Who is better Gilbert or Becker

[theguy7]

The two best guitarist (there are some others who are pretty close) as far as shredding goes imo. I know they have different styles but I'd have to say Gilbert though...discuss

 

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I'm really big into shred guitar, hence my handle. I love Guthrie Govan, Dave Martone, Steve Vai, TJ Helmerich, Frank Gambale, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Kiko Lourerio, Allan Holdsworth, Tony MacAlpine, & many others, including Jason Becker. There are also a lot of good YouTube guys like Goncalo Pereira, Fernando Miyata, David Valdes & Daniele Gottardo that I watch for kicks once in awhile.

I do not like Paul Gilbert, however. I think he is extremely overrated. He's basically a rock guitarist that has a tendency to be very generic in his riffs & solos. Rarely will he venture out. When he shreds he very rarely plays any sort of interesting angular licks. He mostly just runs scale patterns when he shreds, & I feel nothing behind it. He's very figid melodically... He's also a terrible songwriter, & this is the main reason I don't particulary care for him. I feel the same way about Buckethead, for the most part. I saw Buckethead a few weeks ago & I had to leave early. I could not stand to hear him repeat another generic riff be repeated to death.

Yngwie, on the other hand, may be just about as "one dimensional" but he plays angular licks & you feel a passion behind what he plays. He actually shreds with feeling & writes good vocal songs with hooks.

It goes without saying that vote for Becker - no fucking contest. He's done more in one album than Paul has done in 10 albums.

 

[The Ozzman]

I haven't heard any of Gilbert's solo stuff, so I can't have an opinion.

I would have to say, though, that Perpetual Burn is one of the best shred guitar albums ever. I include Satch's albums and Vai's in this

 

[ShredHeadJHJ]

Ozz, if you haven't heard Guthrie Govan's "Erotic Cakes" jump on the fucking ball. I'm not sure if you're a player or not, but it's an album virtually any player you encounter will drool over. He really does a little bit of everything on this album.

 

[The Ozzman]

I used to play six string, so I respect a little shred now and then. I'm on bass exclusively now though

 

[The Heartbreak Kid]

Paul Gilbert is the King

 

[Savern]

I had the pleasure of watching Gilbert support Satch in London this year - one of the best shows I've ever been too.

Gilbert is a massive influence on my own playing, and I'm a big fan. I'd have to disagree with much of what Shredhead has said. Gilbert isn't generic - he's actually quite inventive (who else has thought to attach picks to a hand held drill and use it to trem pick? ) He certainly has a distinctive style, mainly because of his legato mixed with alternate picking, but I never find his stuff boring. He's certainly not Satch when it comes to melodies, and I rate Satch above him but he's a great fast blues player and is one of those guys who gets every single ounce out of every note.

I've never found Vai interesting myself, he's pretty overrated in my opinion, Satch is king.

 

[The Ozzman]

I don't find Vai interesting because he sucks at songwriting. He does have his moments though

 

[ShredHeadJHJ]

Gilbert isn't generic - he's actually quite inventive (who else has thought to attach picks to a hand held drill and use it to trem pick? ) He certainly has a distinctive style, mainly because of his legato mixed with alternate picking, but I never find his stuff boring. He's certainly not Satch when it comes to melodies, and I rate Satch above him but he's a great fast blues player and is one of those guys who gets every single ounce out of every note.

I've never found Vai interesting myself, he's pretty overrated in my opinion, Satch is king.

Playing with picks on a drill & even his mixing fast picking/legato doesn't make him innovative or interesting. The guy can play well, I just find his music to be pretty hollow.

I listen to plenty of shreddy stuff. There are many guys who I just find to be much better than him.

I don't find Vai interesting because he sucks at songwriting. He does have his moments though

Vai is my favorite You might not be giving him a chance. He's much more quirky, angular, & "inventive" than Satch or Paul. He's a one of a kind player.

 

[AchrisK]

Walter Becker

 

[waif]

I don't find Vai interesting because he sucks at songwriting. He does have his moments though

This plus the shockingly overblown titles for what is in fact 5 minutes of masturbatory soloing. And the fact that he generally sounds like Satch minus all the fun. Considering Satch was his teacher, it's hard to believe he's not actually just copying him...
Shred often bores me, but when it's really good, it's fucking awesome.

 

[The Ozzman]

Satch is one of the best because he can show off his talent AND compose really good songs (see: Surfing With The Alien album)

 

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I would have to say, though, that Perpetual Burn is one of the best shred guitar albums ever. I include Satch's albums and Vai's in this

I don't find Vai interesting because he sucks at songwriting. He does have his moments though

No you didn't just contradict yourself. I refuse to believe you.

 

[Valdincan]

I do not like Paul Gilbert, however. I think he is extremely overrated. He's basically a rock guitarist that has a tendency to be very generic in his riffs & solos. Rarely will he venture out. When he shreds he very rarely plays any sort of interesting angular licks. He mostly just runs scale patterns when he shreds, & I feel nothing behind it. He's very figid melodically... He's also a terrible songwriter, & this is the main reason I don't particulary care for him. I feel the same way about Buckethead, for the most part. I saw Buckethead a few weeks ago & I had to leave early. I could not stand to hear him repeat another generic riff be repeated to death.

I can see how you may feel that way about Gilbert, but Buckethead? I saw him live a while ago and he was great, I find nothing generic about him.

My vote goes to Becker, anyway, although I do like Gilbert.

 

[VoltronLions]

I don't really like either of them but if I had to choose I will pick Gilbert because I liked some of his work with Mr Big

 

[The Ozzman]

No you didn't just contradict yourself. I refuse to believe you.

Just because I include Satch and Vai's albums in the category of 'Shred' when some of the songs aren't necessarily shred doesn't mean I find Vai's albums to be good necessarily.

 

[Belligerent]

Srsly Ozz if you have any doubts on how phenomenal Vai is just watch him play "Tender Surrender" from about 2:20 - up


LOVE the end of this song
edit: his facial expressions are priceless btw

 

[The Heartbreak Kid]

I got excited on the 3 video, cos its Billy Sheehan, thinking it was Mr Big, but nah.

 

[The Ozzman]

Srsly Ozz if you have any doubts on how phenomenal Vai is just watch him play "Tender Surrender" from about 2:20 - up

Where did I say Vai wasn't good at playing guitar? I just asserted that the one album I have from him is not very good (Passion and Warfare)

 

[Belligerent]

Passion & Warfare is his best album, if you don't like it then you don't like Vai tbh.