Who is the better guitarist?

[Nick]

Steve Vai was a student of Satriani's at Berkley, though I'm not sure if that's a positive or a negative attribute. I'd lean towards negative. I find that Vai's guitar work is often more impressive than Satriani's, though the quality of entertainment is definitely suffering.
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[SundownMotel]

I vote for Satch. Vai's playing is often too flashy for me. It's like listening to a Baz Luhrmann movie, which I suppose would be the next-worst thing to watching one. Vai is more about technicality and how fast he can play, with no real emotion behind it. It's too clean. Kind of like the difference between Nuno Bettencourt and Angus Young. While Angus isn't as flashy, it's more raw and memorable. Satriani's bag is that he plays pop and rock songs with no vocals. "Surfing With the Alien", "The Extremist" and "Time Machine" are three completely amazing albums, and "Always With Me, Always With You" is at once the greatest instrumental pop song and the greatest instrumental love song at the same time. I also do a righteous air guitar to it. In my opinion, the best thing Vai ever did was David Lee Roth's "Eat 'Em and Smile". And while G3 is a pretty phenomenal supergroup, they themselves are dwarfed by McLaughlin, DiMeola and De Lucia.
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And this is a promise, because this is true. This is real. This is Straight Edge.

[Kyle]

Satriani has tastier licks, but Vai has chunkier notes. It is a tie.
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WHEN THE AFRICAN LION ATTACKS

[Mugsy]

Satriani. Same reasons Sundown mentioned.

However there is a local artist in Jacksonville who is better than both of them to me. I will swear up and down that he is the best guitarist I've ever heard. And the best thing is that he was the one who taught the guitarist of the band I manage. The best roots for him, I think.

In any case, his name is Tony Smotherman, and his website is here:
http://www.tonysmotherman.com/
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WAAAOOOOOOOWWWW!

[SundownMotel]

Smotherman is Spider-Man's 26th worst villain. He walks around holding a big pillow.
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And this is a promise, because this is true. This is real. This is Straight Edge.

[Daniel]

Neil Peart.
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them's jokes, boy

[Mugsy]

[A Huge Dog]

[Mugsy]

You're right that they aren't good recordings, but the man is a prodigy, trust me. I can understand not liking a brand's sound and all, but I'm not sure how you got the conclusion of a bad tone in this. I'm not hearing it. Out of curiosity, what songs did you listen to?
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WAAAOOOOOOOWWWW!

[holy roman emperor]

Satch. More creative writing, much more melodic. Plus, Steve Vai is a tool. Best song = Flying in a Blue Dream
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[Mike]

Joe Satriani didn't lose the soul of an old black man to the Karate Kid & therefore wins by default.
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[A Huge Dog]

[SundownMotel]

Wow, he uses Peavey guitars? Smother-Man should know better.
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And this is a promise, because this is true. This is real. This is Straight Edge.

[Frank Stallone]

Comedy Esteban option.
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I GOT IRATE AND FETCHED MY MAGIC MARKER AND WROTE "WORLDS INCORRECT GRANDMOM" ON ALL HER SUNDAY DRESSES

GATHER ROUND THE GOOD STUFF INDEED

[Mugsy]

[Rtan]

I'll go with Satriani. Vai is more fun to watch, and he's damn fine, but some of the Joe's solos my father has played for me have had me drop my jaw.
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"PERFECT"