Threadbare you have said that you didn't see Prince

throw down continually like JM did for a very long time?

Can i ask you what live performances have you heard by Prince lately?

SEXYFUNKYSTRANGE i agree on this:

No comparison!

Prince has an ultra distinctive tone. Many guitarists seek to emulate it. Its based on the tone of early Santana.

When you hear Princes playing, you dont have to see him to KNOW its him. His sound and style is very distinctive.

Mayer is an able guitarist, but not distinctive. He sounds like 50 other blues guitarists

bravo

but i don't agree on this:

Prince's guitar playing in recent years though has fallen off somehwat. The sweet tone is still there, but when he solos...it sounds uninspired and run of the mill, compared to the old days.

Prince lead guitar solos are better then ever.

John Mayer sucks. His voice is horrible and he's everything wrong with music.

Now let's be serious. I saw Prince do an After-show show at the House of Blues in Hollywood. He opened with "Whole Lotta Love", shredding his Telecaster. It was Mind-blowing. John Mayer will end up in a class of "Remember that genre?" coffee house discussions. Alongside Dave Matthews, alongside Five for Fighting, Maroon 5, and other stuff that would bore your pants off. Here in the bay area, only the new John Mayer isn't in the clearance bin at my local record shops... Same goes for Dave Matthews... "I wanna run through the halls of my high school..." <--- Yikes.

I don't know much about John Mayer.

But regarding Prince's playing. I see a lot of talk in this thread about prince's lead playing, which is cool, but what I think makes him one of the best is his funk rhythm guitar playing. Listen to the last minute of the 9 minute possessed track... (the original pre-purple rain)

lolwut

No.

People are not aware of just how good Prince really is on guitar.

And the capper is he is even better on the piano than guitar.

Their is nothing wrong with John Mayer - I just think he is Dave Matthews and Stevie Ray Vaughn thrown in a blender on frappe'. But it's great to see the success John has.

To all the folks who say JM couldn't school P, I ask, who can?

What living guitarist do you think could teach him something or is "better?"

Bottom line is this ... John Mayer's playing is more complex. He has written riffs on the guitar like "Neon" that Prince just has never come close to. Prince's roots are in rock/funk/jazz...and yes he was way too heavy on the effects for a long time. Mayer has all that in his playing plus a classical influence which just gives him more in his "bag of tricks" than P has.

These are the only two artist where I basically own everything they have recorded and I respect them both in different ways. There are those that will put down John Mayer because they only know the stuff that was played on the radio when he first came out so they dismiss him as a bubble gum pop star. Just the same, there are those that dismiss Prince as a dude that dresses like a lady and just screams and makes sexual groans in his music because all they know is "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss". Of course those of us on the org know better because we have exposed ourselves to all the b-sides and all the jams that radio never played. But as far as guitar, that's Mayer's thing, Prince "had" been an innovative performer and songwriter... Mayer probably won't ever have that title.

My answer is no.

carlcranshaw said:

No.

People are not aware of just how good Prince really is on guitar.

And the capper is he is even better on the piano than guitar.

Their is nothing wrong with John Mayer - I just think he is Dave Matthews and Stevie Ray Vaughn thrown in a blender on frappe'. But it's great to see the success John has.

/\ This.

Yeah John is a BAD MAN!! Prince is good but he doesnt play like John. For those not really familiar with JM live you should be. OMG that boy can play!! He has a much broader range than prince

Threadbare: Part of the flaw in your argument is that you seem to be comparing John Mayer's live performances to Prince's studio work. For the most part, Prince's guitar genius is best showcased in a live setting.

Ignoring the flaw in your comparison, I don't think John Mayer could school Prince. For one, John Mayer prominently promotes/features himself as a guitar player. All of the time. John Mayer strives to have people know that he is good on guitar. Again, it's how he promotes himself.

Prince has notoriously undersold (and is notoriously underrated for) his guitar abilities...you go to a Prince show and he is liable to not even play guitar for half of the concert or more. It really wasn't until 2004 that Prince started getting major mainstream accolades for being such a badass on guitar.

[Edited 8/11/10 9:24am]

[Edited 8/11/10 9:54am]

John Mayer is incredibly talented on guitar. Period. However, I've seen him in concert, and his seemingly interminable guitar solos throughout bored the shit out of me. Maybe he could teach Prince something and maybe Prince could teach him something, but at the end of the day, it's no contest which one I'd actually want to watch and listen to playing guitar.

