Guitar Players

[Behshad]

Neal is a great guitar player, but not the BEST.
There's not even an easy way to say whos the best.
There is a way to prove that someone ISNT the best, simply by finding someone better.
I have no doubts in my mind that this guy(he is not even famous) is better (overall) than Neal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7m3aIuGlUg

[NoMoreTails]

got turned onto Yngwie by my friend Behshad here. I checked out a few tunes & man, he's amazing. Way superior to Neal.

Then I listened to the track our own Larry From Next Door did w/Jeremey singing. U know what Larry is a better guitarist than Neal these days. Seriously. Neal no longer plays w/feeling. He just shreds now. He's gone downhill all the way.

I was also checking out the FTLOSM boots. Lincoln Brewster is amazing on those Journey songs. He played them respectfully & really well. Comparing those boots w/more recent Journey boots, I just get the feeling that Neal just rushes thru them to get a paycheck these days.

Susie, I have the UTMOST respect for you. However, you are completely off your rocker on this one. Neal is extremely diverse and his talents trascend genres and mere technique. Brewster mostly played Neal's stuff anyway. Hell, most of the MR guitarists still on the scene today were first inspired by Neal. Sorry. He may be a jerk, but Neal is EXTRAORDINARILY talented. He's a better overall player than Edward, as well.

I second this...and Deano's comments too. It seems to me that the totally legitimate and understandable 'protest' against Journey is getting ridiculous and infantile now...and is fast losing any credibility.

Yes, Susie's remarks about Neal's musicianship aren't even based on her true opinion, only fueled by hatred for NS and JC. She was one of SA's biggest bashers during tapegate and the aftermath if memory serves, and only did an about face regarding him when JSS was shafted and the hate for NS and JC developed.
I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

[Ratgirl]

Neal is a great guitar player, but not the BEST.
There's not even an easy way to say whos the best.
There is a way to prove that someone ISNT the best, simply by finding someone better.
I have no doubts in my mind that this guy(he is not even famous) is better (overall) than Neal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7m3aIuGlUg

[Behshad]

got turned onto Yngwie by my friend Behshad here. I checked out a few tunes & man, he's amazing. Way superior to Neal.

Then I listened to the track our own Larry From Next Door did w/Jeremey singing. U know what Larry is a better guitarist than Neal these days. Seriously. Neal no longer plays w/feeling. He just shreds now. He's gone downhill all the way.

I was also checking out the FTLOSM boots. Lincoln Brewster is amazing on those Journey songs. He played them respectfully & really well. Comparing those boots w/more recent Journey boots, I just get the feeling that Neal just rushes thru them to get a paycheck these days.

Susie, I have the UTMOST respect for you. However, you are completely off your rocker on this one. Neal is extremely diverse and his talents trascend genres and mere technique. Brewster mostly played Neal's stuff anyway. Hell, most of the MR guitarists still on the scene today were first inspired by Neal. Sorry. He may be a jerk, but Neal is EXTRAORDINARILY talented. He's a better overall player than Edward, as well.

I second this...and Deano's comments too. It seems to me that the totally legitimate and understandable 'protest' against Journey is getting ridiculous and infantile now...and is fast losing any credibility.

Yes, Susie's remarks about Neal's musicianship aren't even based on her true opinion, only fueled by hatred for NS and JC. She was one of SA's biggest bashers during tapegate and the aftermath if memory serves, and only did an about face regarding him when JSS was shafted and the hate for NS and JC developed.
I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

Youre wrong there mate
I got Susie to listen to Yngwie 8 months ago,,, and at first she wasnt sure,,, but the more she listened to Yngwie, the more she realized that Neal is not the best. This was months before the F&F Fiasco......

[NoMoreTails]

got turned onto Yngwie by my friend Behshad here. I checked out a few tunes & man, he's amazing. Way superior to Neal.

Then I listened to the track our own Larry From Next Door did w/Jeremey singing. U know what Larry is a better guitarist than Neal these days. Seriously. Neal no longer plays w/feeling. He just shreds now. He's gone downhill all the way.

I was also checking out the FTLOSM boots. Lincoln Brewster is amazing on those Journey songs. He played them respectfully & really well. Comparing those boots w/more recent Journey boots, I just get the feeling that Neal just rushes thru them to get a paycheck these days.

