Rock legend Jimi Hendrix has been voted the greatest guitarist of all time in a poll of readers of a UK music magazine.

Hendrix, who died in London in 1970 at the age of 27, won the most votes in a survey conducted by Total Guitar.

The results show that Hendrix was considered a greater guitar talent than Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page - at number two - and former Cream member turned soloist Eric Clapton, who came in at three.

Jimi Hendrix's guitar sold for �62,0000 at auction

Hendrix made his name in the late 1960s, rising to fame throughout the world with hits such as Purple Haze, Hey Joe and Voodoo Chile.

Magazine editor Scott Rowley said the poll showed his readers were impressed by true talent rather than image.

"What's nice about it is that it's not some music critic's opinion of the best guitarists.

"These guys might not be cool by any music critic's viewpoint, but they genuinely are the fastest, loudest, most exciting players in rock and roll."

Following Hendrix, Page and Clapton were Slash from Guns N' Roses at four and Brian May of Queen at five.

Readers' votes were not reserved for the older generation of guitarists as younger talents also made the top 100.

Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead came in at 35 and Noel Gallagher from Oasis at 50.

Eric Clapton's solo hits include Layla

Johnny Ramone of The Ramones - known for playing three-chord rock - was 88th.

However, women fared badly in the results after Tracy Chapman was the only female to be included by the magazine in a list of 440 nominees.

Rowley said women were not as "geeky or competitive" about music as men.

"Instead of showing off, they're trying to write a good song. Which is probably smarter," he added.

Top 20:

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Eric Clapton

4. Slash

5. Brian May

6. Joe Satriani (soloist)

7. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)

8. Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

9. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

10. Steve Vai (soloist)

11. Carlos Santana (Santana)

12. James Hetfield (Metallica)

13. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

14. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

15. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)

16. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne)

17. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, others)

18. Jeff Beck (Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group)

19. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble)

20. Angus Young (AC/DC)