Everytime somebody starts one of these damn top ten best guitarist lists they always manage to pull Jimi Hendrix out their @%#&

This may offend some people but I don't think Hendrix was all that great a guitarist. I mean was he really all that good? Or was most of it just a lot of hype?

He was making some amp noises before mass manufactured distortion pedals and he could play with both hands but outside of some decent blues and rock licks and burning axes up in concert I don't see what all the hype was about. And we all know he was no singer (different subject)

When you put Prince side by side with Hendrix Prince has got to shine. This man plays everything from rock to pop to R&B fast slow inbetween you freakin name it on guitar. He has feeling and edge and technical ability. I just don't see that depth in Hendrix. Period. Love Hendrix - no disrespect intended. Just one man's opinion.

smh (shaking my head)

You are not looking at the big picture here. One of the main reasons why Jimi is revered as a guitar god is because of his use of distortion. At that time no one else was doing it to that level that he took it to. The average non-musician probably cannot fully appreciate the artistry that he demonstrated using pentatonic blues scales along with distortion. He played blues with a lot of soul that remains unchallenged. Sure there are some technical players out there that can play "better" technically and can reproduce what he did but to create the solos that he did is a different story.
I am so sick and tired of people wanting to put Jimi and Prince side by side. GIVE ME A BREAK! Jimi has been dead and gone for years now and Prince is still here. You can't compare the 2. A lot of professional musicians will tell you that there is no "better" when you get to that level. They have diff styles.
So please do your homework before you go spouting off stuff you have no idea what you're talking about.

Adding to what kenlacam said... Hendrix changed the game. He wasn't the greatest singer (he hated his own voice), and some could even consider him a "sloppy" guitarist in a live setting. But his studio experimentation and his throwing what was expected out of a lead and rhythm guitarist out the window was ground breaking, to say the least. You have to listen to Jimi's catalog to truly appreciate his historic worth.

Prince will be regarded as a great guitar slinger for all time (at least by his peers), but no matter what Prince says, one of his instructors was Jimi Hendrix.

squirrelgrease said:

Thank you! We got to school these yunguns!

Jimi was the greatest "INNOVATOR" of his time. He opened the door for lots of new sounds. The greatest guitarist? Nope, he was not the greatest. Stevie Ray Vaughn may very well hold that title in my opinion.

I agree that Hendrix wasn't the greatest guitar player of all time or even close. Squirrelgrease was right in that his experimentation opened ideas for other folks. (So did Jimmy Page.) Not sure anyone else ever set their shit on fire, but woohoo for him.

Prince definitely was influenced by Hendrix and Santana more than Sly or James, musically. However, let's just not over state Hendrix's influence on music. He was sloppy, he was left-handed which was just a novelty to look at really.

I think Hendrix has legend status because he died early, he did a lot before he died, and yes he did make some waves in music. But should he even be in a top 10? Eh, maybe a top 20.

kenlacam said:

First of all this is based on the Top Ten list discussion. This is not a who's better Prince or Jimi post. So read the damn post before you try and get righteous.

I've played guitar for over twenty five years. I've been a musician my entire life. As far as homework I've done mine and yours.

My opinion still stands. You said Jimi is revered for his use of distortion. If you knew anything about Jimi you would know that from the beginning he didn't even use a damn distortion pedal/effect. His distortion came directly from the volume of the friggin amp. Using distortion doesn't make you a better guitarist, just like adding reverb doesn't make you a better singer. Jimi Hendrix is a great guitar player but he's not a guitar god. Relax

Jimi totally revolutionised rock guitar playing that's why he is so (rightly) revered. Had he lived then his playing would have matured and progressed and he would have added new techniques and influences. Hell before he died there were rumblings of an album with Miles Davis now that would have stretched him

You have to remember that Hendrix was on the world stage about three years give or take that's like Prince dying after the Dirty Mind album!!

ernestsewell said:

Not even close. Gold star for ernest!

sgmusic said:

Interesting.....I agree.
He changed the game.....but his playing is another story.

Prince is the opposite of sloppy-precise and tight pretty much every performance. And possibly the most focussed musician today. His focus actually amazes me-still he seems like a kid in a sweet shop in a studio or on stage-and all that comes through in his playing, Obviously it helps he don't do spliffs or acid under his eyelids (lol) like Hendrix-which also came through in his playing live.
Musically-Prince has always been ahead of Hendrix-who's solos sometimes can ramble and wander a bit aimlessly-where Prince's solo's are always excellently constructed and excecuted-and as great as Hendrix's rhythm work was-P reigns supreme here too

But if im honest-Hendrix-clean and without all the class A's in his system would have been amazing-but without all that-would he have been Hendrix? So for me-P wins as all it takes to get him going is a good beat-and no distractions like acid -drink or weed-it's all from the heart. How many of todays great players need nothing to get them ready to play.....not many sadly
[Edited 8/21/09 12:49pm]

sgmusic said:

:stfu:how about that, asshole? I was trying to be polite but you are the one that is being self-righteous.

soulyacolia said:

Wow - never thought of that. Good point. And also another good reason why he can't be considered the best of all time. You can't judge the man on what he might have accomplished had he lived. Even if he had invented the use of distortion in rock guitar music (which we all know he did not) it still wouldn't qualify him as the best guitar player of all time. Give him the most influential rock guitar revolutionary title or something. Naismith putting a wicker basket on a pole make him the best basketball player of all time?

that's it. I'm through posting on this stupid thread by a non-musician.

kenlacam said:

I've been called a whole lot of assholes but don't call me an amature. Carry your ass to the next thread and let some real musicians post in your space.

polkadotbliss said:

Not that I always shamelessly show love to anyone who posts an opinion that leans towards my own but...Gold star for polkadotbliss!

i actually think jimi has a cool voice

sgmusic said:

truth hurts, don't it.

