A few thoughts on some of the notions I've read in this thread.

Clapton vs The Guy From Chicago? = Apples vs Pomegranates. I mean, who eats Pomegranates and compares them to Apples

A Guitar Collection does not make one great. A person with one guitar is just as likely to paly well as a guy with 7 or 8. In fact, the guy with one guitar is more likely to concentrate on playing rather than collecting.

If your intent is to play for an audience, you better play for that audience. If you play for yourself, you'll quickly loose the attention of the audience, and they'll find a band that is playing for them.

The Best way to become a "Better Guitarist" is to compete with the player you were yesterday.

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"Persistence Is The Father Of Invention"
-Crazy Old Man In Training

Thanks Guys, I really think I have been taken out of context here. I am a competitive person, not an jerk. I am not the person someone described in their band in an earlier post. Either way, I stand by my comments. I believe competition is the way. I just can't see how anyone could say they want to be the best they can be and not be competitive. I want to be the best I can be, sometimes it takes a better guitarist to show me where I can improve. Sometimes I just listen to my own recordings and can hear where I can improve. As competitive as I am, I would prefer to be around guitarist that are better than me, because I know that I would surely improve. This is not a competition strictly with others it is also within. But then again, there is a part of me that wants to be a better guitarist (at least in my and others minds) than the next guy. I think its how you handle that competitiveness that makes you come off as a jerk or not, but I am betting that many here feel this too.

i would love to be the best shredder, and most emotional moving player that can do it all, but most importantly, have a positive impact on others. Its not so selfish.

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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

Wow, it's interesting to read where this has gone since my last post. I'm in Australia, so I sleep while you guys type.

Firststrat - You don't sound like a jerk, you sound like a highly competitive individual who has never questioned that. Who has never examined whether that is a useful, smart, satisfying or creative way to live. I agree with the poster who said that many of the greats are humble and graceful about their talents. Yes the captains of industry are super-competitive, but the people who make music that changes our lives work in a creative field, not a competitive one. They are artists, in the best sense.

People buy music because the song speaks to them or for them, they feel a connection with the personality of the musician, or they have an emotional reaction to the song. People (who aren't guitarists) do not buy a record because they think the guitarist is 'better' than Clapton, or the fastest shredder etc. People don't buy music because it's competitive. People who aren't competitive minded guitarists (most people) don't care or notice much how fast Clapton can solo, or if he's better than some other soloist, they remember Sunshine of your Love, Layla, Tears in Heaven - the songs, not the solos.

There's so much written and put on film about Hendrix, and a lot of testimony by the people who knew him well, and none of them identify him as a 'competitive' person. He was hungry to learn, keen to play as much as possible with as many different people as possible to keep picking up whatever he could and workshopping his ideas - but he wasn't trying to be 'the best'. He was generous about other player's, loved their music, and always sought other players to meet up with and be inspired by. By all accounts he was a lovely guy.

In my decades as a working musician I've seen the guys who are super competitive be kicked out of bands, passed over for gigs, and have trouble finding people to play in the same room as their ego. On the other hand I've seen a lot of work going to people who collaborate, play well in a team, are sweet guys who you like spending time with and who compliment other people's music. Just an observation.

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"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

oh, i nearly forgot...

speaking as one who has been doomed to mediocrity - i'm happy to be in with such rudimentary, non-competitive guitarists as, oh, John Lee Hooker.

Ok, a little too much sarcasm, but you get my point.

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"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

I've met Terry Kath's daughter, Michelle. I even got to party at Terry's house (which is now occupied by Michelle) in Orland Park, Il. This was back in 1995 before I really knew how popular this guy was. I really wasn't interested in the band Chicago either.

But one thing I remember is that Michelle let us check out ont of her father's Gibson SG's. She had it stashed under her bed. Nice guitar.

Later on that night I found out that the the killed himself. I was pretty bummed out about that. Anyways thats my story about Terry Kath.

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2008 Fender Deluxe Fat Strat
1998 Gibson Explorer
1985 Ibanez DT350FR
Peavey Valveking

When I posted this thread it was to see just how much many of you could actually know about the past. When I grew up Terry Kath was iconic yet
his passion for guns cost him his life.
Hendrix had a passion for drugs and it cost him his life.
Clapton's son fell out a hotel window.
The one thing in common is that they all played guitar very well. You young folks might do well to check history . All guitar playing is not shredding nor is being mellow and laid back but it truly involves passion.
In terms of competion you all and we all are guilty of it whether you collect guitars or play like Keith Richards the fact that you choose this forum to speak and show what you have shows that you are competitive...

