Clapton is still playing... duh gets my vote... and I'll take the chicken salad too. You guys are too funny...

OK here's my ammended vote:

Driving my Ferrari
Eating a Turkey salad sandwich
Listening to Jimi

That does make me think, though....blonde, brunette, or redhead?

There I go again.

Love,
Todd

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Up is louder!

awww you forgot to add David Gilmour. He isn't acrobatic on the strat like those 3, but his solos and guitar work leave a major impression on me.

Senior Vaughn offers more technical variety that makes my ears twist whenever I hear him. I love Clapton too, but SRV can bend strings around Clapton and Hendrix. Just my humble opinion.

no comment. < I always wanted to say that.

Since there is this pool, I'll give my opinion, knowing that many users won't like it.

SRV: honestly, besides doing one tone bends with funny faces, I don't think he was so special, I just bought his first album, texas flood..a lot of people told me that it would be important for my munical experience etc..etc...I found it boring. I mean, it sounded EXACTLY like all the stereotypes of texas blues I've ever heard, at this point I appreciate more bands like ZZ top. Of course, I stopped buying his albums.

Clapton: his success is for me unexplainable. I understand that in the 60s he did good things, but since then it seemed that his technique went backwards, every year, his left hand turned to stone...slower...slower...slower.

His cover of knocking of heaven's doors was pure pop ala destiny's child...I shot the sheriff even worse. Wonderful tonight was the paradigma of boredom for me. The only two songs that I like were Layla, a masterpiece, of course, and cocaine, very good, but his sound sounded very weak...I heard cover bands playing that song with more overdrive and was much, much better.

Therefore besides them, Hendrix. He invented things...new sound, new use of the Strat, it's not a case that the other two, along with Blackmore, Beck and later Page, embraced the Strat for going in a new direction...and they were the people who rediscovered the sound of the old pauls, therefore if I have to choose a Strat King Jimi is my man.

Wow, before you get slain by the locals, let me come to your rescue -- for a little bit anyway.

When it comes to SRV, I just can't get by his voice. That, and I did not think his songwriting was particularly strong. Tremendous guitar player, but to me the singing and songs were a little too thin...

Clapton ... There is mountains of man-love for him here. And I do not see it either. He has some amazing points, though like Cream, Derek, and Blind Faith. His work on the first Roger Waters solo effort was also stellar. I also really like his recent BB KIng & R. Johnson albums. But the bulk of his solo material in the 70s was not very good, and his '80s "phil collins" makeover was kinda embarassing in my opinion. I have great respect for Clapton because his great stuff was truly great. But there was a lot of "not-at-all great" fluff there too.

Hendrix ... Besides everything, does any one give this guy credit for a mountain of awesome songwriting in such a short time??? He was so prolific. An unbelivable talent.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

You want to see someone bend notes on a Strat just watch Buddy Guy. I am old enough to remember SRV doing his day and I just don't see all the hype he gets now when there are so many others who I think are better. It does help to have singature guitars out there with your name as to increase the image that this guy was one of the best. His music can be match by a lot of people I can think of.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

If you want to see somebody bending on a Strat you should watch a certain Yngwie Malmsteen.

He bends two tones and half, from C to F, and his bendings are ALWAYS in tune, thing that cannot be said for SRV.

Another great bender is Brian May, but he doesn't play Strats that much.

Ironically, I like SRV's singing, and I think that most of his songs are nice to listen, when you're doing something else like reading a book or working on your guitar, just...they're easy and predictable, they really sound like fillers of standard blues. Basically, I don't see why he's worshipped while many other Texas blues players are forgetten, he didn't invent anything, after all.

Clapton...a mistery. Really. I saw him playing at a recent concert, something about Guitars, very self celebrating. His hands seemed completely blocked.

I think it's important to note that both Clapton and SRV cited Hendrix as influences. I know that Jimi's short life makes that an unfair comparison but it doesn't make it untrue.

As a kid I saw Jimi and ... I don't know where to start ... it was life-changing. I'm a Lefty and I play guitar. 'Nuff said?

Love,
Todd

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Up is louder!

ok first off hendrix was very good but he's not the best, clapton's good too. but Stevie was amazing, eric and jimi put together couldn't out play Stevie, having said that we all must realize that everyone one of these guys had different playing styles so its really not fair to say whose best. But Go Stevie R.I.P

Hendrix is the king.......

One of the Texas Blues player's that many seem to forget is Johnny Winter
one who I think is better then SRV and was going before him and still going now.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

What's important is that SOMEONE, anyone (sly Todd Rundgren reference) has produced ART which has moved each of us.
Of the 3 mentioned, Hendrix moves me all the time.
SRV would have moved me more if he had better songs.

Clapton moved me once. But it was a good one. I went to see the ARMS concert at Madison Square Garden in the early '80's. I went to see, in this order:
1) JIMMY PAGE
2) Jeff Beck
3) eric clapton (yawn)

I left feeling:
1) ERIC CLAPTON!!!
2) Jeff Beck !
3) jimmy page (yawn)

I could name 100 great guitarists. Personally, I sound like Joe Walsh when I play. I like that. But I'd play like Jimi if I could.

Love,
Todd

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Up is louder!