Better is a difficult term, but certainly different and I think thats what got the attention of the English Blues Rockers, I think his approach to ryhthm separated him from the others, and his blurring of the line between lead and ryhthm I don't hear in the playing of his contempararies, I think Hendrix was also thought of as being closer to the blues, he was a black American among alot of white British guys that idolized the blues players they for a large part had only heard on records. As an afterthought, I think if you listen to any of the Cream records, the first Led Zep and Jeff Beck albums, and then hear Are You Experienced, Hendrix stands out as something different.......