Guitarist that once had great tone-but now is different or just plain bad.

[Redfish]

I admit I have said some of the same things about Clapton through the years. I don't know, the older I get the more I appreciate that he doesn't seem to give a rip what anyone thinks. If you have seen the Jeff Beck Live at Ronnie's DVD you know how much balls it took for Clapton to get up there and do his little straight blues thing after Beck explored other planets for the previous hour and a half. Of course I think his Cream tone was miles above his current stuff but I think he gets some rockin' tones now and then with the Strat. When I hear stuff off of Journeyman I wonder why he doesn't get that tone more. I know this thread didn't start off as a most over rated guitarist thing but now that we have gone there my vote goes to Jimmy Vaughan. I just don't get it. No way he's related to Stevie. Every time I see a live clip with him at some blues festival, everyone on the stage smokes him and sometimes he just downright sucks.

Just for the record, Clapton said in his book that Steve Winwood got him started using strats. Thanks a lot Steve.

[captcoolaid]

As far as Kieth bein under rated. You try and play with Heroin, cocaine a 5th and acid in your system at 1 time.

[Tommy Griffiths]

What you all have to remember is this thread is based on opinions, Whereas some people say oh no his tone is shit, some people will say i like it, matter of opinion, I personally like Billy Gibbons tone and Zakk Wyldes, Satana Has the most unchanged sound, He is still one of the masters, Ive never liked EVH tone, Thought im not in to shred (except John Lowery (Stage name John 5) who has a fantastic tone. But he varies and plays extremely diverse, And is rightfully nicknamed the modern day master of the telecaster.

(This is my opinion, I like John Lowery, One of my favourites)

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[Fracture]

Jonas Brothers, signs of some genius in their first release.
Really crested with the the self titled "Jonas Brothers"
Downhill from there.

[Tsukiyomi]

Agreed with the opinions thing. Case in point for me is Richie Blackmore. I too was a fan back in the day but I really don't think his tone has changed (and contrary to popular belief in here, he's still playing electric guitar and still sounds like Richie Blackmore). He not only throws in old Purple/Rainbow songs on his albums now, but plays them like a demon live (I've seen him three times with Blackmore's Night, and while some of it is a little 'hippyish'/Ren Faire-ish the guy can still play & sound like he used to).

Personally I think that although guitarists who make it can lose their hunger (as has been mentioned here), rather than change his sound, Blackmore just took his playing & writing in another direction.

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Just my 2c

Oh and my nomination for this thread is Zakk Wylde. Doesn't mean I think he's a crap guitarist, I just don't like his tone now compared to how it once was

[tao_of_drew]

It looks as though there is a consensus here about Clapton's tone.
Me, I had a hard time appreciated Clapton for years because I just couldn't stand his solo stuff. Later on I began to appreciate his work with Cream, then much later I was blown away with his sound on the Bluesbreakers album. I know it's pretty cliche', but his tone is just amazing on that record!
He pretty much turned to junk the minute he switched over to Fenders.
On secind thought, there a couple good Derek and the Dominos tunes, though his tone is considerably more brittle than it was with the Bluesbreakers. But any of his solo stuff is purely unlistenable to me.

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

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