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GMC Forum _ Bands and Guitarists _ Paul Gilbert Or Steve Vai?
Posted by: vintageplaya666 Jul 10 2008, 11:53 AM
Since a topic was started on Alexi or Synister? I'd thought it would be quite interesting to see who people prefer betwen Gilbert and Vai?
For me, I love both guitarists but I'll have to go with Paul Gilbert on this one.
Posted by: Andrew6 Jul 10 2008, 12:10 PM
Why not both 
, I like Paul Gilbert's style more than Vai so I am going to have to go with Mr. Gilbert
Posted by: Lian Gerbino Jul 10 2008, 12:12 PM
I go with Mr Steve Gilbert 
no! I cant choose 
Posted by: MickeM Jul 10 2008, 12:16 PM
no! I cant choose Steve Gilbert or Paul VaiI'm leaning towards Paul Gilbert myself
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Jul 10 2008, 12:16 PM
Paul Gilbert because of Racer X mainly. I don't really like Vai or Gilbert solo.
Posted by: chmilew Jul 10 2008, 12:22 PM
I would say Steve Vai because of Tender Surrender..
Posted by: DeepRoots Jul 10 2008, 12:25 PM
Paul Gilbert! I get a one hour guitar lesson with this guy in November- and no i cannot sleep just thinking about it! 
Vai is quite cool though- i just dont really listen to his stuff...maybe i should 
Posted by: vintageplaya666 Jul 10 2008, 12:30 PM
Vai is quite cool though- i just dont really listen to his stuff...maybe i should
How have you managed to get a guitar lesson from Mr. Gilbert? Competition?
Posted by: Rated Htr Jul 10 2008, 12:34 PM
Steve Vai...His style amazes me and influences my playing to much.
Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 10 2008, 12:37 PM
They are both great, on that level I can't really choose, they're too different. I personally disslike music from both of them, but can listen to live performance because they are virtuosos.
Posted by: The Uncreator Jul 10 2008, 12:46 PM
I would say Steve Vai, He opened me up to the endless possibilities of guitar playing applied in many contexts and textures (Use of different tones and techniques and stuff to create the right mood at any given time). Plus his composition skills are just phenomenal. Whispering A Prayer is just freakin' beautiful.
Posted by: Marcus Lavendell Jul 10 2008, 12:51 PM
Good point!
... but still, very hard to choose! Both are amazing!!
Posted by: wrk Jul 10 2008, 01:03 PM
Very true, but on the other side is Technical Difficulties!
I can not choose ether. It's a question like who i love more, my wife or my kids. I don't have a wife and i don't have kids .. just an example.
Posted by: DeepRoots Jul 10 2008, 01:16 PM
VIP ticket. Check out his website.
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jul 10 2008, 01:53 PM
Paul Gilbert.....Amazing licks and solo's and then he has RACER X!!!
Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jul 10 2008, 02:31 PM
It's difficult to choose but I like Steve Vai more than Paul ... sorry
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jul 10 2008, 02:34 PM
*gasp!* just kidding
Posted by: vintageplaya666 Jul 10 2008, 02:36 PM
Mr. Gilbert is winning so far!
But yeah its hard to choose, they are both amazing. It's just all on personal preference
Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jul 10 2008, 02:37 PM
It's not difficult to understand if you look at my guitar
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jul 10 2008, 02:38 PM
It's not difficult to understand if you look at my guitar haha very true Juan
Posted by: superize Jul 10 2008, 04:12 PM
Ha listened to little to theme to decide
Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Jul 10 2008, 04:15 PM
That is one confusing line lol.
I'm guessing you said listened to too little of them to decide. Or something along those lines
Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Jul 10 2008, 06:30 PM
I think that Gilbert is awesome but Steve Vai is a genius that is always experimenting. However it's great that both exist.
Posted by: Tolek Jul 10 2008, 06:52 PM
I prefer Steve Vai, but Paul Gilbert is also one of my very favourites.
