OF THESE 7 GUITARISTS, WHO IS BEST AND WHY??? - Page 2

monkeyboy · #16 03-07-2003, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markie Boy

As this is 'Jemsite', it is not really surprising to see Stevie out front.......

....realistically though (and SSV is my fave player), the most influential guitarists out of the list above are without doubt Jimi & EVH

I don't know the age group of the majority of the folks on this site - but I'm sure that some of the guys who can remember back to the eighties agree that no one person revolutionised the guitar as much as EVH....

Yep, with you there. I've lost count of the times I've said that.

All of the guitarists in the poll have influenced me bar Clapton. Never ever got him at all but that's just me.

My favourite would have been SRV if it wasn't for all the covers he used to do (and so many Hendrix ones too) - he wasn't really original, he was just 'more' - but to me he's Albert King and Hendrix in one but wasn't doing anything new. No one touched him for feel though - and that vibrato!!!!

But Vai's the one that continues to develop and has been my fave most of the time since 1986. I guess it's that holding my attention and surprising me that I like about him.

Just had a golden moment thinking about that bit in crossroads where he holds that jackson up and waves the tremelo arm in Maccios face - priceless. And I've not seen anyone else finish a track by throwing their coat over the guitar - got to be Vai. Favourite but not most influential - that's Hendrix and VH all the way.

1st Vai
2nd Hendrix
3rd SRV
4th VH
5th RR
30000th Clapton

Don't ask again tomorrow - I'll probably have changed my mind - anyway where's Fripp, Belew, The Edge, Leo Kottke?

As for 'the best' - impossible - I don't think the best is someone that can name scales etc. - it's got to be the ones that inspires you and those guys (with obvious notable exception) don't inspire me (more bore me).

**jemsite** · #17 03-07-2003, 11:16 AM

I voted hendrix. SRV would be a very close second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markie Boy

....realistically though (and SSV is my fave player), the most influential guitarists out of the list above are without doubt Jimi & EVH I don't know the age group of the majority of the folks on this site - but I'm sure that some of the guys who can remember back to the eighties agree that no one person revolutionised the guitar as much as EVH....

You really think - now that time has passed - that EVH really influenced much of anything substantial? Longterm? I'll give you 80s rock, but that came and went like a the passing MTV fad it was. Does EVH have an lasting influence that is even recognized today in music? I'd say not really... glen

monkeyboy · #18 03-07-2003, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

I voted hendrix. SRV would be a very close second.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markie Boy

....realistically though (and SSV is my fave player), the most influential guitarists out of the list above are without doubt Jimi & EVH I don't know the age group of the majority of the folks on this site - but I'm sure that some of the guys who can remember back to the eighties agree that no one person revolutionised the guitar as much as EVH....

You really think - now that time has passed - that EVH really influenced much of anything substantial? Longterm? I'll give you 80s rock, but that came and went like a the passing MTV fad it was. Does EVH have an lasting influence that is even recognized today in music? I'd say not really... glen

Point taken and maybe it's a bit nostalgic - but certainly he was the biggest inspiration of my generation (IMO) and yes - in my opinion you do see a lasting reference to him - all the two handed tappers, false harmonics etc. Anyway he always looked so happy

so I'm leaving him where he is

dex · #19 03-07-2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyboy

My favourite would have been SRV ................No one touched him for feel though - and that vibrato

John Mayall's Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (The Beano Album- 1966) and hear where SRV's "feel" and "vibrato" were "borowed" from.

I know this is about opinions and stuff, but I promise you (all of you that is) that if you listen to the "Beano Album" you will rethink puting people like Hendrix, SRV, Page and Beck on a pedestal.
Eric did it all way before them and way better than them.

ilia

[graffiti]Clapton is God[/graffiti]

pawel · #20 03-07-2003, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyboy

My favourite would have been SRV ................No one touched him for feel though - and that vibrato

John Mayall's Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (The Beano Album- 1966) and hear where SRV's "feel" and "vibrato" were "borowed" from.

