Beck,Page or Clapton? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Finnforest View Drop Down

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 09:37

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=51117&KW=guitar+god&PID=2940505#2940505

I tried this last year. Let's see how these results compare at the end of the poll. Smile

micky

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 09:25

oh yeah.. for sure... Jeff Beck. In fact ..listening to Truth right now.... Clap

The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Peter

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 08:55

Beck for me.

I find his playing and music to be more interesting than that of the others, overall.

I have six of Beck's CDs, but only one Clapton (Time Pieces -- a "best of"), plus a "best of" Cream. I am no expert on Clapton's playing, but he seems much more subtle than either Beck or Page -- very little "flash" -- just a very solid, dependable blues-based guitarist.

Page of course I know well and love from Zeppelin, but still, when it comes to guitarists who can really impress me, and who I'd like to see live, Beck is one of my long-term favourites. He moves easily from jazz fusion, to full-out rock, to blues, to beautiful restraint and sustain. He does it all, and manages to have a unique sound.

All are great and important guitarists in rock history, though, beyond a doubt!

Edited by Peter - March 29 2009 at 09:07

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

Slartibartfast View Drop Down

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 08:34

I honestly don't know Clapton all that well, better acquainted with Page but still, going with Beck, ah Blow By Blow... Big smile

Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Petrovsk Mizinski View Drop Down

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:38

A hard one I reckon.

Let's see.
Page's live playing was an absolute horrid slop fest at times. Being strung out on heroin while (trying) to play doesn't seem to go good for playing in tune or in time.
Consistency was never a strength of his either.
On his side is innovation in the studio and of course on the instrument itself.
Even though I don't really listen to his stuff anymore, I recognize the fact that legions of guys that use blues rock licks in their soloing (I'm no exception, I take plenty of cues from Page, Clapton, Beck and Hendrix when I play blues rock).

When it came to chops, Clapton was way ahead of Page.
He may not have been the fasted player on the block, but he worked his butt off on bending and vibrato, and at the time (mid/late 60s), few guys had such great command of those techniques like Clapton. Even today, he is still extremely well versed in those techniques.
His playing was almost robotic in precision compared to Page, but good phrasing and his command over bending and vibrato and his note choice mean his playing was anything but cold.
He was just consistent all the time which in itself was both a good and bad thing.
Good because it meant he didn't really take risks when improvising so his playing was never a slop fest.
Bad in that it could be rather predictable.
His rhythm guitar though, is quite weak, and in that aspect, Hendrix made him look like an absolute hack (I'm firmly in the camp of people that believes Hendrix was a better rhythm guitarist than a lead player).
Also a weakness, is that pretty much after Cream and a few things after that, he lost his inspiration and quite frankly, any balls he had back in The Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds and Cream.
Anything past the stuff he did with Derek and The Dominoes with the Layla track, I don't find anything else he did worth listening to. At least Jimmy Page was still burning, when Clapton just burnt out.

Jeff Beck, is easily the most expressive guitarist of the three, and the one I believe stuck to his ideals the best.
Sure, it resulted in him never having the sort of commercial success the other 2 did, but it meant he was gonna take risks, taking left turns all the time and then out of nowhere, just a right turn you didn't see coming and you're thinking 'damn, this guy is on the edge'.
Consistent, he wasn't, but at least he had enough balls to try something different and not going commercial for the sake of it, but it's clear unlike Page and Clapton, he truly grew as a musician over the years when the other two just totally peaked.
Without him, instrumental guitar music might not really exist, he truly paved the way for it I believe.
Because of Beck to an extent, guys like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (my two favorite virtuosos instrumentalists) had a real chance of getting there stuff out there.

I'll vote for Beck because I believe he was the best of the 3.

Edited by HughesJB4 - March 29 2009 at 07:41

June

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:28

If we're gonna do favourite, Clapton for me, mainly based on my fondness for blues. I'd agree that Beck is probably the actual best guitarist of the three, though.

As for Page, well, first, I'd take Cream over Led Zeppelin anytime, so if I add Derek And The Dominos, John Mayall Bluesbreaker, Blind Faith, and Cream to Clapton's solo career, there's just no contest. Clapton probably was on 5 of my top 10 albums.

mrcozdude

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Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:01

This must of been done before I'm sure,but I couldn't find anything in search.

Three great guitarists with familiar backgrounds,who's your favourite and why?

I think Beck is probably the better guitarist though he's never had as much commercial success as the others but my favourite would have to Page,Zeppelin influence me hugely more so then anything Clapton has done.

