Why should George Lynch fear sharing a stage with Paul Gilbert or Richie Kotzen ?

[BryanMatthews]

I just read an interview with Lynch about his worries about being part of a touring G3-a-like with Paul Gilbert and Richie Kotzen that he participated in.

Paul Gilbert is a player with superhuman technical ability on a guitar as is Kotzen , but y`know what, Ive heard bum notes by George Lynch with more soul, conviction and impact . Take ONE solitary note by Lynch, I give you the song "Its not love " ,where in the solo, he bends 2nd string 20th fret and nails that pinch harmonic and just floors the listener with it, Gilbert and kotzen can widdle and sweep merrily way, but with 5% the musicality ,impact and memorability , kinda says it all.

As player, Lynch is an ultimate inspiration for me , his tone just slays all around him, he plays with such a melodic ear , he has a touch to kill for and phrasing that is just sublime. By comparision , I find Gilbert and Kotzen gifted, but dull and instantly forgettable.

Lynch fear Gilbert and Kotzen, I think Paul and Richie should worry about George kicking their arses. What do you think ?

[chandan12]

i think that its music, and neither should fear eachother.

[Drifting]

What is with the threads about negativity man?

What do you expect us to say?

"Yes, I agree with you, he would kick the shit out of those guys" :dunno

It's fine you like Lynch, and think he's better than the other two, but good can possibly come of this?

[BryanMatthews]

It's fine you like Lynch, and think he's better than the other two, but good can possibly come of this?


a bit of good ole hearty discussion perhaps,,,,,

[TTripp]

Who's better? Personal taste.

I will say this about Lynch...(all in my opinion, of course)...He got seriously mind-f****d by the Shrapnel guys in the mid-80's and lost his way.

[iamdavea]

Lynch is a guy who's always openly admired great players, who's been very open about what he perceives as the shortcomings of his own technique, and who has always been quick to praise the players whose technical command he admires. No doubt, he probably feels a certain good-natured "let's throw down" vibe might exist at shows like this--especially if they all three gather at the end for a jam--and I'm sure Lynch is conscious of the alternate picking (Gilbert) and sweep picking (Kotzen) chops the others have that he doesn't. Who you actually prefer as a player is up to you.

[iamdavea]

And just to bring the level of civility of this thread down a notch: if it actually came down to head-cutting, neither of those guys could hang with Gilbert.

[TTripp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTcxaYW9FWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY0AbvsV_YU

[Brian D]

I'd assume he is just being humble and self-deprecating, and paying a compliment to his partners as well. Nothing wrong with that.

[BryanMatthews]

Lynch is a guy who's always openly admired great players, who's been very open about what he perceives as the shortcomings of his own technique, and who has always been quick to praise the players whose technical command he admires. No doubt, he probably feels a certain good-natured "let's throw down" vibe might exist at shows like this--especially if they all three gather at the end for a jam--and I'm sure Lynch is conscious of the alternate picking (Gilbert) and sweep picking (Kotzen) chops the others have that he doesn't. Who you actually prefer as a player is up to you.


thats a great reply

at the end of it all, those areas in which lynch humbly concedes Gilbert and Kotzen are in another league, do you think Lynch suffers as a result ?I think songcraft outweighs those two skills and in that area i think gilbert and kotzen are the under study`s/

[BryanMatthews]

And just to bring the level of civility of this thread down a notch: if it actually came down to head-cutting, neither of those guys could hang with Gilbert.

+1
in technical terms, i dont think the player to hang with gilbert has been born or has stepped up to the plate.

[iamdavea]

Well, for MY money, Gilbert (at the age of 20) masterminded my all-time favorite metal album (Racer X's "Second Heat"), and, at about the same age, Kotzen made one of the greatest CDs in Shrapnel history, "Electric Joy." So I can't even concede the songwriting crown to Lynch.

