mentoneman
Well-known member
yeow! 
throw a rock into a pack of dogs and the ones that yelp the most are the ones that got hit---seems we have some overly-sensitive musican types here!
steve/chris/bob-
your sarcasm seems to display a desire to bring it to the next level of truth, so be it..
here is how i feel about your playing levels and abilities
for the record-
chris-
i like most every tone you generate from the variety of rigs you've assembled over the years, and you are a meat and potatoes player. not flashy but solid. you play within your abilities which i like and admire. i still think your old marshall od808 jake tone killed the most.
i'd buy a disc of yours way before i buy another vai disc, which i haven't done since alien love secrets.
bob-
another guy who has great gear and tones and records rock guitar tones way better than i have any desire to try to do.
you gravitate to much heavier tone and music than i care for. i hear elements of your playing that tells me you could be much better if you desired but either don't have the time or passion to really do it. things like your vibrato/pitch and transition into and out of scalar lead playing tempo-wise aren't as seasoned as they could be based on the rest of your playing. great musical ideas, so-so execution.
and steve,
honestly dude you had no place to take offense from this discussion until it seems you didn't see your name on my partial grab out of the air group of players i admire on the forums, so if you are massively offended or are expecting an apology, sorry man but you will be waiting a VERY long time.
dear steve,
if you feel like i'm patting you on the head and that what i'm saying is massively pompous, it is due to your own pride and inability to for one second to perhaps consider that i may have a point, instead of instantly getting defensive. that's pure arrogance to take my comments so very personally, which somehow i think you did---?
furthermore, would it be the end of the world to admit that i may have a broader perspective of music than you?
does that just kill you to consider? not saying i do but did you even stop for a second to consider it?
for instance, have you ever held an audition for a band? if so what gives you the right to judge someone else's abilities?
you know i've always liked your tones, and you in general, but i have bagged on your relying on tapping as a crutch.
are you going to stop tapping because of what i said? probably not.
but will you think about it when you play or practice? maybe.
you have the same thing going as bob does, the vibrato/intonation and scales not being as fluid or rhythmically solid as some of the guys on my "golden list".
and understand something, i certainly don't qualify for my "golden list" either.
i'm just as critical on myself as others. my vibrato is bad/sloppy. my right/left hand coordination has withered away to probably 60 percent of what i had when i practiced daily. i've never been able to do what i admire so much in many of the guys i respect...improvise fluidly over changes, without sounding repetitive or relying on "stock licks" and patterns.
did not set out to hurt anyone's feelings on this vai stuff but some fans defend him like he's their grandma for goodness sake.
throw a rock into a pack of dogs and the ones that yelp the most are the ones that got hit---seems we have some overly-sensitive musican types here!
steve/chris/bob-
your sarcasm seems to display a desire to bring it to the next level of truth, so be it..
here is how i feel about your playing levels and abilities
for the record-
chris-
i like most every tone you generate from the variety of rigs you've assembled over the years, and you are a meat and potatoes player. not flashy but solid. you play within your abilities which i like and admire. i still think your old marshall od808 jake tone killed the most.
i'd buy a disc of yours way before i buy another vai disc, which i haven't done since alien love secrets.
bob-
another guy who has great gear and tones and records rock guitar tones way better than i have any desire to try to do.
you gravitate to much heavier tone and music than i care for. i hear elements of your playing that tells me you could be much better if you desired but either don't have the time or passion to really do it. things like your vibrato/pitch and transition into and out of scalar lead playing tempo-wise aren't as seasoned as they could be based on the rest of your playing. great musical ideas, so-so execution.
and steve,
honestly dude you had no place to take offense from this discussion until it seems you didn't see your name on my partial grab out of the air group of players i admire on the forums, so if you are massively offended or are expecting an apology, sorry man but you will be waiting a VERY long time.
dear steve,
if you feel like i'm patting you on the head and that what i'm saying is massively pompous, it is due to your own pride and inability to for one second to perhaps consider that i may have a point, instead of instantly getting defensive. that's pure arrogance to take my comments so very personally, which somehow i think you did---?
furthermore, would it be the end of the world to admit that i may have a broader perspective of music than you?
does that just kill you to consider? not saying i do but did you even stop for a second to consider it?
for instance, have you ever held an audition for a band? if so what gives you the right to judge someone else's abilities?
you know i've always liked your tones, and you in general, but i have bagged on your relying on tapping as a crutch.
are you going to stop tapping because of what i said? probably not.
but will you think about it when you play or practice? maybe.
you have the same thing going as bob does, the vibrato/intonation and scales not being as fluid or rhythmically solid as some of the guys on my "golden list".
and understand something, i certainly don't qualify for my "golden list" either.
i'm just as critical on myself as others. my vibrato is bad/sloppy. my right/left hand coordination has withered away to probably 60 percent of what i had when i practiced daily. i've never been able to do what i admire so much in many of the guys i respect...improvise fluidly over changes, without sounding repetitive or relying on "stock licks" and patterns.
did not set out to hurt anyone's feelings on this vai stuff but some fans defend him like he's their grandma for goodness sake.