Poll Question: Who is your favourite?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Jeff Beck	21	[51.22%]
Eric Clapton	5	[12.20%]
Jimmy Page	15	[36.59%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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Finnforest Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 16913	Posted: March 29 2009 at 09:37
	http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=51117&KW=guitar+god&PID=2940505#2940505 I tried this last year. Let's see how these results compare at the end of the poll.


micky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46828	Posted: March 29 2009 at 09:25
	oh yeah.. for sure... Jeff Beck. In fact ..listening to Truth right now....
	The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip

Peter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669	Posted: March 29 2009 at 08:55
	Beck for me. I find his playing and music to be more interesting than that of the others, overall. I have six of Beck's CDs, but only one Clapton (Time Pieces -- a "best of"), plus a "best of" Cream. I am no expert on Clapton's playing, but he seems much more subtle than either Beck or Page -- very little "flash" -- just a very solid, dependable blues-based guitarist. Page of course I know well and love from Zeppelin, but still, when it comes to guitarists who can really impress me, and who I'd like to see live, Beck is one of my long-term favourites. He moves easily from jazz fusion, to full-out rock, to blues, to beautiful restraint and sustain. He does it all, and manages to have a unique sound. All are great and important guitarists in rock history, though, beyond a doubt! Edited by Peter - March 29 2009 at 09:07
	"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.

Slartibartfast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625	Posted: March 29 2009 at 08:34
	I honestly don't know Clapton all that well, better acquainted with Page but still, going with Beck, ah Blow By Blow...
	Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Petrovsk Mizinski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: December 24 2007 Location: Ukraine Status: Offline Points: 25210	Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:38
	A hard one I reckon. Let's see. Page's live playing was an absolute horrid slop fest at times. Being strung out on heroin while (trying) to play doesn't seem to go good for playing in tune or in time. Consistency was never a strength of his either. On his side is innovation in the studio and of course on the instrument itself. Even though I don't really listen to his stuff anymore, I recognize the fact that legions of guys that use blues rock licks in their soloing (I'm no exception, I take plenty of cues from Page, Clapton, Beck and Hendrix when I play blues rock). When it came to chops, Clapton was way ahead of Page. He may not have been the fasted player on the block, but he worked his butt off on bending and vibrato, and at the time (mid/late 60s), few guys had such great command of those techniques like Clapton. Even today, he is still extremely well versed in those techniques. His playing was almost robotic in precision compared to Page, but good phrasing and his command over bending and vibrato and his note choice mean his playing was anything but cold. He was just consistent all the time which in itself was both a good and bad thing. Good because it meant he didn't really take risks when improvising so his playing was never a slop fest. Bad in that it could be rather predictable. His rhythm guitar though, is quite weak, and in that aspect, Hendrix made him look like an absolute hack (I'm firmly in the camp of people that believes Hendrix was a better rhythm guitarist than a lead player). Also a weakness, is that pretty much after Cream and a few things after that, he lost his inspiration and quite frankly, any balls he had back in The Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds and Cream. Anything past the stuff he did with Derek and The Dominoes with the Layla track, I don't find anything else he did worth listening to. At least Jimmy Page was still burning, when Clapton just burnt out. Jeff Beck, is easily the most expressive guitarist of the three, and the one I believe stuck to his ideals the best. Sure, it resulted in him never having the sort of commercial success the other 2 did, but it meant he was gonna take risks, taking left turns all the time and then out of nowhere, just a right turn you didn't see coming and you're thinking 'damn, this guy is on the edge'. Consistent, he wasn't, but at least he had enough balls to try something different and not going commercial for the sake of it, but it's clear unlike Page and Clapton, he truly grew as a musician over the years when the other two just totally peaked. Without him, instrumental guitar music might not really exist, he truly paved the way for it I believe. Because of Beck to an extent, guys like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (my two favorite virtuosos instrumentalists) had a real chance of getting there stuff out there. I'll vote for Beck because I believe he was the best of the 3. Edited by HughesJB4 - March 29 2009 at 07:41


June Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 03 2008 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 6521	Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:28
	If we're gonna do favourite, Clapton for me, mainly based on my fondness for blues. I'd agree that Beck is probably the actual best guitarist of the three, though. As for Page, well, first, I'd take Cream over Led Zeppelin anytime, so if I add Derek And The Dominos, John Mayall Bluesbreaker, Blind Faith, and Cream to Clapton's solo career, there's just no contest. Clapton probably was on 5 of my top 10 albums.

mrcozdude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 25 2007 Location: Devon,UK. Status: Offline Points: 2078	Posted: March 29 2009 at 07:01
	This must of been done before I'm sure,but I couldn't find anything in search. Three great guitarists with familiar backgrounds,who's your favourite and why? I think Beck is probably the better guitarist though he's never had as much commercial success as the others but my favourite would have to Page,Zeppelin influence me hugely more so then anything Clapton has done.