[BryanMatthews]

Well, for MY money, Gilbert (at the age of 20) masterminded my all-time favorite metal album (Racer X's "Second Heat"), and, at about the same age, Kotzen made one of the greatest CDs in Shrapnel history, "Electric Joy." So I can't even concede the songwriting crown to Lynch.


the best accolade i can give to shrapnel cd`s is that they made damned good coffee coasters.....LOL,

[iamdavea]

I've spent more time listening to Shrapnel CDs than all other music combined. So we'll agree to disagree on this one.

[eBay]

I just read an interview with Lynch about his worries about being part of a touring G3-a-like with Paul Gilbert and Richie Kotzen that he participated in.

Paul Gilbert is a player with superhuman technical ability on a guitar as is Kotzen , but y`know what, Ive heard bum notes by George Lynch with more soul, conviction and impact . Take ONE solitary note by Lynch, I give you the song "Its not love " ,where in the solo, he bends 2nd string 20th fret and nails that pinch harmonic and just floors the listener with it, Gilbert and kotzen can widdle and sweep merrily way, but with 5% the musicality ,impact and memorability , kinda says it all.

As player, Lynch is an ultimate inspiration for me , his tone just slays all around him, he plays with such a melodic ear , he has a touch to kill for and phrasing that is just sublime. By comparision , I find Gilbert and Kotzen gifted, but dull and instantly forgettable.

Lynch fear Gilbert and Kotzen, I think Paul and Richie should worry about George kicking their arses. What do you think ?

Truly an immature position regarding music and what it could be. There's no there with any of them.

[iamdavea]

If there's an immaturity there, it's one that Lynch himself is guilty of as well: he spoke very openly in the 80s of being inspired/intimidated by players like Yngwie and the Shrapnel cats, and of doing his best to raise the level of his playing accordingly. He briefly and very informally attended classes at GIT, and hired a Guitar Teacher to help with his alternate picking. You can't deny that, at a basic level, Lynch viewed it as a competitive endeavor as well as a creative one.

[BryanMatthews]

GIT woulda been a waste for Lynch, you cant teach songcraft , its in your genes. You couldnt teach gilbert or kotzen what kurt cobain had and he was a simple strummer.

[iamdavea]

He wasn't there for songcraft, he was there to improve his chops.

[future2future]

I would love a line up with Gilbert, Kotzen and Guthrie Govan. That would be tha bomb!

[iamdavea]

Gilbert, Govan, and Greg Howe. I'd sell a guitar to go if I had to.

[iamdavea]

Hold the phone: Govan, Howe and CHRIS POLAND!

[BryanMatthews]

I would love a line up with Gilbert, Kotzen and Guthrie Govan. That would be tha bomb!


but why ?

Gilbert 45 mins of beedilly beedily
Kotzen 45 mins of beedily beedily
Govan 45 mins of beedily beedily
all 3 for 30 mins of beedily beedily
encore of beedily beedily

i wouldnt take a ticket to that if i was given it to be honest.

[BryanMatthews]

My sorta G3 would be

George Benson
Kenny Burrell
Larry Carlton

and if unfortunate death wasnt an issue, danny gatton would be there.

[Bankston]

Like most improvisitional players, George has his off-nights but when he's on, he's REALLY on.

I think he's better at improvising over his own material, though, rather than jamming with other players.

[Thwap]

My sorta G3 would be

George Benson
Kenny Burrell
Larry Carlton

and if unfortunate death wasnt an issue, danny gatton would be there.

You could name that one snoozapalooza.

[Rod]

George is just being human....personally, he's my favorite of those 3

[BryanMatthews]

You could name that one snoozapalooza.


too funny !!!!!!!!!!!

[phoghat]

I had the pleasure of jamming with Richie a couple times in the '90s and the most surprising thing about his playing was its soulfulness. I expected him to be an insufferable noodle-fest, but that wasn't the case at all. All three of these cats are amazing players. However - the whole "G3" concept is inherently competitive and caters to guitar athletics that inevitably leave me cold.

