Poll: Most Overrated Guitar Player OAT

[gibson59neck]

AH.....Santana.......went to one of his concerts a few yrs ago......wasn't all that......was really irritating,because he stopped in the middle of a cpl songs because he couldn't find the 'SWEET SUSTAIN SPOT" on the stage......so he walked around a few mins,playing,stopping......playing,stopping......till he was satisfied.......oh the huddled masses went crazy.......can we say HYPE......there are probably hundreds of better players out there ........but luck and timing are a great part of fame......

That's exactly what I mean - and luck and timing are key in the careers of some of these dudes, at least I think - I wasn't there, but should I have had to be to like it? I appreciate guitarists that are unique but also many of my favorite players are the ones that try really hard to achieve things on the instrument that are above and beyond what came before - OR, those who create very interesting music using master skills, not noodling skills - yeah, I like complex stuff, but simple is great too, when it's done just right... It's not that any of these guys are so bad, it's more that they haven't done anything that isn't plain. Again, in MY opinion...Which to you may be worth less than most other things, but, I'm just saying...

 

[chazba]

Clapton originated the style. If you have trouble picking him out, it's because every body else copped to him. Lots of guys (and girls) have surpassed him since, but w/o E.C. ( and Jeff Beckand and Pete Townsend)there might not be the mass of guitar gods and wannabee's that we have today.


chazba

 

[heatmiser]

Wow...what an odd list. Very fun reading all the replies...

It is hard not to consider anyone nicknamed "god" as overrated. However, I believe he got the nickname during his time with Cream. At the time, he must have seemed like one. Live Cream Volume I & II alone secure his status as a 6 string Deity in my view. I'm not overly excited about anything he's done since he switched to a strat. I think that Clapton may not have a lot of different things to say with his instrument, but what he does is express ideas with clarity and flawless technique.

I would say the same about B.B. and Carlos. They each have a signature sound that they almost never veer away from. I had no idea Carlos was looked down upon by so many people. I like his playing (the super-fast staccato arpeggios mixed with infinitely sustained squeals)...B.B.'s too (the soulful bending - almost crying sound). But I don't believe either one is more varied or skilled in their playing than the other.

I saw Jimmy Vaughn open for his brother in 1983. He was fun and capable. Overrated? I don't think I've ever heard anyone offer an opinion of him one way or the other outside of this thread. Seems kind of like asking if Sean Lennon is overrated.

I voted for Slash although to be fair I don't think I've ever been able to listen to an entire song start to finish on which he played guitar. What I did hear from him seemed awfully derivative - not at all unique. Maybe if he had teamed up with a different singer during his heyday I would've given him more of a chance.

 

[espskully]

I can recognize Clapton after one or 2 notes. Jimmy Vaughan is a terrible lead player imo. I did like the playing he did on "Things That I Used To Do" on SRV's live at Carnegie Hall disc. That was tasty.

I have seen Slash play so badly it was embarrassing - obviously far too wasted. When he's on, he rips.

 

[espskully]

I really don't care for Steve Vai. I find his playing boring. I know he has great chops, but it does nothing for me.

 

[TelePaul]

Gotta be Neil Young.....no contest


chazba

I call bullshit.

 

[TelePaul]

My thoughts as well. He makes the Rolling Stones top 100 guitar players list? What a joke!

why is that a joke? or are you just judging electric stuff?

 

[32-20-Blues]

Awful lot of Neil hating going on. Doesn't surprise me. You see, a lot of people who are interested in technique are functionally illiterate when it comes to art. Those who dismiss Neil on the basis of his ostensible 'sloppiness' are the same luddites who look at abstract art and say, "I could have done that." These are the same people who admire paintings that "look like something, you know, a person and shit." Genius passes the ignorant by frequently in this world.

 

[capnkid]

Over rated
Under rated

HAS THERE EVEN BEEN A GUITARIST RATED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS?

 

[capnkid]

But I will have to say Eric Johnson. I saw him last year and was really underwhelmed.
He reminded me of Hugh Grant if Hugh Grant was a guitar player.

 

[TelePaul]

But I will have to say Eric Johnson. I saw him last year and was really underwhelmed.
He reminded me of Hugh Grant if Hugh Grant was a guitar player.

I think consistency is a nig problem for Eric when he plays live.

 

[capnkid]

I think consistency is a nig problem for Eric when he plays live.

Nothing really stuck out. His volume was to low, If my memory serves me right, It sounded over processed. I was like a rollercoaster that didn't have any big plunges and fast curves.

 

[ZoSo58LP]

personally, i can NOT stand petrucci one bit...i hate his playing, i hate his style, i absolutley hate his setup, and i just hate him as a person lol

 

[Dr ZEE]

"OVERRATED"... by who, when, how?

RATING

One just needs a scale.
here are some scales:

 

[Decipha]

i don't see joe satriani up there

 

[Milnoque]

Regardless of your style, If you play electric rock guitar, Hendrix is your daddy.

I love Neil Young's electric lead guitar playing.

I'm voting for Esteban

 

[Gandalf]

Satriani gets my vote....he is just plane boring....

 

[Micter]

why is that a joke? or are you just judging electric stuff?

The guy just isn't a great guitar player by any stretch of the imagination. I'm comparing him to 1000's of guys that have more talent than Neil Young and he makes the top 100 guitarist of all time list? That to me is a huge joke and a slap in the face to the many guitarist that spend hours upon hours practicing to learn and master their craft. Plain and simple he's not that good! elecric, acoustic, lap steel, dobro, I don't care he isn't a good player at all.

 

[capnkid]

Regardless of your style, If you play electric rock guitar, Hendrix is your daddy.

I love Neil Young's electric lead guitar playing.

I'm voting for Esteban

I was watching his little acoustic/amp/10 instructive dvd commercial and I would buy that for someone starting out. All for $199.00

I couldn't believe the guitar is a solid spruce guitar, with a pickup in it. amazing what china can do.

 

[Sirnothingness]

Why has noone mentioned Carlos Santana? I cannot stand his sour, slightly off tone or his tecnique, and yet when he plays the same damn solo in EVERY SONG he has played since 1969, people talk of him as a guitar god. Sorry - he seems to be a really cool guy, but his playing to me really stinks. It's beyond sloppy, and generally free of any good licks.

Carlos Santana. When he had a young Neil Schon playing with him, Neil blew his ass away. Not to offend Santana fans, but I think he is overrated big time.