WHY does this stupid shit always have to happen when some cat who doesn't think Hendrix is ALL that ruffles the feathers of folks who do? Truth is, the person who started the thread's opinion of Jimi doesn't change other's opinion of Jimi anyway. So what's the problem? THIS shit is old as hell. MOST people who loves Prince usually HATES Hendrix anyway. Rather odd but true. I discovered that long before I got hip to this site and I have seen that in droves on here in this forum. I have my theories on WHY I think that is but that's all subjective too. Saying Prince is influenced by Hendrix is like someone saying the sky is blue. People dig who they dig. People on here could see Prince say himself that he wouldn't be the guitarist he is today if it weren't for Hendrix and that in his mind, Jimi is the the ultimate guitarist. Most people on this forum would actually get upset with Prince for saying that and for thinking that. They would argue with Prince himself and say shit like "Nooooo Prince...You CAN'T possibly mean that!" But other than that, I did think that THIS thread really should have been over in Non Music though. Why? Because the whole thread IS about Hendrix and how he's NOT all THAT according to the author of this thread. It's not really about Prince at all. This thread could have worked verbatim and fit perfectly over in Non Music. Now of course, over there, the author would have gotten an ENTIRELY different type of feedback. Most over there sees Jimi as I do. That's usually the pattern here though. Anything to voice their non impressive-ness on Hendrix, that's ALWAYS going to be placed here in Music and More. Because this is where the support comes from for THAT type of sentiment. Not accusing the author of purposely running it in THIS forum, mind u. Just saying that technically, it's better suited over in Non Music. Since the bulk of the thread is about what Hendrix is. Or in this case, what he ISN'T. But besides the other, people like what they like. Not sure on what Hendrix has to do with P being mentioned on Top 10 lists or not There are 9 other cats besides Hendrix on the lists but it's odd how I never see anyone complaining about Clapton or Van Halen being on there. I've NEVER seen a thread like "That damn Clapton! He's always mentioned on the lists when Prince barely squeezes in! That damn Clapton! He really wasn't that great. No disrespect though". Nah, I've never seen that on here and doubt I ever will. People who thinks P is the ultimate guitar god,... right on. People who can't stand Hendrix,...STILL right on. It doesn't change the price of tea in China so whatever. People see what they want to see and like what they want to like. We're all still going to die when it's time for us to die. Why trip over who likes who? People are still going to listen to Purple Haze...oops, I mean Purple Rain.
[Edited 8/21/09 17:54pm]

I admit-I took the bait. The OP was obviously trying to start some shit by posting this stupid thread.

Just imagining the amount of talent Henrix possessed makes my head spin..
On top of amazing playing, he sang at the same time. Watching him just makes me go at times

It's not his technicality that made him the best of the best, it's his soul. He just wears it out on the guitar. No other connects to it the way he does.

Prince would be wiped across the floor by Hendrix. His spontaneous electric playing is no match to the hard rock bluesy jives of Jimi's, man
[Edited 8/21/09 17:50pm]

JesusFreak said:

Yes, but u know how it is...people are going to dig what they dig....regardless. It is what it is.

It´s not fair com compare prince technical skills with Hendrix´s. Prince had the time to be influenced by lots of different players, by modern rock like Van Halen, Satriani, and he was more exposed to jazz, latin among other things.. Hendrix died young and lived in a period that it was very difficult be exposed to what was going on around the world.. And it is maybe one of the reasons that he was so great and so unmatched, he was not overflooded by other people institutional playing, he never played as a video guitar lesson guy, he lived the soul and played the soul. He will be forever the ultimate guitar God, the most important guitar player of the past and of the future.

7salles said:

Right. and I wonder who Prince got all/alot of his licks and moves from
Not to mention their extravagant style of dress is rather similair

No respect at all

I'll steer clear of the Hendrix debate and try to divert your attention to Henry Garza. I went to see Los Lonely Boys last weekend and their lead guitarist tore it to shreds. And then tore the shreds to shreds.

I'm a big Stevie Ray fan. Henry channels SRV, but adds some Texican influence, some pop, some rock and a lot of blues. At one point, he sounded like Clapton. At other times, very SRV-like. I was really, really impressed. His brothers are superb musicians, as well.

If you're not familiar with LLB, check out www.loslonelyboys.com, click on the "music" link and listen to their cover of Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man." Good place to start.

I remember the day Jimi Hendrix died, the news said he wasn't anything but a drugged out hippie and I agreed. Like Elvis he is bigger in death than he was in life.
Now watch everybody shoot me with the machine gun emoticon.
[Edited 8/21/09 20:54pm]

Dayclear said:

Why agree on something so absurd, or better yet judge him when you obviously don't know anything about him? He was huge before and after death.