[Fred McMurray]

George Lynch is just being humble; as someone here already mentioned, he's very forthcoming about his own shortcomings (and IMO those shortcomings are what make him such an individualistic player, but I digress). Imagine being idolized by legions of fans in and dumped into some superhuman talent category that you feel you don't live up to, your playing and every move put under the microscope. Wasn't Lynch originally self-taught and didn't read a note of music? Maybe he felt the need to go back and "learn the language", so to speak. I think to do well on a package tour ya gotta be committed to having fun and go with the flow; I'm sure he'd do just fine, but he's prolly wondering how his material is going to get across through the wall of meedlee meedlee meedlee meeeee....

[BryanMatthews]

Ive watched him on youtube and he is as grounded and humble as it gets, a redeeming quality for sure.

[Bankston]

George Lynch is just being humble; as someone here already mentioned, he's very forthcoming about his own shortcomings (and IMO those shortcomings are what make him such an individualistic player, but I digress). Imagine being idolized by legions of fans in and dumped into some superhuman talent category that you feel you don't live up to, your playing and every move put under the microscope. Wasn't Lynch originally self-taught and didn't read a note of music? Maybe he felt the need to go back and "learn the language", so to speak. I think to do well on a package tour ya gotta be committed to having fun and go with the flow; I'm sure he'd do just fine, but he's prolly wondering how his material is going to get across through the wall of meedlee meedlee meedlee meeeee....

George taught at Randy's mom's school. Not sure if he took lessons there also.

He did not read charts.

He did audit some classes at GIT in the 80's. He made quite a leap between the Under Lock & Key and Back for the Attack albums.

[Julia343]

Lynch is an unorthodox player. He's a superb technician. He's got some great phrasing. I don't get tired of listening to Lynch. I seriously don't think he's scared of anyone. Stylistically he does his own thing. He always has. Putting three greats on a single stage doesn't necessarily work. It may work for two who are more orthodox in their approach, but then throw in an unorthodox player it might not work well. Maybe that's what he's saying when he mentions fear?

Lynch is one of my personal favorites. He can play and he's hot. End of story. ;)

[Dickie Fredericks]

Another who is better and who should fear who. Its crap. Were all just guitar players. No one should fear anyone else. No one is better for the job than the one who has it.

JMO

[iamdavea]

Listen, I've read quite a few Lynch interviews, and without fail, he comes across like a super nice guy who also happens to be a fan of other players, just like we are. He claims that he's tried to learn "Proper Theory" but has what he calls a "mental block", where he just can't QUITE get it, but picks up pieces here and there. EVH had his own way of viewing the fretboard too, and he did just fine. As for the vocabulary typically on display at the G3 type events, where some folks hear "wheedely-deedely", I tend instead to here actual music, but I admit that tastes vary. I saw Paul Gilbert on the G3 a few years back, and he made SUCH an effort not to showcase himself in the encore jams that it was actually extremely frustrating for me as a fan.

[Balok]

No doubt many players of Goerge's age got mugged by the Yngwie invasion that started in '82. Players that started after that saw that as the bar and adopted that standard and that technique, such as Kotzen and Gilbert, Howe, etc. Most of the old school (Montrose, Schon, Lynch, Derringer, Blackmore, Van Halen, Perry, etc) did not have that technique down, or even know that such playing was possible. It takes a whole new re-dedication for an old schooler to get to the new school level.

In the end, the public does not care much about shredders. We here at TGP care, because many of us have the old gun slinger mentality. None of these technical players has reached guitar legend status with the public or even gotten any real radio play.

I'd rather listen to great tones, melodies and songs myself.
I'd much rather listen to Machine Head, or Van Halen II, or Monrtose I, or Aerosmith Rocks than any Racer X album.

BUT ...I sure wouldn't mind having Gilbert's talent.

To answer the OP, if I were Lynch I wouldn't try to jam with those guys. Not that George isn't just as relevant, but just the side by side does not work. Razzle dazzle will always tend to overshadow the sublime. Just like if you put a pic of the Mona Lisa next to a naked picture of Salma Hayek, Salma blows away Mona - but which one lasts?