SkyWalker i agree with you

skywalker said:

Threadbare: Part of the flaw in your argument is that you seem to be comparing John Mayer's live performances to Prince's studio work. For the most part, Prince's guitar genius is best showcased in a live setting.

Ingnoring the flaw in your comparison, I don't think John Mayer could school Prince. For one, John Mayer prominently promotes/features himself as a guitar player. All of the time. John Mayer strives to have people know that he is good on guitar. Again, it's how he promotes himself.

Prince has notoriously undersold (and is notoriously underrated for) his guitar abilities...you go to a Prince show and he is liable to not even play guitar for half of the concert or more. It really wasn't until 2004 that Prince started getting major mainstream accolades for being such a badass on guitar.

[Edited 8/11/10 9:24am]

You are wise young skywalker

I've always enjoyed Eddie Van Halen's guitar work. I'd compare him to Prince but, their styles are so opposite of one another. He's still one of my favorite guitarist. I haven't heard SRV's work, though ...

Prince is a beast on rythm guitar. His funky riffs are amazing as well.

He is much better now than he was back in the 80s. His game has made a massive step forward live.

But he is a great keys player and bass player as well. It must take a lot of time to practice all those instruments at his level. What he did on the bass in le New Morning was absolutely stunning.

Now talking about Mayer, he is a fantastic guitar player but I don't hear anything new in the way he plays.

To me, Jeff Beck is far ahead of both Prince and Mayer anyway. He has been very innovative on the guitar. The way he masters a guitar is pure genius. I invite you guys to check his live at Ronnie Scott with Tal Winkenfeld. Absolutely mind blowing.

[Edited 8/11/10 10:34am]

skywalker said:

Threadbare: Part of the flaw in your argument is that you seem to be comparing John Mayer's live performances to Prince's studio work. For the most part, Prince's guitar genius is best showcased in a live setting.

Ignoring the flaw in your comparison, I don't think John Mayer could school Prince. For one, John Mayer prominently promotes/features himself as a guitar player. All of the time. John Mayer strives to have people know that he is good on guitar. Again, it's how he promotes himself.

Prince has notoriously undersold (and is notoriously underrated for) his guitar abilities...you go to a Prince show and he is liable to not even play guitar for half of the concert or more. It really wasn't until 2004 that Prince started getting major mainstream accolades for being such a badass on guitar.

This is true, Prince has never wanted to be known for just one thing, like being a guitar player. This separates him as an artist in general--he's not a singer, not a dancer, pop star, not a piano player, not a producer, not a songwriter, etc he is all of them.

Actually both players share one similar quality on guitar. On the surface it sounds at times like they are recyclying stock licks of their predecessors, but dig deeper--for example, watch them do something on acoustic--and you will see their knowledge goes a lot farther than the big rock solo.

ThreadBare said:

To all the folks who say JM couldn't school P, I ask, who can?

What living guitarist do you think could teach him something or is "better?"

Jeff Beck.

Vendetta1 said:

I hate to admit it because I don't like Mayer as a person but after seeing him at Crossroads 2007 and 2010, the boy can play. He is a beast on guitar but i don't think he is a better player than Prince, who I also don;t like as a person.

Maybe I need to hear some more of his stuff? Thready, what do you recommend?

I agree - he can play, but he's an asshole through and through. I can't stand the guy and therefore I never got past his first cd.

ThreadBare said:

sexyfunkystrange said:

No comparison!

Prince has an ultra distinctive tone. Many guitarists seek to emulate it. Its based on the tone of early Santana.

When you hear Princes playing, you dont have to see him to KNOW its him. His sound and style is very distinctive.

Mayer is an able guitarist, but not distinctive. He sounds like 50 other blues guitarists.

I will say though.

Prince's guitar playing in recent years though has fallen off somehwat. The sweet tone is still there, but when he solos...it sounds uninspired and run of the mill, compared to the old days.

Seasoned guitarists will know exactly what im talking about.

<--- seasoned guitarist agreeing with you on the "fallen off" point. I'd even contend that the tone has degraded. His overdriven tone is often harsh to me. He hasn't had a distinct, trademark sound to me since he lost the "molten glass" tone I associate with his 1980s/cloud tone (part of the reason I have the SOTT pic in my original post). P's playing is pretty rote, these days.

