Nominate your candidate for most OVERRATED GUITARIST IN ROCK!

[Powderfinger]

I don't hate Eric Clapton, but he is absolutely overrated IMHO.

 

And god rest his soul, but Stevie Ray Vaughan makes me cringe.

[bathory]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

ah, yes, the landmark van halen album, for unlawful carnal knowledge...just kidding, it sucks

[treeduck]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

[treeduck]

guys like petrucci, malmsteen and holdsworth really seem to enjoy what they're doing. they've dedicated their lives to playing guitar! and somehow you all have the magical power to read their souls.

 

This.

 

"It's shredding, they're playing really fast and stuff so there's no way it can mean anything man."

 

 

 

This piece from Luca has plenty of originality and soul... In fact, when he isn't shredding the riff sounds worse. It's a prime example of shredding improving a piece of music.

 

http://youtu.be/1Gf6jtbrBGA

 

"It's just musical masturbation, man... It's just like, a bunch of notes. I can't comprehend it because I suck"

 

I don't think anyone's saying that. Eddie Van Halen plays pretty fast, so fast, in fact, that Malmsteen would probably get his fingers stuck in the strings trying to replicate his work. So did Randy Rhoads. And Adrian Vandenberg. But there's a time and place for shredding. Malmsteen has no idea when and where that is.

 

I have to disagree about Malmsteen not being able to cop Eddie.. His technique and chops are far more advanced than Eddies..Eddie is the better overall player as far as riffs and being innovative, but speed wise, Malmsteen blows by him.

 

Vandenberg and Rhoads could cut heads with Eddie as well , IMO.

 

The one aspect of Eddies playing I feel IS overrated was the speed .. Compared to a lot of other guys, he wasn't all that mindblowingly fast.. It was all the other intangibles thst made Eddie so great

 

My apologies if I wasn't clear about Rhoads and Vandenberg. I meant they are another two players that were easily as "fast" as Malmsteen, but like EVH knew when it was time to show that.

 

I knew guys in high school that could play Eruption pretty well. But there's a difference between playing Eruption and creating it.

 

Speed is just a tool that is good to have available, it shouldn't define who you are as a guitar player, if it does then you mustn't have much else.

[bathory]

all the hagar era shit is just cheesy and over-produced

[Rick N. Backer]

I'll throw out another controversial nominee: Blackmore. I like his work. I'm a big fan of Purple and Rainbow. But I think Blackmore as a player is overrated.

[Tombstone Mountain]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

Dude that's crazy...EVH's sound evolved during the Hagar years into something special. Each album up to F*CK offered great stuff...why such a sour puss on the Hagar era? The band got so much better...EVH was inspired on all of those albums. Why can't this be love TD?

[Tombstone Mountain]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

ah, yes, the landmark van halen album, for unlawful carnal knowledge...just kidding, it sucks

You're wrong Colonel Sanders...it's fantastic!

[Tombstone Mountain]

I don't hate Eric Clapton, but he is absolutely overrated IMHO.

 

And god rest his soul, but Stevie Ray Vaughan makes me cringe.

SRV makes you cringe? That's really weird

[treeduck]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

Dude that's crazy...EVH's sound evolved during the Hagar years into something special. Each album up to F*CK offered great stuff...why such a sour puss on the Hagar era? The band got so much better...EVH was inspired on all of those albums. Why can't this be love TD?

 

Hmmmm You're acting pretty weird in this thread, out of character maybe? Although I don't really know you so who knows?

[Tombstone Mountain]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

Dude that's crazy...EVH's sound evolved during the Hagar years into something special. Each album up to F*CK offered great stuff...why such a sour puss on the Hagar era? The band got so much better...EVH was inspired on all of those albums. Why can't this be love TD?

 

Hmmmm You're acting pretty weird in this thread, out of character maybe? Although I don't really know you so who knows?

If you did know me you'd say good things...seriously...if F*CK sounds so thin, why does the bass sound so good?

[Rick N. Backer]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

Dude that's crazy...EVH's sound evolved during the Hagar years into something special. Each album up to F*CK offered great stuff...why such a sour puss on the Hagar era? The band got so much better...EVH was inspired on all of those albums. Why can't this be love TD?

 

TM, I'll give you credit brother. I own and love all of VH's stuff, including the Van Hagar era. But it takes guts to say the band was better with Sammy. I can't agree with you, but you've got courage to say it.

[Tombstone Mountain]

Sammy Hagar, he is definately overrated

What? You hardly hear anything of Hagar's playing. If anything he's underrated- not a guitar god, but the man can play.

