Page vs. Slash vs. Van Halen

[fendsboy417]

I know many of you like other guitar players and feel that player is better than these three, but this poll is strictly for Jimmy Page, Slash, and Eddie Van Halen. I just was wondering one day who would win a guitar-off between these three, and wanted to know what the rest of the talkbass community thought. So cast your votes and rock on!!!

[peaveyuser]

It's so random though, three totally different styles.

[fendsboy417]

aha exactly my friend

[steve21]

Slash is my favorite. Pagey is wayyyyyyyy too sloppy, and never did much for me. Van Halen... so what? He was revolutionary then, nothint really now, IMO.

[ROON]

Jimmy FTW!

[Mark Wilson]

My vote goes to Jimmy Page, because Zeppelin was actually good.

[JimS]

It's aburd to have a poll like this and omit Britany Spears.
.

[ROON]

Originally Posted by JimS

It's aburd to have a poll like this and omit Britany Spears.
.

So did you vote for the next best thing? Van Halen?

[Jiggybass]

Page is the best of the three. I can't stand Van Halen, and Guns 'n' Roses always sounds the same, song through song.

that and Led Zepellin were effing spectacular. Misty mountain hop is playing right now too, how awesome is that.

[JimS]

Originally Posted by ROON

So did you vote for the next best thing? Van Halen?

Actually I did. I like all three but, being primarily a guitar player since 1979, I would argue that Eddie Van Halen catapulted guitar into a new era unlike the other two, Page and Slash.

Eddie brought a fabulous tone; pyrotechnics unlike anybody heard before with two handed tapping, hammer ons, pull offs; and fluid legato runs that would make Allen Holdsworth proud. And his rhythm comping is fabulous. His playing had an explosive spontaneity that was unmatched at the time. Nobody was playing the guitar like that until he came along. After Eddie, there really hasn't been anybody to turn everybody's heads around and styles to the same degree. I don't know one person who didn't hear him the late 70s and early '80 who wasn't in awe, like the style of music or not.

Page is phenominal particularly with composition and his solos were great blues-based expressions but nothing evolutionary.

Slash is not even in the same league as those two.

FYI, IMHO, the modern rock guitar had two great stepping stones: Hendrix and Van Halen. I love many players but those two guys redefined it for everybody else as far as I'm concerned.

And while I'm on a roll about to get flamed , for acoustic guitar the same turning point occured with Michael Hedges. I thought Leo Kottke had done it but Hedges was a genius on so many levels.

For bass, probably a toss up between anyone of the guys posting here.

[IconBasser]

VAN HALEN!!! BOO-YAH!!!







man, am I the minority here, or what?

[syciprider]

Page for songwriting.

EVH for playing.

Slash has a nice hat.

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by syciprider

John Paul Jones for songwriting.

EVH for playing.

Slash has a nice hat.

FIXED!

[peaveyuser]

Originally Posted by JimS

Slash is not even in the same league as those two.

Uhhhhhhhhh nah, my opinion sticks about these three but Slash is awesome while he might of not been as revolutionary he did amazing things!!! He brought blues rock guitar back from an era that was obsessed with weak toned hair metal solo's. His solo's are amazing!!! His Tone is amazing!!!! He just sounds so good and if you ever doubt it watch one of them on Youtube they're soooo good. So yes I still say he's a guitar god might not be as revolutionary but deserves close too or just as much respect as the other two. Plus he's the only one playing at his full potential currently, Eddie just got off rehab and Page is way older and sloppier.

I give you Slash!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUtvWvf1vq0


BTW I still didn't vote in this thread my 1st posted opinion sticks I'm just giving Slash some respect

[syciprider]

Nice video. So now we know that Slash is a pentatonic wanker (like that Black Sabbath bass player)

[KeithBMI]

Hey! I like Geezer Butler.

...I vote for Jack White.

[Jamiebass]

Man, they are all way too different. I'll agree than EVH was the most revolutionary at the time, and I will argue that there have been a few guys to turn some heads since him...

I voted Eddie, I love his tone

[SundanceChile]

John Frusciante.

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by syciprider

Page for songwriting.

EVH for playing.

Slash has a nice hat.

+1. I prefer Page's phrasing, solos, etc. to that of Van Halen. EVH was definitely a better player though, particularly from a technical standpoint. He was also very inventive in technique.

As for Slash, I have no idea why he's even in this.

Jimi could smoke 'em all FWIW, since he not only had the technical chops, but more creativity than the other three combined.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

John Paul Jones for songwriting.

FIXED!

I'm not really sure where that came from. Despite the other members of the band asking him to do it more often, John Paul Jones rarely wrote songs with Zeppelin. His biggest contribution as a writer was the riff for Black Dog. Check the writing credits, most songs are listed as Page/Plant.

As for the topic at hand, not only is Jimmy Page my favorite of the three, but I think he's the best in a live concert setting, if only because Led Zeppelin concerts were often three hour affairs where Page got to indulge in guitar god antics all night long. I can think of any acts today that tour like Zeppelin did in their heyday.

While I really like Slash's playing, and don't really care for EVH's sound or Van Halen's songs, I have to admit that he's not only a much better guitar player, but absolutely more influential and groundbreaking.

But maybe it's my own biases speaking, but while I thought he changed guitar playing, EVH just wasn't/isn't that versatile. Compare that with all the different influences that Jimmy Page brought to the table and all the different textures that Led Zeppelin wove together.