Is this an exam on the history of the band Chicago now? There's been a lot of bands since the invention of the electric guitar...

How does the fact that we have conversations on this forum show that we are competitive? It shows we're having conversations, and that we are interested in Fender gear. I'd imagine people are on here for different reasons. Discussing music and guitars isn't by nature competitive, it's interesting, but not a competition. I see a lot of experienced players happy to give advice and encouragement in this forum, freely sharing knowledge they gained by years of hard work. I see other players asking for advice and help and appreciating the responses. Seems almost the opposite of competition don't it?

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"...Compared to the flowers and the birds and the trees, I am an Apeman."

Terry Kath was a Stratocaster player.

But my answer to "Who Is Better??? Clapton or Kath"
is Mick Taylor!

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Seems that maybe my perception of things are skewwed. If you show 3 to 5 1500.00 guitars you're doing it why?? If you ramble on or get heated about things that are objective or subjective , why?? You're correct that there are a number of older guys who want to bestow their vast knowledge on us , to them I am very grateful. Give yourself time to grow and stop believing that you have all the answers perhaps try to find out one of the questions...

Wow I cant believe how many people do not know who Terry Kath is. For everyone who delivered a wise crack someone asked Hendrix how it felt to be the best player on the planet and he said he would not know you would have to ask that to Terry Kath from Chicago.

Terry was a tremendous player and if not for his death Chicago would have been a much different group.

I also do not understand people who try and rip Clapton up. There was a time when Clapton was the top of the hill, as far as lead players went. The guy has had a 5 decade long career and is as good a player as there is. Eddie Vanhalen had one idol that he learned everyone of his solo's and that was Clapton.Go checkout on youtube Cause weve ended as lovers with Beck and Clapton which was idiotically cut from the Crossroads DVD. When I came upon this I thought it was an odd song for them to do together as it is more of a modal jam and not something I figured Clapton to get down with. Well it just proves when he is pushed how much he can bring it as it is an amazing performance, and since they took the audio down you can here from the playing who is playing what . Yes Clapton is a God.

firststrat I agree with you all the way. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the best at what you do and though most hate to admit it guitarist are competitive by nature. I would rather play with as many guys that were better than me as I could as that is how you get better. It is like when I teach someone I always say try and play what comes easy as little as possible and concentrate on what gives you a problem. Also I dont want to rag on anyone but what does the number of guitars you own have to do with anything. First you can only play one guitar at a time. Secondly most of the guys with the biggest collections cant even play a note.

Seems that maybe my perception of things are skewwed. If you show 3 to 5 1500.00 guitars you're doing it why?? If you ramble on or get heated about things that are objective or subjective , why?? You're correct that there are a number of older guys who want to bestow their vast knowledge on us , to them I am very grateful. Give yourself time to grow and stop believing that you have all the answers perhaps try to find out one of the questions...IMHO

I think a competitive nature, although not my style, can be used to juice someone up and send them into new territory or to reach farther...and that's okay.

I think the guy who commented about the number of guitars was just trying to make a point...and that's okay, too.

I know the thing that put a burr under most of the people's saddle (mine included) was the asinine "destined for mediocrity" statement; just because someone doesn't go about creating their art the same way you do, doesn't make them mediocre or lesser in any way.

The reason many on this thread bestowed the title "Jerk" is your aggressive wording coupled with the admission of being competitive. The added "destined for mediocrity" statement put the icing on the cake (at least for me). The later defensive "my guitars are my tools and I use them properly..." (I'm paraphrasing there) statement was just more garnish for the plate...

You may not be a jerk (and I assume you're not), but you are a bit narrow-minded in your approach, and you should understand how your aggressive posture with others on-line could lead us to that conclusion.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



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

Terry did play a Strat, and an SG, and an LP, but he was often pictured with a Tele that he had decorated with some really original stuff.

Also Terry did not commit suicide. He accidentally shot himself with a pistol that he believed was empty. True he was engaging in some very reckless conduct at the time, but he told someone just before the shot that they shouldn't worry, the pistol was unloaded.

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Frank
A legend in my own mind.

Terry Kath, great guitarist and singer IMO,
"best guitarist in the universe" - Hendrix


Colour my world, a beautiful song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJIiWpgZ3nE

take a listen

Screamin Armadillo I could not of said it better myself. I dont want to pass judgment on someone for a single post but that came off really bad. There are Doctors and Lawyers who have massive guitar collections worth a fortune but cant play a note. You cant buy talent.