It was obvious that he pushed EVH as well in terms of upping his game. Hagar is no slouch

 

If he pushed him anywhere it was down. Everyone knows that Ed lost the fire in his playing post Roth-era and as time went by his tone and chops became very generic and tame, he totally lost that brown sound and ended up sounding very processed.

C'mon TD. He was able to achieve the band's best sound with the F*CK album...never has the band sounded better. Music more focused than ever...EVH reached another plateau. Sammy played a BIG part in that

 

That album is ok but the production is weak and the guitar sound is thin sounding and way too processed. The songs for the most part are average. The best sound was the first 6 albums. The main hallmark of the Van Hagar era was EVH's decline including the f**k album, even though it's slightly better than OU812 and Ed's playing is more a little more inspired than on 5150...

Dude that's crazy...EVH's sound evolved during the Hagar years into something special. Each album up to F*CK offered great stuff...why such a sour puss on the Hagar era? The band got so much better...EVH was inspired on all of those albums. Why can't this be love TD?

 

TM, I'll give you credit brother. I own and love all of VH's stuff, including the Van Hagar era. But it takes guts to say the band was better with Sammy. I can't agree with you, but you've got courage to say it.

I enjoy pre-hagar era VH, but when Sammy joined the band they just got better in every way. DLR does zero for me vocally. He's got some great stuff with VH but he squandered such an opportunity. During Sammy's era the band improved vocally tenfold. The songwriting craft improved. The bass playing and sound improved. And Eddie didn't stay comfortable...he dared to explore his tone. I ultimately think Hagar made the band more productive and pushed each member in a positive way...until it all collapsed!

[Steevo]

[Turbine Freight]

I'll throw out another controversial nominee: Blackmore. I like his work. I'm a big fan of Purple and Rainbow. But I think Blackmore as a player is overrated.

 

Interesting one this. If I was pressed, I too might say Richie is overrated, even though I like Purple/Rainbow. Depends how contrary a mood I'm in when asked, but I do know what you're getting at.

[Rick N. Backer]

I'll throw out another controversial nominee: Blackmore. I like his work. I'm a big fan of Purple and Rainbow. But I think Blackmore as a player is overrated.

 

Interesting one this. If I was pressed, I too might say Richie is overrated, even though I like Purple/Rainbow. Depends how contrary a mood I'm in when asked, but I do know what you're getting at.

 

For me the key is "overrated." Blackmore is often mentioned in the conversation about greatest rock guitarists ever. I just don't see anything about his playing that belongs there. I own all the Purple and Rainbow albums with him on them, so it isn't that I'm not a fan.

[Ancient Ways]

This thread is starting to get overrated. This isn't the guitarist you don't like thread. It's overrated guitarist. I disagree with Hammett, Clapton, van Halen, malmsteen in the thread. They deliver exactly what they claim to and what most say they can. You want to get crazy? I think Hendrix is overrated. I like his songs and he did usher in a new style but his playing was really sloppy and too noisy. He isn't the virtuoso he was claimed to be. I'll be in hiding for a bit.

 

Edited for spelling

 

I chose Malmsteen, not because he lacks talent or because I don't like him (although I do think he comes across like a total prick as well), but because his style is highly annoying, cold, and completely impersonal to me. (Ever heard him play "the blues"..? Holy shitballs.) There are a lot of reasons why someone might be overrated beyond lack of talent.

 

If I were to choose someone based on whose talent alone is perceived to be greater than it appears or is purported to be, it might be someone like Chuck Berry or BB King, both very influential and in their time inspirational...but not really that good when you get down to chops, nuts, and bolts. But thankfully -- hopefully -- we're considering more than just that.

 

I never hear yngwie listed as the greatest ever or a blues player. I think his "rating" is very fast, one of the fastest and super influenced by classical but lacking in songwriting skills. I think he delivers those things in spades. So based on that I'm saying he really doesn't seem overrated since, even his biggest fans seem to admit he is pretty one dimensional.

[MMCXII]

Jimmy Page. He might have been a creative genius in the studio and a great guitar player but he doesn't belong on the top of every "best guitarist" list like he seems to be..

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtSB1ImLapM/TxTi5MaJibI/AAAAAAAAAeE/97mtTdMY_P0/s1600/Spock_Finds_You_Illogical.jpg

 

hahah, no shit! he talks about how great jimmy page is and then says he's not a great guitarist?

