Clapton, Beck, Page vs Hendrix, Gibbons, Vaughn
 

Who do you like better?

From the UK:
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Jimmy Page

From America:
Jimi Hendrix
Billy Gibbons
Stevie Ray Vaughn

you should make a poll, but Page and Hendrix

i don't really listen to any of them but i can tell you for certain Eric Clapton is one of the most boring guitarists i've had the misfortune to hear. his playing conjures up images of aging bluesmen sitting in a rocking chair still sticking to the guns they proudly wear as if to say "look at what i've done here, still playing the same licks forty years later."

insanely overrated as a guitarist and unimaginably boring to listen to.

I'm saving Page for a Jimmy Page vs Steve Howe poll.

AGREED.a

except for pretty much everything he did in cream and / or any band setting that wasn't listed as his name.

but yeah clapton as a solo artist is far beyond boring.

Except the Slowhand album is really good. I do agree that just about the rest of his solo stuff is hella boring. But whatever, he's still a great guitarist for Cream alone.

For me, preference wise.

Page > Hendrix > Beck > Clapton > Vaughn >>>>>>>>>> Gibbons.

Not a big ZZ Top fan.

I have to put Hendrix at the top even above Page and Clapton is above Beck for me to. Clapton's solo stuff is better even if Beck was better with the Yardbirds

I actually like Beck's solo stuff more than The Yardbirds.

Blow by Blow is a classic fusion album. He also played for Stevie Wonder and appeared on Talking Book, which people sometimes forget.

Did you know Stevie Wonder wrote some of the tracks on Blow by Blow and plays keyboard on them?

no, i think pretty much everything he did was terrible. Cream, Yardbirds, Blind Faith were all pretty bad. i haven't heard John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, can't comment on that. only Derek and the Dominoes really has any redeeming qualities, and that could easily be attributed to Duane Allman's participation in the group.

i get fairly aggravated at all the crap floating around that still puts him on some ridiculous pedestal. i don't find his work remotely intriguing.

And thus I'm now reminded about how I never agree with you on anything music related.

Cream >>>>>>>>>> You.

This is one of your dumbest posts ever.

I understand it's your opinion, but no fan of the genre would ever agree. You sound clueless.

I can understand thinking solo Clapton is boring.

But not Cream. It's funny what can bore a person and what doesn't.

I mean Sam is a Can fan, and while they have some excellent stuff. I just don't get it, they're the one prog band hipsters (times I've used this word now OVER 9000!!!) clamor over and I think Aumgn is more boring, tasteless and pretentious than anything Rick Wakeman could ever cook up.

Peoples tastes are just weird. I mean some people seem to think it's a contradiction when I the prog fan call anything boring.

how so?

because i don't share your enthusiasm for outdated dad rock that somehow makes me a philistine? there are others here who share my sentiments about Eric Clapton, i don't understand how my distaste for his music makes it any less relevant.

perhaps i should leave this conversation where it is, you people seem to have difficulty extracting the objectivity of a person's opinions. fuck do i care if you agree with me.

Yes, Cream was Fantastic, everything else for the most part I don't care for. It's amazing that so many people on this forum including myself hold such an unpopular opinion of Clapton which means he must truly be overrated.

Gibbons sticks out like a sore thumb in this thread. Not one I would consider a noteworthy guitarist.

I thought about after I posted and figured this would be your response. You know me better then that, I know you better then to call your post dumb.

Here's my point: I hate a lot of bands that are popular here, I just don't post about them because it will only bother fans and like you said "what the fuck do I care if you agree with me" that goes for everyone of course.

What bothers me is that you posted that knowing it would just piss people like 2boo and me off. I acknowledged it was your opinion and of course you can think whatever you want (sorry for posting that condescending cliche bs)

As for the Dad rock comment; fuck you I am granddad now.

It's not about sharing our passion; it's about understanding it and not needing to say something that serves no purpose but to agitate.

Regardless, it's not a big deal and I'm sorry for calling you dumb, your still a top 10er.

I think if you find Clapton boring you have not seen his live performances. I even agree with you tha much of his recorded discography is quite repetitive, pointless, and boring. But that man can really put on a great ****ing live show. I mean take a look at this Crossroads clip from verryy recently.

sorry dude but that's about the worst example of proving clapton's worth that you could have chosen.

the whole premise of 'i shot the sheriff' was to rise up against the british colonists who were turning jamaicans against each other. hence the whole point of shooting the sheriff (the brit appointed to bring 'civilized' order to the island) and not the deputies (fellow jamaicans). clapton was some middle class white brit kid who desperately wanted people to think he was from the poor side of the tracks while enjoying the benefits of his social status ($$$ for drugs and guitars). this is quite possibly the most contrived cover song in rock music.

Hillary Duff's version of My Generation?

You do have a point though, never cared for Clapton's version of that song.

touche, but hillary duff was never good to start with haha

at least with clapton you can go back and dig up stuff like this...

The Revernd Willie G. is one of the best blues-rock guitar players, I like his style Texas Blues has a swing feel and he play with dynamics and has a texture to his playing, some times he uses his fingers or a peso when he plays.

