SRV was definitely more consistent live. Hendrix was a lot better earlier, live anyway. I have a bootleg from Sweden, before JH got too fucked up, and his playing is spot-on. Not too many effects or the psychedelic excess that marked a lot of his later performances. It makes you just sit and wonder how anyone could be that good. The he got a bit out there til Band of Gypsys.
El Mocambo is sick. The version of Lenny is amazing.
SRV catalogued blues and blues guitar. He was like a lick encyclopedia, and pounded them out mercilessly, one after the other, with taste and feel. But he's kind of a one trick pony. One with a really good trick, and lots of soul, but still, it all kinda sounds the same after awhile. Even his acoustic stuff!
Live music changed a lot- when Hendrix was playing, a lot of times he was experimenting on stage, making stuff up as he went, finding new sounds. Musicians became more aware of making a concert an experience, a show. When SRV played a show, he was trying to nail you to your seat with his guitar. Still really fun to see, and he played his heart out. But the context was more modern.
Listen to Hendrix play Here My Train a' Comin' on acoustic. Or the jazz guitar/ horn duel and wah-wah on still raining, still dreaming/rainy day, dream away.
Hell, just get Axis: Bold as Love and Elelctric Ladyland. They are innovative, but also contain some of the best electric guitar playing ever.