 

Seriously? You can't understand the difference between great and over-rated?

 

I listened to Zeppelin all through the 70's and 80's and They always sounded shitty live to me but I still love the studio stuff. I'm just saying he's not the BEST guitarist out there like a lot of people think.

Edited May 16, 2013 by MMCXII

[MMCXII]

Randy Rhoads

Yikes!!! Not touching that with a ten meter cattle prod

 

I might agree on Rhoads but I'm not super familiar with his music. Ozzy had Jake E Lee when I got into them.. But I always felt like Rhoads might be one of those guys who became so popular because he died.. I might be wrong though.. I'd have to study his music a little more

[MMCXII]

Malmsteen simply doesn't get that you don't have to show everything you have in every song.

When ever I have heard Malmsteen, I just hear notes. I don't hear music. :(

Too many notes!

Ya way too many! I just listened to the "dream on" video in this thread and the way he starts shredding right at the beginning during that intro.. Does he even hear the song?? Lol

 

Reminds me of this..

 

[Enemy Within 77]

Malmsteen simply doesn't get that you don't have to show everything you have in every song.

When ever I have heard Malmsteen, I just hear notes. I don't hear music. :(

Too many notes!

Ya way too many! I just listened to the "dream on" video in this thread and the way he starts shredding right at the beginning during that intro.. Does he even hear the song?? Lol

 

Reminds me of this..

 

http://youtu.be/QHZ48AE3TOI

:rfl: He's such a douchebag- I love it! On a side note, I met him over 20 years ago and he was pretty cool to me.

[Ancient Ways]

Randy Rhoads

Yikes!!! Not touching that with a ten meter cattle prod

 

I might agree on Rhoads but I'm not super familiar with his music. Ozzy had Jake E Lee when I got into them.. But I always felt like Rhoads might be one of those guys who became so popular because he died.. I might be wrong though.. I'd have to study his music a little more

 

Having been a fan before he died, I can confirm that this is not really the case. He was a big deal with the first two Ozzy albums and was the first real breath of fresh air since Eddie came on the scene. His songs, solos, and tone still sound great today. It wouldn't take too much to "study" his music. Just listen to blizzard and diary.

[Rick N. Backer]

Malmsteen simply doesn't get that you don't have to show everything you have in every song.

When ever I have heard Malmsteen, I just hear notes. I don't hear music. :(

Too many notes!

Ya way too many! I just listened to the "dream on" video in this thread and the way he starts shredding right at the beginning during that intro.. Does he even hear the song?? Lol

 

Reminds me of this..

 

http://youtu.be/QHZ48AE3TOI

 

Exactly. Compare:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWrhDVOWpv4

 

People may not like Dr. Joe, but his version "fits" the song.

[Tombstone Mountain]

Randy Rhoads

Yikes!!! Not touching that with a ten meter cattle prod

 

I might agree on Rhoads but I'm not super familiar with his music. Ozzy had Jake E Lee when I got into them.. But I always felt like Rhoads might be one of those guys who became so popular because he died.. I might be wrong though.. I'd have to study his music a little more

 

Having been a fan before he died, I can confirm that this is not really the case. He was a big deal with the first two Ozzy albums and was the first real breath of fresh air since Eddie came on the scene. His songs, solos, and tone still sound great today. It wouldn't take too much to "study" his music. Just listen to blizzard and diary.

Yeah I'm not getting this much...Randy incorporated so much stuff...really made solo Ozzy that much more awesome. And live he was scorching

[treeduck]

In a new interview with Esquire, Eddie Van Halen opens up about the band's new album, A Different Kind of Truth, and reminisces about his long and storied career.

 

One of the cooler stories from the piece features Ed remembering his first encounter with Ted Nugent back in 1978.

 

"Ted was cool enough to give the band a sound check," he said. "He's standing off to the side and he's listening to me, and he comes up and says, 'Hey, you little shit! Where's your little magic black box?' I'm going, Who the f**k is that? And it was Ted. Hey Ted, it's nice to meet you, thanks for the sound check. And he's going, 'Let me play your guitar!' I go, 'Okay, here you go.' He starts playing my guitar and it sounds like Ted.

 

"He yells, 'You just removed your little black box, didn't you? Where is it? What did you do?' I go, 'I didn't do anything!' So I play, and it sounds like me. He says, 'Here, play my guitar!' I play his big old guitar and it sounds just like me. He's going, 'You little shit!' What I'm trying to say is I am the best at doing me. Nobody else can do me better than me."