Because I sure do.

Recently, finally caught "Where the Light Is," the DVD that captures JM in acoustic, blues trio and band settings.

That cat's a straight-up beast on guitar!!!! I almost wish I hadn't seen it. It has become my "Paranormal Activity." It practically hurt my feelings, he played so well.

Don't get me wrong. I think Prince is a wonderful guitarist, and he was killer in his day.

But, I watched "WTLI" and really felt like JM had picked up the baton from greats like Jimi and SRV. I know he leans more toward them than toward traditional Prince. But Prince has been veering in that direction in the past decade.

And, even with what has seemed like a slide to a simpler playing style, Prince has continually ramped up his reliance on effects and gadgetry. Mayer's an astounding player with a guitar, some overdrive boosts and a nice amp.

I know there's some mutual respect there. I'd love to see JM and Prince share a stage and just shred away. It'd be a tie, at best.

I think mayer is more derivative of Stevie Ray Vaughn. His tone is nearly identical to SRV. Prince is more reminscent of Jimi, partly because he uses more distortion.But I think he has a more distictive sound than Mayer.

I think Prince has great feel, especially for rhythm playing. But I think Mayer has a wide knowledge of chords & great vibrato, & uses dynamics well to build to a huge climax. Prince is good, but I think his lead can be a bit formulaic at times.

Who is a better guitar player? I might say John Mayer, but that is no insult to Prince, who does a million other things better than John Mayer.

Threadbare almost everything you wrote since the day one

i noticed you on org seemed right on point and i admired some

of the things you said.

I just think you got into John Mayer phase.

John Mayer is fine guitar player but he is not even close to Prince.

And i must say this Prince of tday is not into lot of

guitar effects,i must say that on his recent stuff his guitar sound is underproduced.

Only bad guitar sounding era was Rave era.

Prince is much faster,more creative ,cleaner sounding then John Mayer.

John Mayer is good guitar player,Prince plays guitar

like it's intergral part of his body.

Maybe Prince toned down as a lyricst and a person

but on guitar he is still full of fire.

He is still practising that instrument ,still searching and i'm happy because of that fact.

Prince have more bigger vocabulary then Mayer

Mayer is almost Exclusive a penTatonic blues player,Prince plays pentatonic but almost always in combinacion

with modes such as phrygian mixolydian and doryan.

Prince is more melodic player then John

i can go on and on but i thin for you it's just a phase,you'll get over it bro

People judge Prince by listening to his older material,he is in a different zone as a guitar player now.

Have anybody of you guys bother to listen to his guitar playing in the last few years.

Check out:

I want to be Free guitar solo -nice 2010

Spanish Castle Magic 2009 concerts

With a Little help of my friends 2009 concerts

All this Love 2009 concerts

Love like Jazz 2009

ALL recent stuff Prince can play circles aroud John and it's insulting to compare him to Prince

who would be next

Prince vs. Steve Jones from Sex Pistols ?

i bet some orger will say Prince is good at rhythm but Steve from Sex Pistols kick more ass on guitar solos

[Edited 8/10/10 18:06pm]

Sorry, dude. I hear 20ten, Lotus, Planet Earth and other recent albums, and I'm hearing a ton of signal processing and effects. I'm hearing swirls and puddedda-ruddedda-screechc-chc-chc-chc-chc-ch. I'm hearing car doughnuts and ducks quacking.

Technique-wise, I'm hearing some fairly derivative playing (snippets of Hendrix's "Fire" in "Wall of Berlin," for example). Prince has always had a love affair with effects pedals. I used to love to hear how he'd cue a solo with his flange pedal, for example, back in the day. I'm not dealing with boots and internet gems you've heard that I'd have to scour the Web to find. I'm dealing with released, live material.

I'm talking straight, clean, unencumbered playing. Prince is a bad boy, no doubt. On a bad day with only 3 strings and a chipped pick, he'd still dust me, I concede.

But JM's barely overdriven throughout that concert film, and he's doing Benson, SRV, Jimi, BB, Albert King and other cats. I'd say his vocabulary is broader than Prince's.

And, I hear what you're saying about different modes and such. Peep what JM does in that film -- he slaughters the blues but goes beyond it. Prince has been parking in the Jimi-SRV zone a lot, in recent years. I don't think Prince is that player anymore, with the crazy Santana/McLaughlin scales.

He's still an emotional player, and his face-making helps the crowd get into his solos. Showmanship and whatnot.

