Well, '73...

I can't answer for sanfRAM, but to me, what makes a great guitarist is whether or not I want to listen to what he plays.. If I really dig his playing, then he's a great player, imo..

Now there are guitarists that I think are the absolute shiznit, like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, but I don't own anything they ever recorded.. But, they are so technically good, from a player's perspective, meaning, someone who at least sorta knows what the other player is doing, that you absolutely BOW to their abilities.. AMAZING technical abilities, but maybe not up my alley.. Also, both those guys often record instrumentals because they are so good they don't need a singer, which I don't usually care for, so I don't listen to them much.. but, holy cow those guys can do whatever they want on the frets.. If they can't do it, nobody can...

On the other hand, some guys I absolutely LOVE, are not the most gifted technical players, meaning they won't be doing 10 finger hammer ons or arpeggio's with their feet, but what they DO play is just sooooooo inspiring to me... they use incredible melody and a picture of technical difficulty (depending on the player) to get their message across.. Guys like that could include anyone from George Lynch from Dokken to Ace Frehley from Kiss.. George Lynch, is actually a really technical player who has a great "feel" for the guitar, Ace Frehley virtually has NO technical ability, but he's the coolest guitarist to ever strap on an axe.. I love listening to both..

Michael Schenker is an anomaly, imo.. From interviews with him, he claims he has no idea technically what he's doing (or at least that was my take from the interview) but he plays by totally by ear, by heart, and by whats in his soul.. He experiments with different sounds and plays what he likes to hear, but has no idea technically what he's doing.. sanfRAM if I understood that incorrectly, please set me straight... That's actually more like I play - I have no idea what I'm doing haha but, I'm no Michael Schenker

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Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..