Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien

Joey Tafolla - Infra-Blue

Joe Stump - Speed Metal Messiah

John-5 - Song for Sanity

John Petrucci / Liquid Tension Experiment - L.T.E. 2

Johnny A. - Get Inside

Joop Wolters - Out of Order

José de Castro - Music Guitar Box

Johan Randen - Version 2.0

Justin King - Le Bleu

Katrina Johansson - Guitarsongs

Ken Rubenstein - Invert and Transcend

Kiko Loureiro - No Gravity

Leo Kottke - One Guitar, No Vocals

Larry Mitchell - Insatiable

Larry Carlton - On Solid Ground

Marc Rizzo - The Ultimate Devotion

Marcel Coenen - Guitartalk

Dave Martone - Shut Up 'N Listen

Marty Friedman - Scenes

Mattias IA Eklundh - Freak Guitar: The Road Less Travelled

Michael Angelo Batio - No Boundaries

Michael Harris - Orchestrate

Mike Stern - Upside Downside

Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries

Michael Lee Firkins - Michael Lee Firkins

Michael Orlando - Sonic Stomp

Milan Polak - Dreamscapes

Neil Zaza - Thrills & Chills

Patrik Carlsson - Phraseology

Pat Metheny - One Quiet Night

Paul Gilbert - Get Out of My Yard

Pierre Bensusan - Altiplanos

Prasanna Ramaswamy - Electric Ganesha Land

Preston Reed - Metal

Prashant Aswani - Revelation

Rhett Butler - The Physics of Acoustics

Richard Hallebeek - Richard Hallebeek Project

Richie Kotzen - Electric Joy

Rob Balducci - The Color of Light

Rusty Cooley - Rusty Cooley

Scott Henderson - Illicit

Scott Stine - Broke

Sean Baker - The Sean Baker Orchestra

Shawn Lane - Powers of Ten; Live!

Stefan Joubert - African Dream

Steve Vai - Passion & Warfare

Stephen Ross - Midnight Drive

Stanley Jordan - Magic Touch

Steve Morse - The Introduction

T.D. Clark - Personalities

Ted Greene - Solo Guitar

Terry Syrek - Aum

Theodore Ziras - HyperpyrexiA

Thomas Blug - 21st Century Guitar

Todd Duane - Todd Duane

Tommy Emmanuel - Only

Trace Bundy - Adapt

Tony MacAlpine - Maximum Security

The Hellecasters - The Return Of The Hellecasters

Tony Fredianelli - Breakneck Speed

Vinnie Moore - The Maze

Yngwie Malmsteen - Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra

Various - Ominous Guitarists from the Unknown

Various - M.V.P. : Centrifugal Funk

Various - The Alchemists II

Various - Guitar on the Edge Vol. 1 No. 4