But, JM would straight chop him.

It's not insulting to compare any musicians who actually posses some clear talent. In fact, it's actually a pretty common thing to do. John Mayer IS a beast on the guitar. I've been trying to tell people this for a few years now and all I get is, "the guy who sang Daughters?!?" The dude jams improvisationally on all different kinds of music. He's extremely proficient on both acoustic and electric guitar. And he writes some damn fine songs with said instrument. Is he better than Prince? I don't know. Still think I would probably say no. Especially if Prince focused on JUST playing guitar. However, John is still pretty young. If he keeps playing steady until he's over fifty I'm sure I'd answer the question differently.

NDRU said:

I think mayer is more derivative of Stevie Ray Vaughn. His tone is nearly identical to SRV. Prince is more reminscent of Jimi, partly because he uses more distortion.But I think he has a more distictive sound than Mayer.

I think Prince has great feel, especially for rhythm playing. But I think Mayer has a wide knowledge of chords & great vibrato, & uses dynamics well to build to a huge climax. Prince is good, but I think his lead can be a bit formulaic at times.

Who is a better guitar player? I might say John Mayer, but that is no insult to Prince, who does a million other things better than John Mayer.

Cerebus said:

It's not insulting to compare any musicians who actually posses some clear talent. In fact, it's actually a pretty common thing to do. John Mayer IS a beast on the guitar. I've been trying to tell people this for a few years now and all I get is, "the guy who sang Daughters?!?" The dude jams improvisationally on all different kinds of music. He's extremely proficient on both acoustic and electric guitar. And he writes some damn fine songs with said instrument. Is he better than Prince? I don't know. Still think I would probably say no. Especially if Prince focused on JUST playing guitar. However, John is still pretty young. If he keeps playing steady until he's over fifty I'm sure I'd answer the question differently.

That's another thread altogether...

And, he's a funky player, too!

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 tried looking these up, but all I could find was Love like Jazz 2009.

and boy am I glad I found it! That looked like one great show!

ThreadBare said:

Cerebus said:

It's not insulting to compare any musicians who actually posses some clear talent. In fact, it's actually a pretty common thing to do. John Mayer IS a beast on the guitar. I've been trying to tell people this for a few years now and all I get is, "the guy who sang Daughters?!?" The dude jams improvisationally on all different kinds of music. He's extremely proficient on both acoustic and electric guitar. And he writes some damn fine songs with said instrument. Is he better than Prince? I don't know. Still think I would probably say no. Especially if Prince focused on JUST playing guitar. However, John is still pretty young. If he keeps playing steady until he's over fifty I'm sure I'd answer the question differently.

That's another thread altogether...

And, he's a funky player, too!

True. But I really dig his songwriting. Anybody who can write a pop song that doesn't straight get on my nerves while STILL working around the edges of legitimate blues is all right in my book.

Vendetta (almost called you a different name ), John needs to talk less and play more for sure. He's said a couple of really stupid things publically. But for better or worse, that's just his personality. Believe it or not he's a pretty damn funny stand up comedian, too. Anyway, he's only got three or four albums, all a little bit different, but they're all good. Just jump in to the deep end and check one of them out. I'd say start at the beginning myself, but others may disagree.

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'd get the "Where the Light Is" DVD, if I were you, sis. The camera hovers over the necks of Mayer and his other guitarists (including bassist Pino Palladino, whose groove work is worth studying). "Try!" also showcases his chops.

I also thought "Continuum" was the bomb. JM's a fairly strong writer, and I thought he'd turned a corner with that release.

BEWARE: He's in full, self-important, won't-stop-talking mode on the DVD. Won't make you like him more, that's for sure.

[Edited 8/10/10 18:50pm]

On a technical level? Possibly. I don't know anything about the technical aspects of playing. But, I've heard lots of Mayer songs, recorded and live, and nothing he's played has left any kind of lasting connection with me. I can't think of one truly memorable riff or melodic solo that has really made me feel anything on an emotional level.

NDRU said:

I think mayer is more derivative of Stevie Ray Vaughn. His tone is nearly identical to SRV. Prince is more reminscent of Jimi, partly because he uses more distortion.But I think he has a more distictive sound than Mayer.

I think Prince has great feel, especially for rhythm playing. But I think Mayer has a wide knowledge of chords & great vibrato, & uses dynamics well to build to a huge climax. Prince is good, but I think his lead can be a bit formulaic at times.