I know this is about opinions and stuff, but I promise you (all of you that is) that if you listen to the "Beano Album" you will rethink puting people like Hendrix, SRV, Page and Beck on a pedestal.
Eric did it all way before them and way better than them.

ilia

[graffiti]Clapton is God[/graffiti]

And probably the most important thing about this album is the fact that EC invented the electric guitar "sound" that you can hear all over the place in the last 35 years or so...I thing i'm gonna listen to Beano now...*looks for the cd*

GuitarWizard · #21 03-07-2003, 04:36 PM

Glen (Jemsite)

I know this is your site, dedicated in some part to Vai....

But I can't believe you questioned monkey on the Van Halen influence.

For just a second , if we compare Van Halen to Vai.....I assure you worldwide, time wide (1977- to present) Eddie Van Halen has inspired 100 times more guitarists than Steve Vai.

Maybe not on Jemsite....but

Go to VanHalen.com and even suggest that Vai is in Van Halen's league....and they will burn you at the stake.

Steve Vai is an AMAZING player, there is no denying that.....one of my inspirations as a youngster to pick up the guitar was Crossraods.

And Vai has had some shining moments.

But if Vai and Van Halen were both to vanish off the face of the earth tonight......the name Van Halen will go much farther , I believe in both the guitar public and general public.

Van Halen can come up with both influencial stuff on guitar, PLUS be a mega successful commercial artists.......(Lets not forget, Eddie van Halen has played on the #1 selling album of all time....Michael J's Thriller).

Vai is certainly inspirational, and certainly influencial....BUT TO ME...

He is not the total package like Van Halen.

I started this poll....

I agree with Dex about EC.

If I were to pick best out of those I listed.

I simply would sit down and decide between Van Halen, and Eric Clapton.
To me......VH and EC together have covered just about all that has so-far been covered in modern guitar playing.....all others listed have just borrowed.

I love Vai.....but I still laugh when I hear "The Audience is Listening" circa 1990......lets see, all hell breaks loose at grade school...and the focus is around a guitar hero......Ummmm....Can anyone say "Hot for Teacher"circa 1984.

**jemsite** · #22 03-07-2003, 04:44 PM

i wouldn't list VAI up there either as a legitimate influence

His work was VH + Zappa... that should be very obvious. He cites Page/Hendrix as an influence but you wouldn't know that from listening really.

My point is that EVH inspired a bunch of BAD MUSICIANS that ultimately crashed and burned "guitar" rock. Guitar ****ers who didn't play with Eddie's rhythm or "fun" or heart... just a bunch of nonsense. The opposite of Clapton, Page, etc. If you want to call that INFLUENTIAL then be my guest.

...glen

ps - no need for paragraph returns every sentance

caprile · #23 03-07-2003, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

i wouldn't list VAI up there either as a legitimate influence

His work was VH + Zappa... that should be very obvious. He cites Page/Hendrix as an influence but you wouldn't know that from listening really.

I never see Brian May cited as an influence in Vai's playing. Whenever I listen to the solos in Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen, I can SEE Vai playing them, you know, with his 'sucking in his cheeks' face and sustaining those notes with his middle finger...Anybody thinks the same?

pawel · #24 03-07-2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caprile

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

i wouldn't list VAI up there either as a legitimate influence

His work was VH + Zappa... that should be very obvious. He cites Page/Hendrix as an influence but you wouldn't know that from listening really.

I never see Brian May cited as an influence in Vai's playing. Whenever I listen to the solos in Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen, I can SEE Vai playing them, you know, with his 'sucking in his cheeks' face and sustaining those notes with his middle finger...Anybody thinks the same?

Hmm, interesting if you think of it, a lot of Vai's approach to ballad-y playing (FTLOG) reminds me of Brian May, but i haven't really thought about it before....(and i really like Brian May, in fact i started playing guitar because of him)

GuitarWizard · #25 03-07-2003, 06:29 PM

Oh my...

There is a god!!

I wanted sooooo bad to include one of my 5 favorite guitarists in the world (Brian May) on the list, but I thought no onw would know who he is.

Thank you.

Long live Queen

pawel · #26 03-07-2003, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

...but I thought no one would know who he is.

