One thing is sure he did definitly NOT write Bold As Love.

_________________
It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

he isn't comparable to clapton. if you want to compare him to anyone from that era it should be Frampton. pretty decent guitarist, but more trendy fluff than substance, 15 minutes and out.

He's a great "gateway" to the blues ...[/quote]

He's not a "gateway" to the Blues. You need to listen to Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Hound Dog Taylor, John Lee Hooker etc. to get a better understanding of what the Blues is about. Mayer plays blues scales and has decent tone. Just because he does that and makes painful faces when he plays does not make him a Blues musician by any stretch of the imagination. There is no depth to his so called Blues material.

Jeff Healey was a much better blues guitarist than Mayer, but he always said he was not a Blues guitarist but a musician. He had more respect for the older Blues artists as do many newer blues guitarists like Joe Bonamassa, and Derek Trucks. When you dig back into the Blues, it's easier to get a better understanding of them and the true roots of the music.

It's not about you equipment or how well you play.

Let me be very clear ... there is validity to what you say. However, he does play blues and there is room for him in the greater blues community. Yes, you are absolutely correct that he is not a "pure blues" player. Agreed -- no argument. But the guy has talent and can be very expressive with it ... beyond his tone. Is he an idiot in real life? It seems so. Could he be less commercial? Definitely. But, all that being said ... it does not mean he's got nothing to offer up or say.

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

I've been to the Delta, Texas, and Chicago. He is not the real deal. Malmsteen can play blues scales too. I'm not saying Mayer is a lousy musician, but he is long way from being a Blues musician. He's still a Pop artist and a little girl magnet. There were many more Blues Artists more deserving to be at the Crossroads Festival than Mayer. that could have used and appreciated the attention.

Give him some time and I'm sure he'll be a force to be reckoned with. It took some of the old guys half a lifetime to get the attention they deserved after being ripped off by the likes of Led Zepplin. Hopefully, it's not just a phase he's going through.

I've played several, they were put together bad, all of them. They feel like mexican strats, in theory they have good features, but the quality leaves much to be desired. I was told that by my luthier before I tried it, he kept calling it the Mayer Mexican strat, so I made it a point to check them out, and he was right. IMO, its the worse made artist series they make, I find the mexican versions of the Buddy guy and Jimmy Vaughn to be much better built, and half the price.

Yeah, I think we are all saying the same thing. I completely agree with him as "not the real deal" comment, which I think is the crux of your posts. That's a very fair criticism. All's I was saying is that there is musical value to his stuff ... even though he' not the real deal. We're good...

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

I think that next to E.C. in crossroads he was a real blues guitarist. In his live album with the trio he really shows us some very good skills. His other stuff not blues at all , but I would like all the pop music of the world to be like that.

_________________
Fender Classic Player 50's stratocaster in Shoreline Gold
Takamine EG 361 SC
Super Champ XD

Neither Mayer, nor Vai is qualified to carry JJ Cales or Jimmy Vaughan's guitar case. Mayer has some skills but lacks the roots. It's not how many notes you play or even the gear or technical skills you have, It's the ability to evoke emotion that Mayer for me lacks. To my ears, it's kind of like Bubble Gum Blues. As a power trio, for me, he lacks the skills to really hold it together. I've been listening to, and playing blues for 40+ years. It doesn't make me an expert at all, but I have had many conversations with the likes of Honeyboy Edwards, Long John Hunter, Robert Lockwood, Luther Allison etc, because of the business I'm in. You get a much deeper understanding of what's going on.

Gateway to the blues is absolutely correct. Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf have not introduced any teenagers to the blues since Clapton and SRV were learning to play.

Mayer is an excellent ambassador to the blues because he attracts a younger crowd and packages it right. Young players hear his tone and playing want to know where it came from. Then they go to SRV and Clapton, then if they like it they'll go back farther. That is what is meant by gateway to the blues.

_________________
Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Sorry I spaced about Bold as Love. Of course Jimi wrote that. Sorry.

_________________
http://twitter.com/cu_jarrett

In my mind right now, he's like the Pat Boone of the blues. It's kind of like when the record company's had Pat Boone sing Rock N Roll to get around race issues in music. I guess you could call Pat Boone the gateway to Rock N Roll.

All kidding aside, hopefully like you said, young people will look back further. Blues is the Mother of Rock N Roll. I'm glad young people have an interest the Blues. I consider people like Joe Bonamassa the real deal in the younger generation. This guy jammed with BB King when he was 11 years old. He studies the Blues and lectures in schools to young people. Is Mayer more popular? You bet. I guess Joe's not as good looking as Mayer but he seriously knows his blues and don't sound like SRV, but like SRV, he crosses into Jazz and rock too.

The statement about Wolf is just silly. Way back, Son House influenced a teenage Robert Johnson who influenced a very young Robert Lockwood. Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters influenced a teenage Johnny Winter and scores of others including myself as an 11 year old boy. People need to get past Clapton and Hendrix. There were scores of Blues and Rock musicians influenced by Wolf, Waters, House, T-Bone Walker. You don't need to be famous to be influenced.

Think about it, these old Blues artists even influence musicians today from the grave. I hope people give them a listen. If you ever heard Robert Johnson's Crossroad Blues and Clapton's, you may find Johnson's version more emotional because he wrote it and lived it.

Sorry about the rant, as you can see I have a deep passion for the Blues.

I don't think I agree with that, but it is a very funny comment.

Vai?? Where did Steve Vai come into this? Steve Vai is not a blues guitarist, so let's leave him out. Vai is an absolute master. He is one of the very few "shred" ( a term I hate, btw) players that plays very soulfully and is incredibly innovative. You can pick Vai out of a crowd of shredders in less than ten notes, with playing that is as distinctive as Van Halen, Walsh, or Santana. He also has a tremendous sense of dynamics, being able to play delicate, soft and slow -- not just 10,000 notes per measure. He's amazing. And I bet JJ Cale would be honored if someone of the likes of Steve Vai did carry his case...

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

Vai performed at the Crossroads Guitar Festival. No, he's not a Blues guitarist. He didn't really belong there either. He did a good thing for a good cause, but he seemed out of place as did Santana. They're incredible at what they do though. Actually, I think Cale would like to carry his own case. I actually knew of JJ Cale long before Clapton started recording his stuff. Incredible song writer and musician.

Sorry, I get off on tangents.

Yeah, I will give you this on Vai. He's great, but he is definitely not a gateway to the blues, either.

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