Btw, I´m going to have a lesson with him too. Thanks to DeepRoots that he mentiones this! I´m so happy right now.
Posted by: Déjà vu Jul 10 2008, 07:09 PM
Vai is quite cool though- i just dont really listen to his stuff...maybe i should
Yeah. I really haven't heard much Vai either... I think I'm just too busy list listening to Gilbert!
... I am truly envious of you! Does he give lessons in the U.S.!?!?!?
Posted by: superize Jul 10 2008, 07:11 PM
I'm guessing you said listened to too little of them to decide. Or something along those lines
Yeah something like that
Posted by: mattacuk Jul 10 2008, 08:59 PM
You can guess my vote 
Posted by: Trond Vold Jul 10 2008, 09:18 PM
To be honest, i've never been a big fan of Vai. Dont get me wrong, he's a technical genious and all but i just cant get into his songs.
Gilbert on the other hand makes catchier and more memorable songs, atleast in my ears. So Gilbert is my fav
Posted by: audiopaal Jul 10 2008, 09:46 PM
I have to say Paul Gilbert
His first name is awesome too
Posted by: jacmoe Jul 10 2008, 11:22 PM
Paul Gilbert, without a doubt.
Steve Vai is amazing, but I find him a bit too extravagant as a person.
Gilbert, on the other hand, seems to have the right mix of madness/geniousness and down to earth attitude.
Posted by: Fsgdjv Jul 10 2008, 11:59 PM
Paul Gilbert, no competition.
Posted by: Ibanez_player Jul 11 2008, 04:39 AM
These are my two favorite guitarists. For me Vai is #1 without a doubt. His compositions are so unique and amazing.
Posted by: inertia Jul 11 2008, 04:40 AM
Paul for sure, I really dig his music, I don't like Steve Vai's music at all really, I find it too out there, he's a great guitarist but he only has a couple of songs that I actually like. Gilbert on the other hand, his last two albums I have listened to for hours on end and have enjoyed them thoroughly. Plus Paul just seems like a really chill nice guy and Vai, well he just doesn't seem quite as down to earth, I could be wrong though.
Posted by: Smikey2006 Jul 11 2008, 06:23 AM
Vai really introduced me into the solo guitar world, his stuff is just incredible, maybe not as memorable as some of Paul Gilberts, but listening to the whole album Crossroads/Passion and Warfare all the way through just blow my mind. I also like that vai writes alot of stuff that isn't complete shred yet hes very capable of outshredding most of everyone. My vote is for the man with a 3 neck heart guitar
Posted by: Muris Varajic Jul 11 2008, 03:21 PM
I would say Vai,I love both of them of course
but just to get more rival feel in the topic
Posted by: Bedlam Jul 11 2008, 04:04 PM
That is very cool that he is doing that. That makes me want to vote for Gilbert...
Posted by: Caelumamittendum Jul 11 2008, 04:45 PM
I'll have to say Vai. His whammy bar work has inspired me a great lot.
Posted by: TreyDeschamp Jul 11 2008, 06:03 PM
I'm with you on that one!
Posted by: Déjà vu Jul 11 2008, 06:22 PM
but just to get more rival feel in the topic
Yes! I think a few more "Vai guys" should kick in!
Posted by: Tuubsu Jul 11 2008, 06:27 PM
For me I would choose Steve Vai Without any doubt. I "discovered" Gilbert a long time and he was nice and still is I like his stuff, but I not too long ago "discovered" Steve Vai and this dude changed my life! I will never look at music the same way after I saw Steve playing! 
Posted by: Tomotoms Jul 11 2008, 09:00 PM
The way I like to think of it is that Paul is the best guitarist from planet earth and Vai is the best from outer space.
I can't choose a favourite because I have different moods.
Posted by: Pablo Vazquez Jul 11 2008, 11:03 PM
It's a very dificult decision!!! Steve and Paul have different and incredible styles.... I choose both!