You must be joking....

GuitarWizard · #27 03-07-2003, 08:38 PM

Pawel...

No I'm being serious...

Queen is like my favorite band of all time, I have been on other forums talking about Brian May...and people are like "who?"

I have to explain , Queen, Freddie, We will Rock You...etc..before I get a "ok, yeah".

**jemsite** · #28 03-07-2003, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarWizard

Pawel... No I'm being serious... Queen is like my favorite band of all time, I have been on other forums talking about Brian May...and people are like "who?" I have to explain , Queen, Freddie, We will Rock You...etc..before I get a "ok, yeah".

the maturity level and experience factor is alot higher on jemsite than alot of places on the 'net i've visited. If you don't know who Brian May is and you play electric guitar, you *REALLY* need an "education". Vai speaks highly of May from what i've read and has cited him as a contemporary influence.

...glen

monkeyboy · #29 03-08-2003, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyboy

My favourite would have been SRV ................No one touched him for feel though - and that vibrato

John Mayall's Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (The Beano Album- 1966) and hear where SRV's "feel" and "vibrato" were "borowed" from.

I know this is about opinions and stuff, but I promise you (all of you that is) that if you listen to the "Beano Album" you will rethink puting people like Hendrix, SRV, Page and Beck on a pedestal.
Eric did it all way before them and way better than them.

ilia

[graffiti]Clapton is God[/graffiti]

I did go and buy the Bluesbreakers album and to me it always sounds like a really bad english show band (I bought it in about 1985). Now, I don't want to be flamed about this 'cause I'm just saying what it sounds like to me now. I'm not denying it's influence or Claptons - I know and understand his place in influence and guitar player history - all I'm saying is I personally don't get it - I'd much rather listen to Peter Green - to me he always had far more feel than Clapton. I don't listen to other albums of the time and think they sound embarrassing but to me 'Beano' does.

Maybe it's because there are so many R&B (real R&B that is) bands that I've watched murder songs in the UK pubs that it's diminished Claptons reputation and my opinion of his place.

Hey guys - it's just my opinion, it's right for me and I understand that other people probably don't hear the cheeseyness (just like I don't hear the ****ery of Vai

) but it doesn't matter does it - we all like what we like.

By the way - if you're going to go on about Clapton's feel - listen to Freddie King about see where he got it from - now that's an exciting player!!

And yes, Brian May does always get overlooked doesn't he - shame - amazing guitarist - major major influence on a lot of people.

GuitarWizard · #30 03-08-2003, 09:44 AM

The same thing that makes Brian May so special, is the same reason he gets overlooked sometimes....

He's so very humble.

My definition of humble is someone who does not think less of themself.....they just think of themself less.

You'll never see May carry on like Yngwie in a guitar interview about how he created the heavens, and invented music...etc...etc...

Queen rules....I love that band.

On a seperate rant, I say Yngiwe because I was just organizing my guitar mag collection, and I ran across a YJM interview from 1988. It went like this.

Guitar Mag: Yngwie, who were your early influences
Yngwie: "Are you kidding", I invented real music, the buck stops here.
Guitar Mag: Why are you so loyal to the Fender strat?
Yngwie: "Well, Leo Fender did design that guitar specifically for me"
Guitar Mag: But...you weren't born when the strat came out?
Yngwie: "Of course I wasn't, but the world knew I was coming"
Guitar Mag: Did you take formal lessons as a child?
Yngwie: "No, I tried it once, but I ended up teaching the class. The school wouldn't pay me that day, so I quit".
Guitar Mag: What do you practice?
Yngwie: "Are you kidding?", "Do I sound like I need practice"?, "Nightly I do a sweeping diminished 3rd triad over my telephone number pad.......thats Fat Jacks Pizza&Subs".
Guitar Mag: What can we expect from Yngwie in the future?
Yngwie: "More thunder from within that sounds like it was created by the heavens", "The greatest composer who ever lived will never disappoint the fans, they, and chocolate glazed dounuts are the reason I get up in the morning".

Ok....so that may not be word for word....but its close.