Agreed on your first sentence, that is why we have leaders and followers, which do you want to be?

I am not a guitar collector, I am a player. If I was a collector, then I would work at having the best collection I possibly could. I try to do that with my playing....that is Try with a capital T, but I am driven to get better and better, either than myself or the next guy. When I see a player that has something on me, it makes me realize a weakness in my playing, and will try to improve that aspect. Guitar playing is not my profession, but I don't focus on how many guitars I have, but how I play them. You may think my guitars are mediocre, but I doubt there are many guitars out there that deliver better tone for the purpose they were built and the music I play. Not all my guitars are listed. Plus my amps aren't listed...

Hendrix and Vai did not get notoriety and respect for their collection, it was their performance....Get my point?

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

So its your performance that you have notoriety for?

I agree, who's Terry Kath?

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

Yes (improper choice of word there...opps) See I improved my vocabulary already today

edit:

and respect

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

I agree with that notion ("the most respected people at the top of their professions are very competitive") to a point...

...however, the people who are most legendary and what I would consider at the "top of their profession" are usually very gracious, accomodating and humble. That doesn't mean they can't--or won't--slap you down with their ability or talent in a head-to-head contest of some sort, but they will do it with style and grace, with respect for the other person.

Clapton, although obviously a "profession topper", is very gracious; he invites and includes players whose ability, talent and virtuosity meet (or sometimes exceed) his own to play with him, even to the point of asking them to join his band. George Harrison, George Terry, Duane Allman, Andy Fairweather-Low, Robert Cray, Doyle Bramhall II, and Derek Trucks could/can all equal or out-play Lord Clapton within their own particular strengths or styles, but he creates space for them within his recordings or stage performances.

Clapton has also (famously) conceded that others can baffle or out-play him; he commented that Freddie King was one of the toughest to play with, due to the "challenging" nature of King's performance/stage shows (and King's "challenging" personality). He also admits that he felt foolish playing alongside Frank Zappa, due to the complexity of the music. He finds the (deceptively simplistic) music of Robert Johnson and other early Delta Blues players difficult to convincingly copy...

...and yet, I cannot put many guitarists above Slowhand on my personal list of kick-butt guitarists.

Clapton can out-play just about anyone, but he also realizes that other people have abilities he doesn't--THAT is part of what makes him great.

As far as competitiveness being the sole reason to play better or drive harder to succeed, I wholeheartedly disagree. I am driven to be a better guitarist/vocalist/harmonica player/songwriter due to my passion for those activities/instruments...and while I do not consider myself "great", I rankle at being called "mediocre" by anyone.

If we were to measure the success of anything in my life by someone else's abilities and accomplishments, we would never succeed--due to the fact that there's always someone better out there!

I truly pity you or anyone else who has to "out-do" another person to
consider yourself a success...your drive should come from your passion within.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

...and yes, Clapton can outplay Kath!

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Well, that sure twisted my point, please don't pity me. Its hard to be competitive without passion, as I think the two go hand and hand. I certainly view myself as having success, depending on the measuring stick used, but I won't stop there. Complancency is just not my style.

If you're driven to get better due to passion, then what is your measuring stick? No matter what that stick is, you are competing with it.

Here is the definition of compete:

to strive consciously or unconsciously for an objective

_________________
Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

Your question has no meaning.

And as far as being competitive - you are competing with the musician that you were yesterday. If you insist on comparing yourself to other musicians, you are doomed to disappointment or self-aggrandizement. Either one is self defeating.

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Frank
A legend in my own mind.

Kath was probably better at reversing his Tele's control plate.

Clapner was probably better at keeping his guns hidden.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Is it me or is this a thread for Terry Kath Fans....who by the way is someone I have NEVER, EVER heard of in my life.......

_________________
Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

If that is definition of compete that you are using, perhaps you should replace the phrase "very competitive" with something more appropriate, such as "driven", or "ambitious", or (my personal definition of what you might be trying to communicate) "passionate".

Most definitions of compete or competitive involve a contest between two or more persons, teams, etc...and I agree that some healthy competition is good for everything from sports to the economy to art...

However, I am not competing against anyone--on stage, in studio, anywhere. You want to know what my "measuring stick" is? I am chasing the sound(s) in my head, following my muse, or just releasing some pent-up emotions or energy.

I am far from complacent, and it is best if you didn't throw around phrases such as "destined for mediocrity", especially since you probably don't know what ANY of us are aiming for (musically, artistically, or professionally).

I agree with BIG JIM's earlier statement

And as far as being competitive - you are competing with the musician that you were yesterday. If you insist on comparing yourself to other musicians, you are doomed to disappointment or self-aggrandizement. Either one is self defeating.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

BTW, I'm not some guy who plays "peace and love and flowers in my hair" songs...I mainly play blues and rock, and throw in some outlaw country just to confuse everybody a bit.

I used to be in a band with a guy who was very aggressive and competitive on-stage (I primarily played harmonica and sang). He would often try to intimidate and "show up" the other guitarist during performances...even to the point of stepping on solos of other people, etc.

One night, I thought it would be funny to show HIM up a little bit; everytime he went to solo, I would wave him off and play a harp solo. He never got a solo all throughout the first set. When the second set started, (with permission) I grabbed a guitar belonging to the other guitarist and playfully challenged the aggressive guy to "cut heads" a little bit during the first song. He proceeded to tear into a three-minute solo where he played every riff, fill and lick he knew; he tapped, he shredded, he ripped...he had out-techniqued me, out-gunned me and put me in a mighty bad predicament...then he threw it to me, expecting me to look like I couldn't play.

...except he forgot that passion beats technique just like paper beats rock and love conquers hate.

I immediately waved the band down, tempo- and volume-wise, and played four long, sweet, heart-felt notes; I added a funky little Jimmie Vaughan-inspired lick or two and then held a note out for about six bars, Buddy Guy-style, bending into the turnaround...my solo lasted less than a minute, but it had everybody clappin', hoopin' and hollerin'...because I played with passion.

I wasn't competing with him, and I really didn't want him to look like a jackass (he did that on his own)...I just wanted him to realize that there were four other guys on-stage with him and he wasn't the only one who could make a stir on guitar. He ended up quitting the band soon after and we went on without him...no great loss.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Waiter, there's a hare under my pancake...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

First strat- why dont you just be the player YOU want to be, and not the player you see when others 'play better'?

I aint the worlds best guitarist and I never will be, but I couldnt give a flying preverbial what anyone thinks about my playing. I play for me, not anyone else. If people enjoy what I play, then so be it.

Like a little saying I have, "You would be surprised at what others thought of you, if you only knew how often they did"

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