NO NO NO and NO!!!!! You guys have not attended any Prince gig in the last 4 years or so or what?

Prince has NEVER been as amazing as he is right now on the guitar. His game is hundred times better now.

I invite you to listen to Spanish Castle Magic (Monte Carlo) for instance. Or play the fury live video from Saturday Night Live again. You guys are nuts.

Prince is creative - JM copies other peoples sound.

Listen to "Waiting for the world to change" and compare to Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready". Total rip off - not just a little, the whole song.

There are other instances as well.

No comparison for me.

ohYeeeeeah said:

ThreadBare said:

<--- seasoned guitarist agreeing with you on the "fallen off" point. I'd even contend that the tone has degraded. His overdriven tone is often harsh to me. He hasn't had a distinct, trademark sound to me since he lost the "molten glass" tone I associate with his 1980s/cloud tone (part of the reason I have the SOTT pic in my original post). P's playing is pretty rote, these days.

NO NO NO and NO!!!!! You guys have not attended any Prince gig in the last 4 years or so or what?

Prince has NEVER been as amazing as he is right now on the guitar. His game is hundred times better now.

I invite you to listen to Spanish Castle Magic (Monte Carlo) for instance. Or play the fury live video from Saturday Night Live again. You guys are nuts.

I agree with ohYeah... the past few years, Prince's guitar playing live has really taken a step up imo.

kewlschool said:

skywalker said:

Threadbare: Part of the flaw in your argument is that you seem to be comparing John Mayer's live performances to Prince's studio work. For the most part, Prince's guitar genius is best showcased in a live setting.

Ingnoring the flaw in your comparison, I don't think John Mayer could school Prince. For one, John Mayer prominently promotes/features himself as a guitar player. All of the time. John Mayer strives to have people know that he is good on guitar. Again, it's how he promotes himself.

Prince has notoriously undersold (and is notoriously underrated for) his guitar abilities...you go to a Prince show and he is liable to not even play guitar for half of the concert or more. It really wasn't until 2004 that Prince started getting major mainstream accolades for being such a badass on guitar.

[Edited 8/11/10 9:24am]

You are wise young skywalker

we ,ll meet on the moon,to decide how can we come to Rome

then many roads lead to this place

how?

difficult or easly ?

Funny - from my Google Search bar I typed the following and had a look at the suggestions:

"John Mayer is a "

"Prince is a "

Results for Prince:

- Homosexual (had to see that coming)

- Married

- Vegan

Results for JM (among others)

- Jerk

- Douchebag

- Douche

- Racist

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ItWBwqLGMs

Dude Mayer has way more tricks up his sleave then Prince. Prince has the "wow" factor and showy tricks, where Mayer is more in depth in blues- he's schooled.

Heck Mayer spun circles around SLASH. He's a black horse alright

[Edited 8/11/10 11:43am]

Any reason why the OP has to deride one person...just in order to boost another up?...

Always a dichotomy for these people....better, worse...greater, lesser...

Prince is a shit hot guitar player who has clearly got even better in recent years, a fukin deaf retard could tell you that.

John Mayer gargles balls, i've just checked out some of his shit on youtube and its about as good as Coldplay who also gargle balls

JesusFreak said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ItWBwqLGMs

Dude Mayer has way more tricks up his sleave then Prince. Prince has the "wow" factor and showy tricks, where Mayer is more in depth in blues- he's schooled.

Heck Mayer spun circles around SLASH. He's a black horse alright

[Edited 8/11/10 11:43am]

That youtube link is all the proof you need. John Mayer is playing the white boy college version of be soulful or bluesy. It's not that he's not talented, but it is very much in the same vein of Jack Johnson or even Dave Matthews. It's what too many frat boys think is funky.

BlackguitaristZ S.O.S S.O.S

skywalker said:

JesusFreak said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ItWBwqLGMs

Dude Mayer has way more tricks up his sleave then Prince. Prince has the "wow" factor and showy tricks, where Mayer is more in depth in blues- he's schooled.

Heck Mayer spun circles around SLASH. He's a black horse alright

[Edited 8/11/10 11:43am]

That youtube link is all the proof you need. John Mayer is playing the white boy college version of be soulful or bluesy. It's not that he's not talented, but it is very much in the same vein of Jack Johnson or even Dave Matthews. It's what too many frat boys think is funky.

the question was not if he was more funky on guitar than Prince