Susie, I have the UTMOST respect for you. However, you are completely off your rocker on this one. Neal is extremely diverse and his talents trascend genres and mere technique. Brewster mostly played Neal's stuff anyway. Hell, most of the MR guitarists still on the scene today were first inspired by Neal. Sorry. He may be a jerk, but Neal is EXTRAORDINARILY talented. He's a better overall player than Edward, as well.

I second this...and Deano's comments too. It seems to me that the totally legitimate and understandable 'protest' against Journey is getting ridiculous and infantile now...and is fast losing any credibility.

Yes, Susie's remarks about Neal's musicianship aren't even based on her true opinion, only fueled by hatred for NS and JC. She was one of SA's biggest bashers during tapegate and the aftermath if memory serves, and only did an about face regarding him when JSS was shafted and the hate for NS and JC developed.
I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

Youre wrong there mate
I got Susie to listen to Yngwie 8 months ago,,, and at first she wasnt sure,,, but the more she listened to Yngwie, the more she realized that Neal is not the best. This was months before the F&F Fiasco......

If she's so objective, explain the Larry and Lincoln comments...

[Deb]

Neal is a great guitar player, but not the BEST.
There's not even an easy way to say whos the best.
There is a way to prove that someone ISNT the best, simply by finding someone better.
I have no doubts in my mind that this guy(he is not even famous) is better (overall) than Neal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7m3aIuGlUg

Wow, and Ed you thought our Matt didn't know how to play? J/K

That guy seems so fluid it is almost freaky, his left hand moves almost spider-like.

[Behshad]

got turned onto Yngwie by my friend Behshad here. I checked out a few tunes & man, he's amazing. Way superior to Neal.

Then I listened to the track our own Larry From Next Door did w/Jeremey singing. U know what Larry is a better guitarist than Neal these days. Seriously. Neal no longer plays w/feeling. He just shreds now. He's gone downhill all the way.

I was also checking out the FTLOSM boots. Lincoln Brewster is amazing on those Journey songs. He played them respectfully & really well. Comparing those boots w/more recent Journey boots, I just get the feeling that Neal just rushes thru them to get a paycheck these days.

Susie, I have the UTMOST respect for you. However, you are completely off your rocker on this one. Neal is extremely diverse and his talents trascend genres and mere technique. Brewster mostly played Neal's stuff anyway. Hell, most of the MR guitarists still on the scene today were first inspired by Neal. Sorry. He may be a jerk, but Neal is EXTRAORDINARILY talented. He's a better overall player than Edward, as well.

I second this...and Deano's comments too. It seems to me that the totally legitimate and understandable 'protest' against Journey is getting ridiculous and infantile now...and is fast losing any credibility.

Yes, Susie's remarks about Neal's musicianship aren't even based on her true opinion, only fueled by hatred for NS and JC. She was one of SA's biggest bashers during tapegate and the aftermath if memory serves, and only did an about face regarding him when JSS was shafted and the hate for NS and JC developed.
I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

Youre wrong there mate
I got Susie to listen to Yngwie 8 months ago,,, and at first she wasnt sure,,, but the more she listened to Yngwie, the more she realized that Neal is not the best. This was months before the F&F Fiasco......

If she's so objective, explain the Larry and Lincoln comments...

Are you trying to tell me that Larry sucks!? Larry is awesome! both as a person and a guitar player ....

No but seriously, that could be explained as minor delusion on Mrs Susie's behalf....
Sorry Susie, I do have your back,, but you went a bit overboard there I can fight for you, but not on a battle against reality

[mistiejourney]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

EVH used to be my god but I think Neal is a better overall player.

Anyway, as far as EVH goes, the dude gets lots of props for his soloing but I've always been more impressed with the guy's rhythm playing. THAT's what keeps a song together, in my opinion.

What set Neal apart for me was the melodic nature of his playing - I've never heard a band where the guitar was like a second lead singer until Journey. Interestingly, I never got the impression he was shreading. One of the things I liked about being up front was the ability to actually watch him play. For the record, I can't stand shreading - give me a song but don't grandstand. Feel the same way about drum solos.

Yes, he is a twit and I'm really sad to see what has happened over the years and I won't be spending any money on anything Neal/Journey related again, but the man can play. Nothing that I saw (and I caught one concert on the JSS tour last year) ever led me to believe he was just going through the motions.

[NoMoreTails]

Are you trying to tell me that Larry sucks!? Larry is awesome! both as a person and a guitar player ....