Posted by: Tjchep Jul 12 2008, 05:12 PM
Easily Steve Vai for me.
Gilbert was good in racer x, but his solo stuff isn't top notch me thinks.
Posted by: jacmoe Jul 12 2008, 05:33 PM
What a great way to put it!
Posted by: Pi38 Jul 12 2008, 07:08 PM
I'm going with Paul Gilbert on this one.
Posted by: vintageplaya666 Jul 12 2008, 10:59 PM
I think Vai is catching up to mr. Gilbert here!! Or maybe Vai has surpassed Gilbert in peoples opinions...
Two mind blowing guitarists...two different styles...very hard to choose.
Posted by: Tjchep Jul 12 2008, 11:09 PM
One thing I might as well add..
I don't think gilbert could replicate Vai's style as well as Vai could replicate Gilberts.
Gilbert is Easier to cover for an advanced guitarist I'm Sure.. Everything he does is like an exercise.
Posted by: DeepRoots Jul 12 2008, 11:23 PM
Not so sure here!
Posted by: Ian Bushell Jul 13 2008, 11:49 AM
Wow Alexi/Synester? Gilbert/Vai?
That's tough all 4 are amongst my favourites!
I'd have to say Alexi and Vai.
Posted by: RIP Dime Jul 13 2008, 09:12 PM
Gilbert, I like his playing more, but I like Devin Townsend's singing better than Paul's!
Posted by: swingline Jul 13 2008, 09:15 PM
That's tough, but I'd have to say Mr. Gilbert, I like his playing better along with his personality.
Posted by: bladzerok Jul 14 2008, 02:22 AM
well, i prefer paul gilbert's style, but i think vai is more original... anyway, i vote for paul gilbert
Posted by: SnoCone Jul 14 2008, 05:23 PM
Id have to go with gilbert
Posted by: Gerardo Siere Jul 15 2008, 04:03 PM
I love both, but I´m more identified with guilbert style, and also this guy has a very particular sound, there was in youtube a video of him as a tenager pulling licks in a garage and sounds as him today.
Posted by: kaznie_NL Jul 15 2008, 07:02 PM
Gilbert for me!
Posted by: kyldeee Jul 15 2008, 07:03 PM
Pablo
Posted by: Alex Lewis Jul 16 2008, 12:17 AM
As a musician vai is better (probably) as a song writer Gilbert smokes him though and i always tend to listen to SONGS
not instrumentals so my vote goes to Gilbert! 
Posted by: Danilo Capezzuto Jul 19 2008, 01:18 AM
Steve Vai is one of the bigger guitar hero/musicians ever. Gilbert is an awesome guitarist and rock player. Different but, both great!
Posted by: Shadow21 Jul 20 2008, 03:54 PM
Paul Gilbert is the best in my opinion.
C'mon Paul!
Posted by: g-forcelover Jul 20 2008, 04:19 PM
Man this is hard! I listen to paul a bit more, so I have to go with him. that is an amazingly hard queston for me!
Posted by: vintageplaya666 Jul 21 2008, 01:44 AM
Yes I agree with you Danilo!!
It's been interesting to see peoples opinions. Good topic I started I think
Posted by: Xuestor Jul 24 2008, 05:28 PM
These guys are o so different, but still very alike Gilbert is a guy that, despite his guitarskills and musical knowledge, often write songs containing no more than 3 chords. Vai couldn't play twinkle twinkle little star without beeing "over-the-top" . Vai very often "floats out" and doesn't follow guitartheory, but his playing still sounds awesome, (thats definately one of his strengths). Gilbert seems more stuck by his scales and patterns when soloing. So when to listen and get a wow-effect, I listen to Vai. When just to listen to great music, like when driving a car, I tend to prefer Gilbert. Vai's work on the David Lee Roth albums is stunning though, just take Yankee Rose as an example
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