I love James as much as the next pumpkin-maniac but I think Billy is still; as Kerrrang magazine put it, "the most technically proficient guitarist around"

They're both great guitarists... I sincerely don't know who's the best.

billy. definately. have you ever seen the Hexen video?! as far as all out skill goes, billy is the winner hands down! i know he never does anything too speedy on any albums, but on rare occasions i've heard some pretty amazing solos out of him.

But on song writing capabilities with the guitar, still billy IMO, but i guess that can't really be argued. Speed is a fact (billy!), but creativity is an opinion

I'm gonna say Billy, going on the evidence of siamese dream. Billy got pissed off with James because james wasn't playing his parts right, so Billy played them instead, which i think shows that Billy was a better guitarist then.

lite brigade link=topic=665.msg9841#msg9841 date=1161704647]
I'm gonna say Billy, going on the evidence of siamese dream. Billy got pissed off with James because james wasn't playing his parts right, so Billy played them instead, which i think shows that Billy was a better guitarist then.


But you have to take into consideration that Billy wrote most of that material so of course he's gonna have a way that he thinks it should sound. It doesn't mean that James is less of a guitar player.

i voted james- not because i love him, i love him because hes such a great guitarist. ive notice when playing live billy seems to do the (is it melody? ) but james does all the cool effects that just make the song.
but i suppose billy can do all that stuff to. i shouldve voted tie.

stumbleine link=topic=665.msg9848#msg9848 date=1161723235]
i voted james- not because i love him, i love him because hes such a great guitarist. ive notice when playing live billy seems to do the (is it melody? ) but james does all the cool effects that just make the song.
but i suppose billy can do all that stuff to. i shouldve voted tie.


It depends on the song.

The one thing I've always loved about the band is that there was never a clear cut lead guitarist and rhythm guitarist - they often trade parts, even within the same song. For example, in Today, Billy does the plucking at the beginning of the song while James strums the chords. At the end of the song, James plucks and Billy strums. In general, I consider Billy the lead guitarist in the sense that he does majority of the solos. And like you said, James does the effects, or as I've heard them be called before "weird guitar sounds", more often than the solos.

I kinda don't know where I'm going with this.. but in general, I think Billy is, technically speaking, a much better guitarist. Not to say James is not good, but he is not as good as Billy. I'd rate Billy 9/10, James 8/10.

I voted for Billy, he seems more dynamic most of the time.

although i never really thought them as good guitar players, id have to say billy, just cause he did solos, - the untitled video looks like a great solo - and came up with the music...

yteah link=topic=665.msg9853#msg9853 date=1161735952]
although i never really thought them as good guitar players, id have to say billy, just cause he did solos, - the untitled video looks like a great solo - and came up with the music...


Do you play guitar?

im afraid so

yteah link=topic=665.msg9857#msg9857 date=1161738270]
im afraid so


In terms of much of their stuff, it's not oh too challenging, but technically speaking, could you play the solo from Geek USA? Cherub Rock? Solos are where the band kicks ass and highlights Billy's guitar ability.

i could play cherub rocks solo, but i never cared for geek usa's solo, so i never learned it i just made up my own...

I'd have to say that, skill-wise, Billy is better. But James has a way of creating these catchy little solo's. Case in Point Ava Adore...

I see Billy as more of technical player as far as all the shred stuff I've seen him do, and for god sakes!! the man's hands are bigger than my head!!!! James I see as more of a slow-hand esque soloer, although by evidence in Geek USA and a few others, he can rip it out on occasion.

isnt billy left handed, but he plays rite handed because that is the way he learned (or is it the other way around?)