No but seriously, that could be explained as minor delusion on Mrs Susie's behalf....
Sorry Susie, I do have your back,, but you went a bit overboard there I can fight for you, but not on a battle against reality

No, I haven't heard Larry play, but he is a cool guy. As for Lincoln, he's good, but no where near Neal.

[AR]

Lindsey Buckingham - better
Ritchie Blackmore - better (wish he'd go back to rock though)

Neal only shreds these days - that's the truth.

[Rockindeano]

Lindsey Buckingham - better
Ritchie Blackmore - better (wish he'd go back to rock though)

No and no.

Neal only shreds these days - that's the truth.

Come on Ed, you're better than this.

[Tomulator]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

[Matthew]

I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

NMT - that's the THIRD time I've agreed with you in the last week.....

[Red13JoePa]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever

I'd like to second this and point out how transparent the purpose of this thread is. The old, "he's really not that good anyway." People are mad at Neal. We get it.


Now it's "Mindless shredding" and "he's lost it." when before mid-june we were positively ablaze with hype that "NEAL'S ENERGIZED NOW!!!! HIS FIRE IS BACK!!!!! HE LOOKS AND PLAYS LIKE HE'S HAPPY AGAIN!!!!!!!!"

Makes me laugh. He's playing the same high level, with some different tones and tricks, as he was in '82, '02, and '06 with jeff.

[Matthew]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

I've got a few Toto albums - and I can hand on heart say that I don't think there's a single memorable guitar solo on any of them.

[NoMoreTails]

I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

NMT - that's the THIRD time I've agreed with you in the last week.....

Scary isn't it?

[Matthew]

I am put out with them over what happend with Jeff too but acting like whining children isn't going to change anything. With the ridiculous comments that are appearing here daily, this forum is becoming every bit as bad as Backtalk was, only from the opposite end of the spectrum.

NMT - that's the THIRD time I've agreed with you in the last week.....

Scary isn't it?

Yes. I feel completely disorientated.

[NoMoreTails]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

I love Luke but he's a distant second to Neal and no one plays what the song calls for better than Neal.

About Luke being better with the audience, he should be, he's Toto's front man, Kimble is not.

[Tomulator]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

I've got a few Toto albums - and I can hand on heart say that I don't think there's a single memorable guitar solo on any of them.

If you truly mean that...I am simply FLOORED.

I think you may be a bit ignorant on Toto's catalog and certainly on Luke's playing. BTW, he has played on MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY more records than just Toto's.

Dude, check it out at his website...look at his discography and recording history.

I really don't know what to say to you other than I TOTALLY disagree with your assessment of his talents.

[Tomulator]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

I love Luke but he's a distant second to Neal and no one plays what the song calls for better than Neal.

About Luke being better with the audience, he should be, he's Toto's front man, Kimble is not.

Uhhh...you would be wrong.

[NoMoreTails]

Now it's "Mindless shredding" and "he's lost it." when before mid-june we were positively ablaze with hype that "NEAL'S ENERGIZED NOW!!!! HIS FIRE IS BACK!!!!! HE LOOKS AND PLAYS LIKE HE'S HAPPY AGAIN!!!!!!!!"

Makes me laugh. He's playing the same high level, with some different tones and tricks, as he was in '82, '02, and '06 with jeff.

Good point. How could he have gotten so bad in the last month?

[Red13JoePa]

He does shred a little more than I need these days but the denigration of his actual capabilities is laughable now.


I give him a break on the overshreds since not only didn't JSS run over to soundmen going "TURN DOWN NEAL'S AMPS!!!" he actually genuflected when Neal soloed, like a real Journey frontman should.

[NoMoreTails]

Recent events aside, you can't falt Neal's playing. he's up there with the very best ever and doesn't get some of the accolades that Van Halen and Lukather get.

Saw TOTO live the other night and sat very close to the stage. I can say that Luke deserves every bit of praise he receives and more. The guy is awesome and is also much more engaging of the crowd than Neal Schon.

Luke is unreal. Puts Neal to shame IMHO.

I agree...maybe not "to shame" but, Luke is better and talk about playing "appropriately" for a given song/genre...Luke is the man!

I love Luke but he's a distant second to Neal and no one plays what the song calls for better than Neal.

About Luke being better with the audience, he should be, he's Toto's front man, Kimble is not.

Uhhh...you would be wrong.

Yeah but you couldn't huh??

