Guitarists you just don't get!

[Dmoney]

anyone mentioned Henry Kaiser?

[Andrew W]

anyone mentioned Henry Kaiser?

If Philly Q can let Robert Cray off for his contribution to Q-friendly Strat configurations then Henry Kaiser gets special dispensation from me for his work with Werner Herzog.

[AndyR]

Fantastic thread. :D

But I don't really feel I can contribute... :lol:

Two examples:

I could say "Slash". But as a guitarist I do "get him". He's not bad at all., but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen or watch him though. But that opinion is entirely based on his image and the GnR stuff I've heard - unlistenable tosh in my ears. The guitar playing's fine and dandy, but I don't listen to music just for the guitar playing. The thing is though, I also know that loads of guitarists think Appetite is the bees-knees, and they can't all be wrong, so... er... I "get him", he's cool in my books.

Mr Bonamassa. Fine, fine guitarist. I'd probably love him live but have no desire to go to see him. I've got several CDs even. But they don't get listened to that often because there's always something that I want to listen to more. I have to admit that, for me, he's "guitarist's elevator music", nice to have on in the background, doesn't ruffle any feathers. But I definitely "get" him and his playing, and good on him for what he does...


Basically, I "get" all guitarists, doesn't matter how good/poor they are, how complex/simple their playing. I don't mind if they're playing established blues/rocknroll licks or wandering off into the esoteric realms of modes and other crazy sh1t. Once I sit down and listen to any guitarist I can usually hear something that makes it worth my time to listen to.

[witeter]

Jimmi Hendrix
George Harrison
Jack White
Omar Rodriguez
wes borland

[gwEm]

Would be interesting to see if there is one guitarist that we all universally 'get'

I suspect that will be Iommi

Nope, I've met many guitarists who don't get him.

They aren't on here yet though Ratrod ;)

[horsehead]

That guy that plays Jazz blues from down south, can't remember his name becuase he's so bland.  You know a tokai 335 and SVL guitars, always in the guitar mags going on about tone.  Plays in an organ trio. Loves Two Rock.
Somebody tell me his bland name, it's driving me nuts!

Matt Schofield mate, love him!
However I don't get Daron Malakian, I don't mind a couple of their songs, but people hold him in high regard...and I just don't get it
Jeff Beck definitely, he always seems to be out of tune to me. Holdsworth is the same, just sounds like a bag of wank.

[shobet]

I think I'm with AndyR on this. I have guitarist I like listening to, and I have guitarists I don't listen to, but I'm not sure if I'd class myself as not getting them, rather having something more interesting I want to listen to or something else to do, like have a wank. I think I'm more interested in the music and the song.

[Sancho]

I interpreted "don't get" as "don't get why anybody could think they're any good"

[Tellboy]

I think I'm with AndyR on this. I have guitarist I like listening to, and I have guitarists I don't listen to, but I'm not sure if I'd class myself as not getting them, rather having something more interesting I want to listen to or something else to do, like have a wank. I think I'm more interested in the music and the song.

Totally agree ... well perhaps forget the wanking  :lol:. I think automatically labelling guitarists as cr@p if you don't get them is doing yourself no favours. I'm a typical (old) rock/blues fan but I do try to listen to music/guitarists I'm not comfortable with. Often you can find a lick/riff/technique which you can use in your own style of playing which you would never have thought of before.

[gwEm]

I love Maiden, obviously.. But I do wonder about Dave Murray sometimes - is he really good?

[Sancho]

I love Maiden, obviously.. But I do wonder about Dave Murray sometimes - is he really good?

Murray is one of my major influences, so yeah, I'd say he's good. Gers, on the other hand... :shock:

[Frank]

Would be interesting to see if there is one guitarist that we all universally 'get'

I suspect that will be Iommi

Nope, I've met many guitarists who don't get him.

They aren't on here yet though Ratrod ;)

I beg to differ

[Frank]

I love Maiden, obviously.. But I do wonder about Dave Murray sometimes - is he really good?

Murray is one of my major influences, so yeah, I'd say he's good. Gers, on the other hand... :shock:

I never liked Janick Gers' playing ... he always struck me as a tenth rate Blackmore wannabe. But then I'm only familiar with the 1980s stuff he did with Ian Gillan when Bernie Tormé quit the band. Definite tone vacuum, uninspiring.

I think we should have a rule in this thread of slag one guitarist, praise another. Soo boo to Janick Gers and yay to Bernie Tormé.

[Philly Q]

Fantastic thread. :D

But I don't really feel I can contribute... :lol:

Two examples:

I could say "Slash". But as a guitarist I do "get him". He's not bad at all., but I wouldn't go out of my way to listen or watch him though. But that opinion is entirely based on his image and the GnR stuff I've heard - unlistenable tosh in my ears. The guitar playing's fine and dandy, but I don't listen to music just for the guitar playing. The thing is though, I also know that loads of guitarists think Appetite is the bees-knees, and they can't all be wrong, so... er... I "get him", he's cool in my books.

Mr Bonamassa. Fine, fine guitarist. I'd probably love him live but have no desire to go to see him. I've got several CDs even. But they don't get listened to that often because there's always something that I want to listen to more. I have to admit that, for me, he's "guitarist's elevator music", nice to have on in the background, doesn't ruffle any feathers. But I definitely "get" him and his playing, and good on him for what he does...


Basically, I "get" all guitarists, doesn't matter how good/poor they are, how complex/simple their playing. I don't mind if they're playing established blues/rocknroll licks or wandering off into the esoteric realms of modes and other crazy sh1t. Once I sit down and listen to any guitarist I can usually hear something that makes it worth my time to listen to.

I think this is just a slightly different interpretation of the discussion - in my terms, what you've said about Slash (loads of other guitarists thinking he's the bee's knees) and Joe B (elevator music!  :lol: ) is  "not getting" them.  You can appreciate their skills but their playing/music doesn't move you, whereas other people think they're the best thing since sliced bread.

I interpreted "don't get" as "don't get why anybody could think they're any good"

I think automatically labelling guitarists as cr@p if you don't get them is doing yourself no favours.

For me, it's "don't get what all the fuss is about".  I'm not in a position to say anyone isn't any good, or god forbid label them as cr@p.  They're all better than me.  But I don't necessarily connect with what they do.

John McLaughlin is a good example for me.  Maybe Allan Holdsworth for some.  Or - let's throw them into the mix - Pat Metheny or Shawn Lane.  Obviously they're good, incredibly good in fact, but personally I find their music absolutely unlistenable.

[Philly Q]

The one we all get? Django Reinhardt?

Robert Johnson?

I think if we all "agreed" on those, at least half of us would be just pretending to know what we're talking about.  I haven't heard enough of their music to genuinely feel qualified to comment.