[Luke]

I've seen Lynch live a few times and he was sloppy as hell. Gilbert is far more a technician and can pull off his studio tracks live. Can't speak about Kozen.

For the life of me though, I can't figure out the Lynch love post Dokken, he's fallen off the map.

[Balok]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWKhk2oPT0
this is Lynch this week..agreed he fared better in Dokken

[Randy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWKhk2oPT0
this is Lynch this week..agreed he fared better in Dokken

The sound quality is so horrible in that clip I don't know how you can really judge, still I heard some pretty hot playing.

Here is a decent current clip of George that shows his playing in the raw;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_frXnVxvsI&feature=PlayList&p=82F67553133D8725&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42


Gilbert and Kotzen are great, no doubt, but George is just plain tastier. He just squeezes every last ounce of harmonic flavor out of each note, where most 'shredders' seem more obsessed with getting in as many notes per second as possible.

[Melodic Dreamer]

Lynch seems to be a nice guy. I think that both Kotzen and Gilbert are better guitarist and musicians. Lynch has always had the80's cheese thing going no matter what he did. Gilbert is just a laugh at times in a good way. Kotzen has soul along with his chops. If you like Lynch then I'm glad you found someone who moves you that way, but I'll take the other two any day of the week.

[guitarlix]

I just read an interview with Lynch about his worries about being part of a touring G3-a-like with Paul Gilbert and Richie Kotzen that he participated in.

Paul Gilbert is a player with superhuman technical ability on a guitar as is Kotzen , but y`know what, Ive heard bum notes by George Lynch with more soul, conviction and impact . Take ONE solitary note by Lynch, I give you the song "Its not love " ,where in the solo, he bends 2nd string 20th fret and nails that pinch harmonic and just floors the listener with it, Gilbert and kotzen can widdle and sweep merrily way, but with 5% the musicality ,impact and memorability , kinda says it all.

As player, Lynch is an ultimate inspiration for me , his tone just slays all around him, he plays with such a melodic ear , he has a touch to kill for and phrasing that is just sublime. By comparision , I find Gilbert and Kotzen gifted, but dull and instantly forgettable.

Lynch fear Gilbert and Kotzen, I think Paul and Richie should worry about George kicking their arses. What do you think ?

I love it when people talk so authoritatively even though they've no real clue what they're talking about.

Kotzen and Gilbert are not only several notches above Lynch as guitarists and musicians, Richie especially is in a whole different league outside the whole 80s rock weedly weedly thing - from hanging with Greg Howe and Stanley Clarke to creating some of the most soulful R&B and blues CDs out there. And what differentiates Paul Gilbert is his strong musicality and sense of humor which come through strongly in his music.

My advice, start listening.

[jazzandmetal?]

I just read an interview with Lynch about his worries about being part of a touring G3-a-like with Paul Gilbert and Richie Kotzen that he participated in.

Paul Gilbert is a player with superhuman technical ability on a guitar as is Kotzen , but y`know what, Ive heard bum notes by George Lynch with more soul, conviction and impact . Take ONE solitary note by Lynch, I give you the song "Its not love " ,where in the solo, he bends 2nd string 20th fret and nails that pinch harmonic and just floors the listener with it, Gilbert and kotzen can widdle and sweep merrily way, but with 5% the musicality ,impact and memorability , kinda says it all.

As player, Lynch is an ultimate inspiration for me , his tone just slays all around him, he plays with such a melodic ear , he has a touch to kill for and phrasing that is just sublime. By comparision , I find Gilbert and Kotzen gifted, but dull and instantly forgettable.

Lynch fear Gilbert and Kotzen, I think Paul and Richie should worry about George kicking their arses. What do you think ?


You have obviously never heard a solo Richie Kotzen cd that has been released within the last 15 years. Plenty of soul going on in them.

