Who has mastered the vibrato bar more- Steve Vai or Jeff Beck?

[freedom's door]

Personally i have to say that when i first started listening to Vai in the early 80's, there was no one who could touch him when it came to using the bar.
However, over the last 20 years, i don't know that i've heard him do anything new in that area, whereas Beck continues to push the envelope with each release, and is IMO, the undisputed master of the vibrato bar.
peace

[Jeff]

What are some Jeff Beck songs that have this great whammy bar work?

(That wasn't a sarcastic remark, I'm just not familiar with the Jeff Beck catalog.)

[freedom's door]

On the "Guitar Shop" album, check out "Where Were You" and "Two Rivers".

On the "Merry Axemas" album, check out "Amazing Grace".

On the "Who Else!" album, check out "Declan".

On the "You Had It Coming" album, check out "Nadia".

On the "Jeff" album, check out "Bulgaria".

If i had to pick one, i would say "Nadia", as i believe it is the ultimate vibrato bar performance.
peace

[Jeff]

Wasn't Jeff Beck doing the instrumental guitar thing before Satch and Vai? I know Satch is often hailed as bringing the genre to light, but a lot of stuff I've heard about Jeff Beck points to him being the first?

[pawel]

I have in my hand a copy of "Wired" from 1976 ("Blow by Blow" is from '75) which is an all-instrumental rock-fusion album, and which I've been listening to today, interestingly enough - so you could easily argue that Beck has been doing the instrumental rock thing before the 80s...

As for the question, it's a tough one - right now I'm on a Jeff Beck kick, and he does most amazing things with just a Strat and a Marshall amp, but Vai's vibrato work is very impressive too...

[Scott 74]

Niether......I have!! *LOL*

[the.godfather]

Neither for me. I choose EVH to be honest for whammy stuff!

[fettouhi]

I say Steve, just listen to Frank!

Regards

André

[Viper-sfm]

Have to go with Steve on this one. I like Jeff Beck's work, but I like Steve's Whammy bar technique better...

[power freak]

I will have to go with Jeff. Nadia is amazing!

P.S: Totally unrelated but the local carpenter in my area (and used to be my baby sitter!) Used to be friends with Jeff when he was a carpenter!

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by freedom's door

On the "Guitar Shop" album, check out "Where Were You" and "Two Rivers".

On the "Merry Axemas" album, check out "Amazing Grace".

On the "Who Else!" album, check out "Declan".

On the "You Had It Coming" album, check out "Nadia".

On the "Jeff" album, check out "Bulgaria".

If i had to pick one, i would say "Nadia", as i believe it is the ultimate vibrato bar performance.
peace

Yep, Beck may be thought of as "dino rock" or old school by some. But that player has the most insane control of the whammy and picking known to man.
He throws out micro tone vibrato w/o the whammy, then starts shifting pitch all organic on the whammy. I know all of those songs you mentioned. Been a fan since I was 18 and heard Guitar Shop. I kind of gloss over the majority of his output between that and his first album. Probably won't forever.

[Artist]

Django had instrumental guitar music in the 30s....

[pawel]

Originally Posted by Artist

Django had instrumental guitar music in the 30s....

Tarrega was doing that in the 19th century

I thought we were talking about instumental rock though...

[Zabooka Joe]

Doen't the word master imply the upper limits of possible development? I think you should ask which one has incorporated the technique more tastefully in the context of a song.

Anyway, my answer is that they're 50/50. I concluded this mostly due to the fact that I am biased (which way you ask? ...I'm on a Jemsite people!).

[Tom Gilroy]

Beck for me, Vai is damn good at it though.