Who is a better guitar player? I might say John Mayer, but that is no insult to Prince, who does a million other things better than John Mayer.

I agree.

might be fait to say that Prince is a stand-alone artist, and whilst comparisons can be easily made between himself and John Mayer, i dont think Prince needs schooling as a musician, or a guitarist.

thats just my opinion, but i'd also like to add that John is the guy who was so addicted to twitter he had to lie to his girlfriend about what he was doing lol

robinhood said:

might be fait to say that Prince is a stand-alone artist, and whilst comparisons can be easily made between himself and John Mayer, i dont think Prince needs schooling as a musician, or a guitarist.

thats just my opinion, but i'd also like to add that John is the guy who was so addicted to twitter he had to lie to his girlfriend about what he was doing lol

I'm sure he'll be able to find another one... and another one.... and another one...

No.

His rhythm playing is poor at times.

Cerebus said:

robinhood said:

might be fait to say that Prince is a stand-alone artist, and whilst comparisons can be easily made between himself and John Mayer, i dont think Prince needs schooling as a musician, or a guitarist.

thats just my opinion, but i'd also like to add that John is the guy who was so addicted to twitter he had to lie to his girlfriend about what he was doing lol

I'm sure he'll be able to find another one... and another one.... and another one...

oh its ok, he declared twitter dead a while back anyway, cuz people were hating on him lol

guess he and prince have more in common than we thought

Prince >>> JM.. its not close.

Prince has developed his own style and tone over the years. JM is another SRV rippoff with occasional original stuff. Prince can compose a song/solo whereas JM will just fill a solo with overused SRV/clapton licks.

JM's live stuff can be good though.. I find his studio albums to be way too safe when it comes to guitar.

[Edited 8/10/10 20:23pm]

robinhood said:

Cerebus said:

I'm sure he'll be able to find another one... and another one.... and another one...

oh its ok, he declared twitter dead a while back anyway, cuz people were hating on him lol

guess he and prince have more in common than we thought

Well between Twitter and his Playboy interview dude did say some stupid shit. Probably best he takes a break for a while.

No

Cerebus said:

robinhood said:

oh its ok, he declared twitter dead a while back anyway, cuz people were hating on him lol

guess he and prince have more in common than we thought

Well between Twitter and his Playboy interview dude did say some stupid shit. Probably best he takes a break for a while.

guitarists

No way is John Mayer a better guitarist than Prince.

When I saw Prince at the Indigo2 aftershow on the 14th August 2007 (and actually met him later that night), he played for damn near 3 hours if I recall, and the emphasis was most definitely on his guitar playing that night.

He'd was pulling out licks like I've never heard him do before, he was on FIRE that night. If any of y'all have the bootleg of that night you'll know what I'm talking about.... stuff like that.... the RRHOF solo.....Small Club....JM ain't touching it!

Prince might not always be busting out the complex stuff and of course the guitar playing isn't always the focal point of what he's doing......but when he does bring that A-game with the guitar, he's on another level.

I dig Mayer's cover of Axis Bold As Love, that was a pretty nice version... It was no Jimi but very much impressive. I think though, to me, Prince has more of his own sound than JM.

I'm not dissing Mayer @ all, he's a bad ass on the guitar but I get kinda bored w/ it just like other artists. Lately I've been listening to Clutch & Black Mountain & I think they're awesome! I go through phases like everyone.

Do I think JM could school Prince? Not a chance but I'd love to see them perform together. I doubt that would ever happen but it would be sweet!

Ok, let's see: Mayer has how many full length albums? 4? 5? whatever. I have Continuum, and it is pretty good. His playing is not so bad, in fact, it sounds great on some of the live things I've viewed on the web. From 1983 to 1988 alone, Prince schools damb near anyone not named Hendrix. Chaos And Disorder, and Lotus Flow3r....better known as Great Guitar that nobody really listens 2 and Lotus not listened 2 Flow3r....These 2 albums alone show Prince as a amazing player. Mayer is very good, and may be considered great, but I doubt he will top Prince, or even come close.

Prince is one of the BEST ROCK GUITAR PLAYERS that ever walked on planet earth.

There i said it.

And if my opinion isnt don't count the same thing this guitar players will say to you:

Joe Satriani,Steve Vai,Jeff Beck,Santana ,Bryan May,David Gillmoure,Eric Clapton and many others...

John Mayer is good but not even close

[Edited 8/10/10 22:07pm]

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.

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.