[iamdavea]

I do agree with poster Luke: Lynch has done next to nothing that bolsters his legacy since, what, 1990. Lynch Mob failed; he's done studio work on Tribute albums, he released a solo album that sucked (I owned it), and he's been a total gear Pimp for any company that pays to use his name and image. And once in a while Dokken reunites. Maybe this puts a dent in the whole "superior songcraft" angle; I mean, where's the freaking songs?

[rwe333]

No doubt many players of Goerge's age got mugged by the Yngwie invasion that started in '82. Players that started after that saw that as the bar and adopted that standard and that technique, such as Kotzen and Gilbert, Howe, etc. Most of the old school (Montrose, Schon, Lynch, Derringer, Blackmore, Van Halen, Perry, etc) did not have that technique down, or even know that such playing was possible. It takes a whole new re-dedication for an old schooler to get to the new school level.

Ya know, I don't really buy this...
Reality is, the "new school" guys are as ineffective playing in the style of the "old school" cats as visa-versa.
There is a real lightness (for lack of a better word) w/ many of the hi-gain shredders - these guys aren't exactly diggin' in, ya know? They simply aren't attacking the instrument w/ the kind of intensity that many of the older, less gain, cats did. It's a much less fierce right- and left-hand style w/ the big gain - lotsa compression - then there's the reality of the wharbly/floating Floyd Rose making it tough to hit hard...
So, big props to the "new school", but they ain't replacing (and can't replicate) the likes of Steve Morse, the best Blackmore, Uli Roth, EVH, Sykes, Gary Moore, etc.
Then there's the likes of Holdsworth, Halsall, etc. - few licks and little repetition...
In other words, "chops" and facility encompasses a wide range of things beyond just speed, even if limited to the (quote/unquote) rock genre.
No one gets replaced or out-moded.

[iamdavea]

I'm not sure I totally buy THAT, though. Paul Gilbert grew up a huge Pat Travers and Robin Trower fan--not to mention KISS--so I'm sure he can "dig in" and be as heavy handed as he'd like. Paul simply has a musical imagination that can't be limited to those types of licks. And, to state the obvious, it's going to be a lot easier for a guy like Paul to slow down and play like Mick Ralphs than it is for Brad Whitford to all of a sudden go diatonic.

[rwe333]

I'm not sure I totally buy THAT, though. Paul Gilbert grew up a huge Pat Travers and Robin Trower fan--not to mention KISS--so I'm sure he can "dig in" and be as heavy handed as he'd like. Paul simply has a musical imagination that can't be limited to those types of licks. And, to state the obvious, it's going to be a lot easier for a guy like Paul to slow down and play like Mick Ralphs than it is for Brad Whitford to all of a sudden go diatonic.

I'm sure he's a PT and RT fan, but - sorry - his playing reflects that influence little (there is Frehley in his vibrato and Rundgren in his writing).
And I never used the phrase "heavy-handed". Morse is heavy-handed? Playing w/ some force doesn't necessarily imply that...
Re-read and actually consider what I wrote... (I mentioned Ralphs or Whitford?)
Point was that Gilbert et al. are as ineffective at sounding like the "old school" praised-for-chops guys you mentioned (Blackmore, EVH, Derringer, etc.) as this "old school" are at sounding like the "new school"... OK?
Sorry, Gilbert can't cop Morse and Morse can't cop Gilbert. So no winner, and who the **** cares? My point here is that good playing stands on it's own merits and doesn't get negated by perceived technical advancements...
Sheer speed does not necessarily encompass all complexity and dexterity. Goodness, look at the bar Holdsworth or Ted Greene set w/ chord voicings? Who's tossing those around?
(leading to the kettle of worms about more complex phrasing/timing/positioning, etc.)

EDIT: OK, my last couple of posts in this thread are pretty poorly written - it was late. The point I was trying to make had more to do w/ the reality that every player has strengths and weakness and style is a product of what one can and can't do... There's never any better, IMHO - good playing is always good playing, then/now. I respect/appreciate everyone mentioned in this thread.