The reason I picked him is because of an interveiw I saw of Jimi Hendrix, he was asked what new guitar player (then) he liked and Jimi responded Billy Gibbons, so he is considered note worthy to Jimi Hendrix. I saw another interveiw where Billy Gibbons put in a good word for Stevie Ray Vaughn. So that is the link between those three. And everyone know about the Yardbirds, right?

Probably: Page > Hendrix > Beck > Clapton > Vaughn > Gibbons

Cream is the only work of Clapton that I really listen to. Beck is a very intriguing guitar player whose works I just recently started to really listen to. But out of all these Page is by far the guitarist I listen to and appreciate the most.

Clapton experienced a steep drop off after "Layla", but that album as well as Blind Faith, Cream, and especially Blues Breakers were exceptional, making his peak period very similar to Hendrix. Jeff Beck is my favoritie guitarist, period. He was the most innovative of all three, pioneering psychedelic rock with the YBs, heavy-metal w/ JBG, funk-rock w/ "Superstition" and some of the most beautiful and nuanced guitar runs during "Blow By Blow/Wired"', elevating guitar solos to heights rarely heard.

Though I really can't stand to listen to ZZ Top. Gibbons IS an exceptional guitarist.

Thats like criticising Michelangelo for not changing his stroking style after he painted The Sistine Chapel.

Still tend to agree with you mind

I think you have to hear that Bluesbreakers with Clapton record; some of his guitar playing on there is really great stuff. I love that record, especially All Your Love.

In terms of Clapton, I've always liked his tone, I think his vibrato is exceptional, and I've always thought he played tastefully. I suppose I can see where you are all coming from, but there are definitely things I find musically interesting about his playing, even in terms of his solo career. Back in the day during some live Cream shows though, I've heard him really give it and I think those old live shows are probably the best reflection of what he was truly capable of.

Clapton has never slowed down as an amazing guitarist. The issue is that he's not as strong as an individual strongwriter, which is why his best material is usually written by someone else or co-written with them, or covers.

I can agree with that.

I am not a big Clapton fan although John Mayall's Bluesbreakers is still one of my favourite Blues Rock albums ever. I'm not a big Cream fan. Don't dislike them at all but rarely listen to them however Clapton is basically a lazy bastard especially since the early 70's and has only shown glimpses to how good he can be. This work with Roger Waters is however sublime and one of my favourite guitar solo's ever, even he sounds a trife like Gilmour for some reason.

Great song ^

Clapton was a progenitor of the British Blues Boom and gets props for that if nothing else... Cream used to entertain me but the only thing of theirs I can handle anymore is the BBC sessions... Derek And The Dominoes were great, especially live, but only in certain moods, and I think Eric managed one good solo record.

SRV redefined the blues for the "modern" age and made some great discs on the way but ultimately the wave of copycats was nauseating.

Jimi died too soon to fully realize his vision - we will all be picking up the pieces for decades to come, if not centuries, and not just guitar players.

Buddy Guy's SWEET TEA moves me deeply.

Marc Ribot has more soul in his little finger than most "blues" players.

Likewise Neil Hagerty.

Jeff Beck does some cool things, but rarely am I drawn back to listen to him. I have picked up some great technique from Jeff Beck, right hand ideas and twang bar possibilities, and his sense of tone, what he can do with a strat marshall and wah, is ineffable.

How about the gent from Flower Travellin' Band? Asian blues, but blues nonetheless.

I`ve always thought of Clapton as being boring and overrated despite the fact that I do like his work with Cream, whereas with Jeff Beck I think he`s a much better guitarist than Clapton and the same could be said for Stevie Ray Vaughan as being superior to Clapton as well.

I also like Billy Gibbons and think the boogie blues 70`s sound of ZZ Top to be a great listen especially the "Deguelle" album.

As for Hendrix and Page along with Blackmore, probably the three best guitarists of all time!

Pretty good list but Slash at number 7!!!!

Guys guys guys guys- Steve Vai>all the above.

And btw you cant not like the beard on Gibbons.

I think the argument concerning technical guitarists like Steve Vai and those that play with a genuine passion like Hendrix has been flogged to death on here. Most people on here tend to get bored of the precision players like Steve Vai.

Beards and boiler suits are a rather cool look:thumb:

Why didn't you make a poll out of this?

Clapton, Beck and Page would win for me, I love Zep, Cream and Beck's solo work and some Yardbird stuff is pretty kickass. As much as I love Hendrix, you lumped him with Vaughn who I admire but never really listen to and Gibbons who is great but I really don't like ZZ Top.

Beck, SRV, Jimi, then all the rest. And to be honest, as a guitarist, Page was pedestrian; his real genius was as a producer. I mean, he's got more clams than a Maine seabed.

Have you seen him play with Zappa plays Zappa? Its insane im never bored of the improv

These comparisons are a bit precious; these are all great guitarists. We all have our favorites, and for me it's an easy pick - a tie with Jimi & Beck.