Eric Clapton vs. Jimmy Page vs. Jeff Beck vs. Jimi Hendrix

[Chazmo]

Jimi was a fabulous guitarist to be sure, as are all the others being discussed. But, he was far more than just a great guitarist. His real "instrument" was the studio. Electric Ladyland was transcendent and continues to blow me away. IMHO, it is as iconic as Sgt. Pepper's.

[Stringswinger]

It is way past time for this thread to be moved to a more appropriate place in this forum (Players?) IMO.

[jbear]

That's hysterical! I didn't even notice where we are. Yeah...WTF is this doing in the rear with the gear?

[lammie200]

Spandex is gear IMHO.

[Doctor Jeff]

Might be because he is hard to look at - spandex and all. Just saying.

I’ve seen Steve Morse about a dozen times, mostly with the Dixie Dregs. I have never seen him in spandex.

Just yankin’ y’all’s chains with the Steve Morse reference. He IS a great guitarist, and much more than just Ritchie Bladkmore’s fill-in. Probably more proficient chop-wise than anyone mentioned here except Beck, whom of course he idolizes (along with Page).

[lammie200]

I saw him play once in the '80s with the Dregs and it was pre-spandex. He was great, but I got more out the recordings for some reason. IIRC he didn't get the nuances across as well live, but it was probably more of a band thing than just him. Also, I would lay odds that there is a lycra component to those jeans.

[Marty Grass]

We are blessed with many talented players.

If a musical solo is viewed like telling a story, it can't just be speed and riffs. It works best usually if it's soulful and pretty. It should go through an evolution, a journey, and want you to follow.

If you take a moment and listen to this solo beginning at 4:30, you'll get what I mean. That demonstrates the electric guitar in its fullest rock form. Dave Gilmour doesn't saunter up the path to greet you. He kicks the door in.

[Hep To The Jive]

... then Eddie Van Halen showed up, and made all of them irrelevant!

[AndyV]

I was just a little too young to go see Clapton and Hendrix like the older kids in my high school did. In fact, I heard Hendrix relatively late. I was about 19 when I first heard Hendrix, Wes, Stan Getz and Dobro legend, Mike Auldridge all in the same Summer.

I don't know what gene I'm missing that my generation of baby boomers got but Hendrix just never connected with my neural net or emotional core. Stan Getz and Bossa Nova, on the other hand, spoke to every cell of my body and I'm still just as enamored of Dobro & steel guitar as jazz guitar 40+ years later. Today, I'd rather hear Jeff Beck (in small doses) than any of the other guitarists mentioned.

[Zenith]

Their secret to success? Coil cords. Now you know.

Hendrix


Clapton


Page


Beck

[Doctor Jeff]

I saw him play once in the '80s with the Dregs and it was pre-spandex. He was great, but I got more out the recordings for some reason. IIRC he didn't get the nuances across as well live, but it was probably more of a band thing than just him. Also, I would lay odds that there is a lycra component to those jeans.

I try not to comment on what’s in a musician’s jeans...

:-/

[jbear]

... then Eddie Van Halen showed up, and made all of them irrelevant!

I think Eddie would be the first to laugh in your face and call BS on that statement...probably while wearing a Holdsworth t-shirt.

[digger]

Well, if we're going off on tangents from the original topic, the finest hard-rock band and the finest hard rock guitar playing was Michael Schenker era UFO.

[lammie200]

I try not to comment on what’s in a musician’s jeans...

:-/

However this thread went off topic notice my use of prepositions.

[Hep To The Jive]

I think Eddie would be the first to laugh in your face and call BS on that statement...probably while wearing a Holdsworth t-shirt.

I don't care! I'm known to be controversial.

[jbear]

Hey...I'm cool with it...tell Eddie...he's the one who hypothetically called you out

[Hep To The Jive]

Hey...I'm cool with it...tell Eddie...he's the one who hypothetically called you out

Yea we spoke, we're cool. He said don't listen to anyone on forums!

[lammie200]

Yea we spoke, we're cool. He said don't listen to anyone on forums!

I believe that he has also said that he doesn't listen to other people's music.

[neatomic]

eddie vh always credited cream era claptons live version of crossroads as being major for him..

he didn't come out of a vacuum..he knew the big name/op greats..and he liked players like jan akkerman and holdsworth as well


cheers

[Alter]

For me Hendrix was and still is out of this world, the best rock-blues player ever. The sound, the feel, the time, the connection with the guitar and the music. Still have dozens of his albums and bootlegs, live stuff etc in vinyl. And i hear a lot of jazz elements in the way his band plays. I also spent a lot of time listening to Clapton growing up, albums like the older cream stuff and his solo ones like just one night. I liked Led Zep a lot, have all their albums, but basically it was about the group and the compositions, not so much about the guitar. And Beck, i got Blow by Blow first, and then pretty much bought all his discography searching for a similar album ( which doesn't exist although wired is close). Never liked his kind of music much but i consider him a great player, he sounds stellar whatever the context might be.

I have a bunch of other players from that era that i prefer (besides jazz obviously and Hendrix), like anyone blues related, i liked John Cipollina a lot, Syd Barrett, Alvin Lee. Tons of others that i forget cause i haven't listened to them in ages! It was a good era for music and guitar, for rock and jazz too! Come to think of it, you have all these styles of music that are in great shape in the sixties. Jazz, the blues, soul, funk, rock.

[lammie200]

It has been a while since I watched this, but I believe in this interview he says that he doesn't listen to other people's music. I am sure that he did at some point. Maybe he still does - I don't know. Not really sure what to make of it except to hear what he says. That said, I don't have time to go through the interview again right now. I may have misremembered it.

[wolflen]

these four guys inspired many..and having watched many online vids and listened to alot of each..they all have had their day..so to speak..remember Hendrix "career" was only four years..so we have to fill in the blanks on him..I have seen clapton play the hell out of the blues and beck is a melodic tech master..one of the first to use feedback ..what-45-50 yrs ago..dame..

one guy that played with intensity was michael bloomfield..again one more to die from drugs way too early

[Litterick]

Have no rock guitarists who command any respect emerged in this century?

[Hep To The Jive]

It has been a while since I watched this, but I believe in this interview he says that he doesn't listen to other people's music. I am sure that he did at some point. Maybe he still does - I don't know. Not really sure what to make of it except to hear what he says. That said, I don't have time to go through the interview again right now. I may have misremembered it.

Yea he did say he didn't listen to any music since his Clapton worshiping days. The only exception being Peter Gabriel. I believe him! You don't have to be a melomaniac when you're already a formed artist/musician.

His idol was just Clapton, no Hendrix, Page or Beck. There is a video somewhere where he plays Crossroads solo note for note!

But for me he's a fantastic rhythm player first. His timing, riffs, syncopation are all so unique, and totally overlooked by his clones who multiplied in the 80s.

I love this interview hehehe

[Hep To The Jive]

Have no rock guitarists who command any respect emerged in this century?

You mean besides shredders on YouTube playing in their bedrooms? Not many I can think of... maybe Tosin Abasi? Not too exciting for me, but I saw his name mentioned a lot.