[xntrick]

i'll take GL over the other 2 guys mentioned anyday...

[BryanMatthews]

i'll take GL over the other 2 guys mentioned anyday...


amen to that and other guys are right in saying lynchmob blew, but GL`s work in dokken reveals a very tasty player indeed.

[rnm14]

Haven't read the whole thread but I have this to offer:

Last time I heard Kotzen he was singing like a lost and forgotten Motown dude, had a bunch of classic rock/soul type of songs and was playing guitar like a maniac. Oh btw. bass and drums too...

Check out his newest tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhCqEfkKa5s

Too me he's a great musician, clearly transcending the guitar hero image.

I'd be scared....

[Prititing]

I think he's scared of not being able to put out this kind of intensity in his performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_b8mjOVUs&feature=related

[BryanMatthews]

I think he's scared of not being able to put out this kind of intensity in his performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_b8mjOVUs&feature=related


that was slick, this is the sort of shite I always associated with Kotzen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLXc2GCANxA&feature=related

see kotzens less than oscar standard acting and voiceover too

[rnm14]

that was slick, this is the sort of shite I always associated with Kotzen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLXc2GCANxA&feature=related

see kotzens less than oscar standard acting and voiceover too


Awww c'mon the guy was like 17 at the time....but still hilarious...

[HoboMan]

George is intimidated because he doesn't know any music theory.

[shallbe]

To the OP, how can you even comment on songcraft if you don't know what people have written? Gilbert wrote some truly great songs--like Green Tined Sixties Mind. Kotzen is a MONSTER musician---plays everything well, is a great writer, and sings better than most lead singers and is dripping with soul.

If Lynch is insecure it is because he knows little theory and knows he can't hang with these other two in terms of all the strengths they have, beyind just playing speedy stuff. The truth is, very few people have the talent of Kotzen, and Lynch probably knows that. It is a lot bigger than just playing distorted electric guitar---it is about being a complete musician.

[Bankston]

I do agree with poster Luke: Lynch has done next to nothing that bolsters his legacy since, what, 1990. Lynch Mob failed; he's done studio work on Tribute albums, he released a solo album that sucked (I owned it), and he's been a total gear Pimp for any company that pays to use his name and image. And once in a while Dokken reunites. Maybe this puts a dent in the whole "superior songcraft" angle; I mean, where's the freaking songs?

Best work I've heard from George in recent years was the Lynch-Pilson project he did with Jeff Pilson. Sonically the record had a fresh, modern sound, and there were some killer songs on it. Hearing Jeff Pilson sing lead vocals had me wondering why anyone ever gave a mic to Don Dokken because Pilson has a much better voice.

Unfortunately, they did nothing to promote the project in terms of touring, press, etc.

Also, George's CD of covers, Furious George, is worth a listen, although, as you point out, it doesn't bolster the "superior songcraft" argument.

[Polynitro]

Maybe he fears the audience.

[Frank Prince]

George Lynch is just being humble; as someone here already mentioned, he's very forthcoming about his own shortcomings (and IMO those shortcomings are what make him such an individualistic player, but I digress). Imagine being idolized by legions of fans in and dumped into some superhuman talent category that you feel you don't live up to, your playing and every move put under the microscope. Wasn't Lynch originally self-taught and didn't read a note of music? Maybe he felt the need to go back and "learn the language", so to speak. I think to do well on a package tour ya gotta be committed to having fun and go with the flow; I'm sure he'd do just fine, but he's prolly wondering how his material is going to get across through the wall of meedlee meedlee meedlee meeeee....
I remember reading about the whole Lynch/GIT debacle as it was going on in the 80s............ My understanding was that Lynch was worried about being a "complete" guitarist in that he did not know theory and modes and note names. I think he realized early on that he had monster chops, but if you listen to the Dokken and Lynch Mob albums you can tell from the playing that he was a guy that was committed to learning and improving as well. I believe he went to GIT to try to get his theory knowledge together, and later on took lessons from a young classical guitar teacher in Phoenix who was at one time featured in Mike Varney's Spotlight column in Guitar Player magazine.