[Socratic Methodist]

I can name 10 guitarists that I ENJOY more than Neal and Luke. And The Yngwie thing is laughable. He is a one trick pony. An that is one OLD trick, BTW.

It all comes down to taste. I love RUSH, but I don't kid myself into thinking that Lifeson is one of the best.

I LOVE Kansas, but Rich Williams is nowhere near a great guitarist.

Personally these are my FAVORITES, and I'm making no claim about their greatness:

George Lynch
Doug Ott (Enchant)
Satch(early)
Criss Oliva(Savatage)
Aldo Nova
Rik Emmitt
Steve Hackett

[*Laura]

Neal is up there with a bunch of other great guitarists like Luke,Petrucci,Van Halen and others that have always been guitar pioneers/heroes over the years.
His guitar tone which is absolutely beautiful and recognizable,plus those solos that are classics already,make him one of the guitar gods out there.

Too lazy to post in the other thread,so I'll say here that NIG shouldn't change his username,cuz Neal Is Guitar God,Yes. There's the "NIGGY".

[Behshad]

I can name 10 guitarists that I ENJOY more than Neal and Luke. And The Yngwie thing is laughable. He is a one trick pony. An that is one OLD trick, BTW.

It all comes down to taste. I love RUSH, but I don't kid myself into thinking that Lifeson is one of the best.

I LOVE Kansas, but Rich Williams is nowhere near a great guitarist.

Personally these are my FAVORITES, and I'm making no claim about their greatness:

George Lynch
Doug Ott (Enchant)
Satch(early)
Criss Oliva(Savatage)
Aldo Nova
Rik Emmitt
Steve Hackett

If he is a ONE trick pony,,, all the above guitar players dont even have that one single trick.
Just check out his Orchestra DVD to see what Im talkin about dude,,,
Yngwie is a prick as a person, but you can not put down his skills as just ONE trick.

Satch has always been a great guitar player, but with some boring songs ,.,,,,

Now the funniest part about your list is George Lynch,,, I saw him live back in 2004 opening
for Yngwie, and Lynch just sucked ass,,, I have never seen a guitar player that sloppy.
Neals precision is MUCH better than Lynch dude,,,,

[NealIsGod]

Aldo Nova

I thought me and AKay were the only Aldo fans on here. Which album is your favorite?

[conversationpc]

Now the funniest part about your list is George Lynch,,, I saw him live back in 2004 opening
for Yngwie, and Lynch just sucked ass,,, I have never seen a guitar player that sloppy.
Neals precision is MUCH better than Lynch dude,,,,

Hmmm...Never heard of Lynch being that bad before.

[Socratic Methodist]

I can name 10 guitarists that I ENJOY more than Neal and Luke. And The Yngwie thing is laughable. He is a one trick pony. An that is one OLD trick, BTW.

It all comes down to taste. I love RUSH, but I don't kid myself into thinking that Lifeson is one of the best.

I LOVE Kansas, but Rich Williams is nowhere near a great guitarist.

Personally these are my FAVORITES, and I'm making no claim about their greatness:

George Lynch
Doug Ott (Enchant)
Satch(early)
Criss Oliva(Savatage)
Aldo Nova
Rik Emmitt
Steve Hackett

If he is a ONE trick pony,,, all the above guitar players dont even have that one single trick.
Just check out his Orchestra DVD to see what Im talkin about dude,,,
Yngwie is a prick as a person, but you can not put down his skills as just ONE trick.

Satch has always been a great guitar player, but with some boring songs ,.,,,,

Now the funniest part about your list is George Lynch,,, I saw him live back in 2004 opening
for Yngwie, and Lynch just sucked ass,,, I have never seen a guitar player that sloppy.
Neals precision is MUCH better than Lynch dude,,,,

Ok, Kosmo....I never said Lynch was BETTER than Neal. I said these were my FAVORITES.

As another has said, I like rhythm better than soloing.

And Yngwie gets alot of props because he was the first to do that sort of thing. And as always, the first isn't always the best. Michael Angelo Batio smokes his arse.

Congrats, YingYang, you can play scales, and arpeggios.....WOOOOO.

Oh, and by the way, Al Dimeola probably smokes 'em all.

[Socratic Methodist]

Aldo Nova

I thought me and AKay were the only Aldo fans on here. Which album is your favorite?

Subject
Aldo Nova
Blood on the Bricks

Can't stand Twitch, or Nova's Dream.....go figure....