Most overrated quitarist of all time

I've only just caught this thread, but it's most interesting. I have said previously on the Naim forum that Eric Clapton is over rated. In fact, I reckon I was playing better than him by the late 80's.

But as for genius, I agree it's always those who play with feeling. If it touches my soul it's good. Many of those listed could be regarded as great players at one time or another. But I've never been moved by those who just play for speed and effect (especially tapping and excessive use of the tremelo - or whammy bar as they'd call it).

As for favourites - that depends on when... Although people sprayed on walls to express their belief that Clapton was God, they were wrong. It was Page. (Although thinking about it, he was more likely the Devil.) But what's he done since 1980?

But what about the genius of Francis Dunnery?

Regards, CB

quote:

Originally posted by Clive Blackman:
In fact, I reckon I was playing better than him by the late 80's.

..though you say so yourself!

Clapton's a good blues man - if you don't like the blues then you ain't going to be impressed. He's probably overrated, but old slowhand still has a touch of class compared with the likes of Walter Trout and certain others of the new generation who are a bit clumsy and overenthusiastic. He's far more inspired than, say, Gary Moore, whose lamentable ouvre shows what an impressive technique and total lack of musical taste and imagination can do; EC remains worth a listen if nothing else. He's probably too busy shagging young women to practice the guitar anyway.

quote:

[...]excessive use of the tremelo - or whammy bar as they'd call it).

Actually you might as well call it a whammy bar as "tremolo" is actually an incorrect description: tremolo refers to fluctuations in volume, whereas a wanglebar fluctuates pitch.

quote:

[...]their belief that Clapton was God, they were wrong. It was Page.

Hmm. You see, I originally voted for him as most overrated guitarist of all time. A serviceable axeman, but just another noisy bastard in the last analysis.

Hendrix has it for most overrated of all time though.

EW

Looking through this thread it seems Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits are about 50/50 like/dislike.
Going through MKs career he is to me, very versatile for a so called 'Rock Guitarist'. He not only plays rock/pop but also blues,country and folk and also scores movie sound tracks.
For quite a while in the early 90s he played with Chet Atkins which added to his versatility,
just listen to 'Neck and Neck' - Columbia 467435 2. I don't think there are many Rock guitarists that would be so much at ease playing with Chet, who sadly passed on last year.
Chris N

I like Knopfler's playing a lot, but I think it appeals more to other guitarists than it does to non-players. There are a million little subtle touch things he does that all add up to make me usually jealous, occasionally awestruck. A true player's player, perhaps.

The fact that Chet rated him enough to record with him probably means Knopfler doesn't really care much what we say. After all, who here is a better judge of guitar talent than Chet Atkins was?

quote:

Originally posted by jayd:
After all, who here is a better judge of guitar talent than Chet Atkins was?

All of us.

EW, you are forgetting that Page played acoustic extensively on Led Zep's first three albums, so accusing him of being just noisy isn't really fair. He was THE guitarist of that particular time in my opinion. Not only that, he created LZ, wrote the soundtrack, had stage presence - he was the whole package.

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:

quote:

Originally posted by jayd:
After all, who here is a better judge of guitar talent than Chet Atkins was?

All of us.

EW, you are forgetting that Page played acoustic extensively on Led Zep's first three albums, so accusing him of being just noisy isn't really fair. He was THE guitarist of that particular time in my opinion. Not only that, he created LZ, wrote the soundtrack, had stage presence - he was the whole package.

Whilst I don't dislike Beck, Clapton, Page and Rossi - I still prefer listening to Nick Drake, Davy Graham and Jerry Garcia, not to mention Jan Ackerman.

And why has nobody mentioned the great Frank Zappa as most underrated guitarist - you'd think the 'Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar" deluxe box set had never been released.



Perhaps the most overrated is whoever it is plays guitar on 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' (which I've just listened to), but the drums are even worse.

Rotf

quote:

Originally posted by jayd:
I like Knopfler's playing a lot, but I think it appeals more to other guitarists than it does to non-players. There are a million little subtle touch things he does that all add up to make me usually jealous, occasionally awestruck. A true player's player, perhaps.

The fact that Chet rated him enough to record with him probably means Knopfler doesn't really care much what we say. After all, who here is a better judge of guitar talent than Chet Atkins was?

Well said.

Knopfler is a musician, not a dickbanger. If you like all those dreadful fretwankers - Steve Satriani, Yngwie van Halen, Joe Malmsteen et al - you're not going to like Knopfler. Even today the guitar is still the object of depressing sporting ambitions; one day it might dawn on some of these people that music isn't a contest.

quote:

And why has nobody mentioned the great Frank Zappa as most underrated guitarist - you'd think the 'Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar" deluxe box set had never been released.

I haven't heard that one, but I do recall a double LP simply called (I think) "Guitar"; a depressing, superflous collection of clumsy, very boring and interminable solos with mad drumming going on behind. I couldn't figure out why he chose to release it - other than to make money I suppose.

EW

quote:

Originally posted by jayd:
I like Knopfler's playing a lot, but I think it appeals more to other guitarists than it does to non-players. There are a million little subtle touch things he does that all add up to make me usually jealous, occasionally awestruck. A true player's player, perhaps.

The fact that Chet rated him enough to record with him probably means Knopfler doesn't really care much what we say. After all, who here is a better judge of guitar talent than Chet Atkins was?

Hi jayd
I totaly agree with you.
Knopfler in the UK is refered to as a musicians musician, he's still one of the best when 'on song' but he appears to have lost his way a little, lately.
All the best
Chris N

As a guitarist, I must say that rock guitarists are a surprisingly conservative lot; much fetishising of antique gear, and nostalgia for things that happened 40 or 50 years ago. To test this, look at magazines about techno/DJ type music, or mags about digital recording and keyboards; then open Guitar Player: all tubes and "vintage", plus foldouts of Jimmy Page circa 1975 or whatever.

As an aside, I liked Knopfler on the early Dire Straits abums, when he just plugged his Fender straight into the amp, a la Hank Marvin or Richard Thompson; great stuff. Oops! Just proved what I was talking about in the previous paragraph...

Please correct me if i'm wrong but, didn't Knopfler change from Marshall to Mesa Boogie amps half way through the Dire Straits era?
Regards
Chris N

quote:

Originally posted by Analogue:
Please correct me if i'm wrong but, didn't Knopfler change from Marshall to Mesa Boogie amps half way through the Dire Straits era?
Regards
Chris N

Dunno. I thought he used Fender amps? He did when I saw him with the Notting Hillbillies several years ago.

If I had his money I'd use a Boogie; the best lead tone I've managed was using a PRS McCarty Soapbar with a MkIV...

EW

One of the fascinations of conversations with Organists is that they always talk, in-depth, about the possibilities of different instruments and their stop dispositions - a subject no one can argue with them about! Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
I thought he used Fender amps?

You are correct: In the 70's it was Pro- or Twin-Reverbs; a great sound.
My opinion: Mesa/Boogie? Yeuccch. Grainy and opaque! (IMHO, your mileage may vary).

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:
My opinion: Mesa/Boogie? Yeuccch. Grainy and opaque! (IMHO, your mileage may vary).

Presuming you're a guitarist, try a well sorted PRS with a Boogie IV cranked; I'm not sure grainy and opaque are the right adjectives!

EW

.. you have to know how to drive them, mind; they're not for hammerchewers...

EW

quote:

Originally posted by Earwicker:
.. you have to know how to drive them, mind; they're not for hammerchewers...

EW

Hammerchewers?

que?

quote:

Originally posted by bhazen:
Hammerchewers?

Amateurs - it's rhyming slang.

(slaps forehead)