The most significant jazz guitarist in my book is Eddy Lang who was the very first acoustic and inventive lead single string player to appear predating and influencing Django and subsequent artists.

A lot depends on what it is that the guitar is supposed to do. I give Freddie Hellerman credit for underpinning the group that I once played with, the Weavers, as he played securely, simply and supportively with the "right" chords.

I give certain guitarists certain accolades as accompanists such as Josh White, Barney Kessel,
Bruce Langhhorne, some of the guitarists who back up Stephane Grapelli today, with the view that they may not be gymnasts or virtuosos but they exhibit taste and appropriate styles for the music they play.

This technical virtuosity and the "blowing-away" syndrome gets very boring.