[Wagster]

Kotzen is much more than a shredder. He's got a lot of soul and a damn good voice.

[Luke]

Kotzen is much more than a shredder. He's got a lot of soul and a damn good voice.


http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=kotzen+poison&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-103&SpellState=n-4196258756_q-VPb07VM.yGp3hzXf%2FeeEggAAAA%40%40&tnr=21&vid=0001533244207

[Wagster]

My sorta G3 would be

George Benson
Kenny Burrell
Larry Carlton

and if unfortunate death wasnt an issue, danny gatton would be there.
This thread is about rock not fusion, jazz or twangbilly :rolleyes:

[BIGGERSTAFF]

Like most improvisitional players, George has his off-nights but when he's on, he's REALLY on.

I think he's better at improvising over his own material, though, rather than jamming with other players.


He played some great solos on Tony MacAlpine's Maximum Security CD.

[freedom's door]

I like Gilbert's playing and songwriting more than anything by the other two. But they are all talented musicians. Too bad Lynch has spent the last 15 years just sort of drifting from one project to the next- he definitely seems to work best as part of a band, and that hasn't been the case since Lynch Mob in the early 90's...

[atquinn]

I just read an interview with Lynch about his worries about being part of a touring G3-a-like with Paul Gilbert and Richie Kotzen that he participated in.

Paul Gilbert is a player with superhuman technical ability on a guitar as is Kotzen , but y`know what, Ive heard bum notes by George Lynch with more soul, conviction and impact . Take ONE solitary note by Lynch, I give you the song "Its not love " ,where in the solo, he bends 2nd string 20th fret and nails that pinch harmonic and just floors the listener with it, Gilbert and kotzen can widdle and sweep merrily way, but with 5% the musicality ,impact and memorability , kinda says it all.

As player, Lynch is an ultimate inspiration for me , his tone just slays all around him, he plays with such a melodic ear , he has a touch to kill for and phrasing that is just sublime. By comparision , I find Gilbert and Kotzen gifted, but dull and instantly forgettable.

Lynch fear Gilbert and Kotzen, I think Paul and Richie should worry about George kicking their arses. What do you think ?

Just to show that this is all subjective...all the Lynch stuff I've ever heard (and admittedly, that's not a ton of stuff) sounds like mindless wanking. I'd take Gilbert or Kotzen over him any day of the week, but obviously he's got his fans, and I would think he'd have more of them than Gilbert or Kotzen, so as far as being scared the stage, I don't see it.

-Austin

[cugel]

i know this is shallow, but i just dont get why lynch wont loose the tiger stipped 80s guitar and the muscle shirts and the highlighted hair. its just silly and not in the paul gilbert i-can-laff-at-myself silly either. embarassing is a better word than silly. a not-insignificant number of PGs clips are him sharing the stage.

[Bankston]

He played some great solos on Tony MacAlpine's Maximum Security CD.

True dat. I was talking more about live performance.

Lynch has always come up with some pretty amazing stuff in the studio.

[buddastrat]

I just never liked how much Lynch buries himself in echo and verb so he sounds like he's playing in a hole all the time. That gets old fast, and anyone can sound good to non guitar players because the echo is covering for you. Same with guys that use wah constantly.

I do like how Lynch has his own sort've style, and he does have one of the best vibratos in the biz tho'. I don't know what kind of stuff he'd do instrumentally (besids Mr. Scary) but I'd rather listen to him than the other guys. I do like Gilbert's chainsaw alternate picking though.

[rnm14]

I do like how Lynch has his own sort've style, and he does have one of the best vibratos in the biz tho'.

Sorry, but I don't hear that at all. Too fast and wide for my taste...definately not what I would consider the best in the biz.