I don't think the body of work matters so much. I mean you said Jimi Hendrix would be the clear number 1, yet he only released three albums. I don't think it matters on the body of work as much as others seeing what you do on the body of work (big or small) and take influence from it.
I guess one can argue influencing people has nothing on technical ability, but this is Randy Rhoads, people still say how much of a great guitarist he is. Heck Zakk Wylde is seen as a great guitarist and his playing style was heavily influenced by Randy and he's had a lot more time to play, by definition Rhoads would be able to wipe the floor with him if he was still alive.
No, it just means that he was influenced by him. Influence =/= greater.
I would put Jimi Hendrix #1 in an overall guitarist category easily...but you asked about Metal specifically. Since the genre did not exist when Hendrix was alive, I can't count his work. However, Jimi is generally acknowledged as the greatest guitarist ever. Yes, he only had 3 albums, but the man had the touch. He was blessed with talent far beyond any mortal man, as if God touched him when he was born and said Jimi, you are going change the world of music forever.
Jimi did change the world. Rhoads was a great guitarist, but in his short time, he didn't change music like Hendrix did. He influenced metal guitarists, sure...but he didn't revolutionize like Hendrix. I know it seems hypocritical to allow the short time frame for Hendrix and then use it as a knock on Rhoads...tough. Hendrix did as much as you can possibly do to change rock and roll in that timeframe. Jimi Hendrix is a special case, and we both know it.
But, if we want to count guitarists that played heavy guitar before it became "metal", okay. Rhoads just dropped down two spots, not just the one then. In addition to Jimi Hendrix being #1, thus knocking everyone down a notch, using those rules, then Rhoads get bumped down yet another spot in favor of Eric Clapton. Clapton's work with the Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominos and Cream "pre-metal" would have to be taken into consideration. Nobody thinks of Clapton as a metal guitarist, but nobody considers Hendrix a metal guitarist either. But if you want to include that hard guitar sound from the late 60s/early 70s, okay. In fact, if we are doing that, then I am going to bounce Randy Rhoads down another notch in favor of Pete Townsend.
But, like Hendrix and Clapton, The Who are not generally considered metal. Some might not consider Led Zeppelin metal either...but it's fucking Led Zeppelin, and like Black Sabbath, there would simply be no metal genre without them.
Now, back to Randy Rhoads...
Metallica claims they were influenced by KISS. Which is the greater band?
The Beatles were heavily influenced by Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins...yet, I doubt you will find anyone saying that any of them were better than the Beatles.
But, you point out all of the guitarists that Rhoads influenced as proof that he should be #1. Using that logic, any guitarist who influenced Rhoads, whether it was Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, or any other influential rock/metal guitarists that predate Rhoads would necessarily have to be better than Rhoads too. If Rhoads is great because of who he influenced, then they are greater for influencing Rhoads. It's a silly argument you are making, because you completely forgot about who influenced him...
Had Randy Rhoads lived longer, and had a lengthy career playing guitar for Ozzy, it's possible that he would be #1. But the body of work that Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen have put out surpasses that of Rhoads. I will admit that Dweezil Zappa is possibly a disputable choice, and that may come down to personal preferences...but in my opinion, Dweezil Zappa is one of the most technically proficient guitarists in the world. I almost knocked Rhoads down yet another spot for that reason in favor of Brian May from Queen, but I consider Queen more of a straight up rock band than a metal band, so he wouldn't be appropriate.
NONE of this should be taken as any kind of insult to Randy Rhoads...He was brilliant. But there multiple brilliant guitarists in the world.
