Petrucci, Abasi, and Andy James blown away.

[marvcus]

He's not in the same league from an improv standpoint.

Is it a competition now?

 

[Donnie B.]

Is it a competition now?

Just making a comment. The whole point of the thread is that GG is a guitarist's guitarist.
There's a reason he's got those 3 shaking their heads. And he shakes the heads of guys
across all genres.

My opinion.

Speaking of Alex Masi...

 

[panhead]

I saw Shawn playing in Black Oak Arkansas when he was 15.

 

[Donnie B.]

I saw Shawn playing in Black Oak Arkansas when he was 15.

That would have been around 1978 - right when EVH was about to take over the guitar world.

I've seen videos of Shawn from back then. It could have easily been him instead of EVH if the stars
had aligned differently. He was already outblazing Randy Rhoads and Yngwie as far a pure speed goes,
and those two hadn't even made the scene yet.

And then he'd do something like this.......

 

[panhead]

Well we were told he was 15 but that video jim says 22 so hell i dont know. I think it was 77 when I saw them at a redneck throw down bar in NC

 

[Donnie B.]

Well we were told he was 15 but that video jim says 22 so hell i dont know. I think it was 77 when I saw them at a redneck throw down bar in NC

I think the note about age 22 is flat wrong.


He was born March 1963 so 78 would have been 15-16.
And the video I posted looks like the younger him before all the health shit.

 

[panhead]

He may said that because they were in a bar and he was underage

 

[Monkey Man]

Good point, brother.

 

[gibson5413]

His pure improvisation skills are just so amazing. Have you heard his work with Wilson?
His solo on Drive Home might simply be the best ever in my book.

@RaceU4her lots of long notes here.

Love that tune as well as the entire album (especially the title track). Guthrie's solo at the end of this one is just stellar as well. I have to say the keyboard solo at 6:53 is my favorite part of the whole song. One of my favorite prog moments ever recorded.

 

[Donnie B.]

I have to say the keyboard solo at 6:53 is my favorite part of the whole song.

Definitely a highlight of that album. Very Richard Wright like imo.

Wilson's like the modern day Steely Dan.
No real band, just hires on a whim based on the project,
and then whomever it is turns out one incredibly inspired solo after another.

 

[gbsmusic]

Just insane I watch his videos all the time

 

[Fret-Shredder]

He's not in the same league from an improv standpoint.

And Guthrie is not in Petrucci's league as a song writer. I just think Petrucci is a better all purpose player. I do love Guthrie though. Not knocking him at all.

 

[Monkey Man]

I think the problem all these guys suffer from to one degree or another is that their soloing comes across as being too-clever.

Much as I love and admire Guthrie for his supreme skills and talent, I do feel that he suffers from this a little bit and it detracts from my enjoyment somewhat.

That said, to have the dexterity and ridiculous fretboard awareness he has and to not be tempted to be "clever" is almost an oxymoron.

IMHO. YMMV.

 

[Donnie B.]

That said, to have the dexterity and ridiculous fretboard awareness he has and to not be tempted to be "clever" is almost an oxymoron.

Wanting to blow all the time comes from his jazz fusion background and love of the guys like Coltrane and Parker.

 

[Monkey Man]

That's fusion, not jazz, at least the way he played it.

I get your observation 'though Donnie, but bear in mind that most of the jazz greats didn't succumb to "clever shredding" for its own sake. Think Herb Ellis and Wes Montgomery et al.

IOW, having a background in the genre isn't an excuse for semi-meaningless shredding in any style... IMHO.

 

[scottosan]

And Guthrie is not in Petrucci's league as a song writer. I just think Petrucci is a better all purpose player. I do love Guthrie though. Not knocking him at all.

I agree with your main point. While I am a guitarist who loves technically impressive playing, I am a bigger fan of music. You can shred all you want, but if the songs aren’t there, you’ll have a niche base of guitarist fans. I don’t know 1 GG song. I’d go to a foo fighters concert over any 1 man wankfest

 

[Donnie B.]

I don’t know 1 GG song.

He's way better as a guest soloist for sure. You a fan of Wilson?
Both albums are killer anyway but GG is like the cherry on top.

The Raven that Refused to Sing
Hand. Cannot. Erase.

Killer prog with a total all-star band.

 

[panhead]

Yngwie Jeff Beck Vai are all the same way. They are not song writers. Steely Dan is probably one of the few that wrote catchy tunes with high tech playing. When Rush started singing about trees and shit I was done with them.

 

[Donnie B.]

Vai

Gotta disagree with Vai. His first solo album Flexible is amazing (obvious nods to Zappa aside)
and then Passion & Warfare is like the magnum opus of 80s guitar overindulgence. F-ing brilliant.

 

[SpiderWars]

Gotta disagree with Vai. His first solo album Flexible is amazing (obvious nods to Zappa aside)
and then Passion & Warfare is like the magnum opus of 80s guitar overindulgence. F-ing brilliant.

I think all these guys have a smallish amount of really good writing considering their staggering level of proficiency playing the thing. So I agree with panhead here. It's like they need their own Bernie Taupin or Roger Waters to simplify things and rein them in.