Originally Posted by: SilimtaoI first heard of Vai when Guitar Player magazine put its first (I'm pretty sure)vinyl record recording in an issue...and it was Vai playing...can't remember the tune, but I was impressed. Oh, I think it was the Attitude Song...something like that.

But the best? I dunno- I'm listening and relistening to so many different players right now, I don't even have a favorite anymore.

Bottom line is, whatever floats your boat.

They had a vinyl record for Yngwie Malmstein as well back before anybody had ever heard of him. Must have been the mid 1980's.


I don't think I could specifically name one guitar player as 'best' either.
I can name certain guys that had influences on me over the years like Van Halen, Alex Lifeson, Tommy Tedesco etc...

But for some reason other guys who are considered by many to be 'greats' I've never really gotten into. Like Vai, SRV, Satch, Malmsteen, Clapton, Hendrix. I don't think I've ever listened to any of their publicly released stuff except for a song or two. Probably cause I just don't like the style of music playing in the background. (probably why I like Alex Lifeson, cause Neil Peart is amazing)

Must be a cultural thing or something. Certain kinds of music give me a 'homesick' kind of feeling, like Pink Floyd, Supertramp... even old British theme songs like Dr. Who or The Persuaders give me that butterfly feeling.
But ever since I was a kid I always thought of stuff like Hendrix or the Stones as being too 'dirty' and not meant for me so I never listened to em.

Now though, I gotten into downloading bootlegged home and studio demos off of usenet to hear what those guys sound like when they're just practicing or doing alternate versions of famous songs.
(and I've got positive proof from the studio recordings, that Van Halen's solos in Eruption and Beat it were done in small sections and spliced together from the best takes.)

Anyways...Rambling on...