Schenker talks about Hammet's vibrato ..

[Kapo_Polenton]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/ge ... pment.html

..and he is bang on! While i like Kirk's early work, his vibrato has always been shit. Nowadays, (or past 10 years) he is a total sloppy joke. But disclaimer, yes he is a millionaire, living the dream, what have I done (nothing), and I should have more respect. Now that this is out of the way, his vibrato i think we all can agree, is shit.

 

[Badronald]

Kirk was fantastic on RTL and MOP.
His tone, phrasing and vibrato fit the music perfectly.
Those albums, without Kirk, would not be the classics they are today.

I know this may not be popular in this day and age with the kids, but there are truths in this world, and this is one of them.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Kirk was fantastic on RTL and MOP.
His tone, phrasing and vibrato fit the music perfectly.
Those albums, without Kirk, would not be the classics they are today.

I know this may not be popular in this day and age with the kids, but there are truths in this world, and this is one of them.

Unfortunately I have to agree with you.. in fact, I will also say that Killem All and AJFA have some awesome phrasing too. The vibrato for the way he used to play actually fits. It was aggressive and he used to string together some really nice stuff. Down hill from there though! Now all we are left with is too much wah, no phrasing and that vibrato standing on it's own.

 

[Exo-metal]

Schenker rules, period...

 

[megaboogie]

Kirk was fantastic on RTL and MOP.
His tone, phrasing and vibrato fit the music perfectly.
Those albums, without Kirk, would not be the classics they are today.

I know this may not be popular in this day and age with the kids, but there are truths in this world, and this is one of them.

+1 His vibrato sucks but,
You gotta give him credit for making albums like KEA, RTL, MOP, AJFA, Black... heck I even enjoy Load.
Solos like Creeping Death, Fade to Black, MoP, The Shortest Straw, etc. they are very well phrased solos IMO.
Kirk contributed not just on the solos but a lot of kickass riffs on the albums as well, it's not just James making all the riffs.
For that I respect him and Metallica although I can't really get into their newer stuffs.

 

[Racerxrated]

Like him or not, he is an Icon. Just the way it is.

But yes, his vibrato is like a nervous kid on his first date.

 

[Crunchtime]

Master of Puppets.

case closed

 

[Oblivion DC]

Like him or not, he is an Icon. Just the way it is.

But yes, his vibrato is like a nervous kid on his first date.

Nervous kid on his first date is thee prefect description.

 

[SpiderWars]

So what I'm taking away is that Schenker is saying his early vibrato sounded like a nervous kid on his first date. Do I have that right?

 

[Oblivion DC]

So what I'm taking away is that Schenker is saying his early vibrato sounded like a nervous kid on his first date. Do I have that right?

Right. Keep in mind that his early vibrato was when he was probably 14 years old.

 

[SpiderWars]

So what I'm taking away is that Schenker is saying his early vibrato sounded like a nervous kid on his first date. Do I have that right?

Right. Keep in mind that his early vibrato was when he was probably 14 years old.

Fair point. I can't remember, how old was Kirk for those early records? racerxrated's comment might be more literal than figurative than I first thought.

 

[errrrrl]

Kirk was great up until Master of Puppets... now he is a millionaire stoner that plays guitar that lucky faka!

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

They both look real friendly here.... hmmm...

 

[Kelly]

Kirk is a better guitarist than Lars is a drummer...

 

[Exo-metal]

Who cares, let's bash Kirk and all the PC fags that want to stick up for him and his pansy ass

 

[paulyc]

I can’t stand Kirk, on any level. Awkward phrasing at best, overuse of the Wah, terrible tone, shit vibrato... good for him he made it, bad for the rest of the world listening to it.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Kirk is a better guitarist than Lars is a drummer...

... that's not saying much.

 

[Exo-metal]

Yes, all true. These are the supreme threads. Thank you Kirk...

 

[Mr. Willy]

Some of the early stuff was good. The main thing that annoys me about him is that all he has to do is play guitar. That’s it. All day. For over 30 years now. Given all that, he’s gone backwards instead of forwards. He could woodshed for hours, take lessons, enroll in courses, whatever...he’s got the time. Guess he’s too busy surfing, getting high, sipping fine wine...I dunno.

 

[NewWorldMan]

I'm a self admitted Metallica fan boy, and I even love the Load/Reload albums. Kirk was a huge influence on me, but c'mon...you have to admit his vibrato is cringeworthy