Carlos Cavazo: One of the most underrated players ever?

[paulyc]

I like them all. His recorded work is just stellar, all the Dokken albums up to Beast From the East and the two Lynch Mob records (ESPECIALLY the first one) are amazing. That first Lynch Mob album is easily the best thing he’s ever done or will ever do.

 

[LordThurisaz]

I think he is quite underrated, but so is Akira Takasaki, and I don't think he's quite the guitarist Akira is. Still, both are fun to listen to.

 

[paulyc]

I think he is quite underrated, but so is Akira Takasaki, and I don't think he's quite the guitarist Akira is. Still, both are fun to listen to.

Omg Akira is easily one of the best of his entire generation. Not known outside guitar circles, but he’s an amazing player.

 

[LordThurisaz]

I like them all. His recorded work is just stellar, all the Dokken albums up to Beast From the East and the two Lynch Mob records (ESPECIALLY the first one) are amazing. That first Lynch Mob album is easily the best thing he’s ever done or will ever do.

Agreed. I like Dysfunctional as well, but not as much as anything Lynch did prior. Those first two Lynch Mob albums are killer, and so are the last 5 or so years of albums that Lynch has done.

I think he is quite underrated, but so is Akira Takasaki, and I don't think he's quite the guitarist Akira is. Still, both are fun to listen to.

Omg Akira is easily one of the best of his entire generation. Not known outside guitar circles, but he’s an amazing player.

Akira is great; tone, phrasing, songwriting, etc. I love his occasional Rush/Queen sounding parts in songs, particularly in the 80s.

 

[Goat]

I think he is quite underrated, but so is Akira Takasaki, and I don't think he's quite the guitarist Akira is. Still, both are fun to listen to.

Akira Takasaki

 

[paulyc]

Akira really blends all his influences well, Blackmore, Schenker, EVH, etc. Tones are spectacular from Thunder in the East onward. Great riffs and solos, killer production.

I can’t listen to Lynch after Dysfunctional.

 

[LordThurisaz]

Akira really blends all his influences well, Blackmore, Schenker, EVH, etc. Tones are spectacular from Thunder in the East onward. Great riffs and solos, killer production.

I can’t listen to Lynch after Dysfunctional.

Lynch's last five years or so of albums have all been stellar.

Akira is also influenced by Lifeson, which is fucking weird with the rest of his influences, but still sounds great.

 

[Goat]

I'd love to have an ESP like this. Is this an ESP?

 

[paulyc]

No, I think it’s ghost built by ESP, it’s his own company called Killer Guitars, I bought one from a store in Japan off eBay. Great guitar.

 

[LordThurisaz]

I'd rather have his ESP Star with the Danelectro headstock and plates, which is basically the same as EVH's star guitar. It was built by ESP so far as I know. But yeah, I think that is technically a ghost built guitar.

 

[paulyc]

Yes the star is ESP. Technically it’s a Random Star.

 

[Racerxrated]

Well, NONE of the guys on your list had Lynch’s chops so... Lynch was a fucking beast lol

I recall a clinic (I think it was a clinic?) where George wasn't using his Dokken era high-gain + effects rig. He sounded terrible! IMO, Vivian Campbell is a superior player.

It's really pretty simple. Could Lynch play Vivian's catalog note for note? Easily. I've seen bar players nail his stuff without breaking a sweat. Could Vivian play Lynch's? I seriously doubt it.
Gain? Do you realize how little gain these guys actually used to record with? And, listen to Stand up and Shout..that's easily as gainy as anything Dokken put down in the 80s.
Sorry but comparing these two is like having a D3 football team play an NFL team...It's no contest. I do enjoy Vivian Campbell but Lynch? Lynch is on a whole other playing field. Far and away the better player. Lynch was in the discussion as one of the worlds best players..not Vivian. Ever.

 

[paulyc]

I think Viv would be in the top 20 at that time (pre Shrapnel etc). Lynch would be maybe top 5.

 

[LordThurisaz]

Vivian is top 100. Outside of Dio, don't care much about what he's done. Meanwhile, George is easily in the top 10, probably top 5.

 

[Goat]

Well, NONE of the guys on your list had Lynch’s chops so... Lynch was a fucking beast lol

I recall a clinic (I think it was a clinic?) where George wasn't using his Dokken era high-gain + effects rig. He sounded terrible! IMO, Vivian Campbell is a superior player.

It's really pretty simple. Could Lynch play Vivian's catalog note for note? Easily. I've seen bar players nail his stuff without breaking a sweat. Could Vivian play Lynch's? I seriously doubt it.
Gain? Do you realize how little gain these guys actually used to record with? And, listen to Stand up and Shout..that's easily as gainy as anything Dokken put down in the 80s.
Sorry but comparing these two is like having a D3 football team play an NFL team...It's no contest. I do enjoy Vivian Campbell but Lynch? Lynch is on a whole other playing field. Far and away the better player. Lynch was in the discussion as one of the worlds best players..not Vivian. Ever.

I disagree. Vivian would wipe the floor with George, I'm sure of it. I'm not a huge fan of Warren DiMartini either. George, Warren, and Jake E. Lee are in the same camp, IMO. Out of those three, Jake E. Lee is my favorite. I digress.

Two of the greatest guitarist ever was Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher. Vivian Campbell could easily cover a Gary Moore/Rory Gallagher tribute tour note-for-note. Could George Lynch do the same? Not a chance!

 

[Metalhex]

Can someone point me to some great George Lynch solos and/or riffs? I honestly am not too familiar with his work anywhere other than Mr. Scary and Tears of Sahara.

 

[RockyStar]

Vivian is top 100. Outside of Dio, don't care much about what he's done. Meanwhile, George is easily in the top 10, probably top 5.

Lynch top 5?

Who are your picks above Lynch?

I think Lynch was good but I also thought he was over rated. From that era, I would pick many players over Lynch back then. Here are some off the top of my head. I know I am missing some...

Richie Kotzen
Marty Friedman
Jason Becker
Michael Lee Firkins
Tony MacAlpine
Joe Satriani
John Sykes
Paul Gilbert

 

[Racerxrated]

Vivian is top 100. Outside of Dio, don't care much about what he's done. Meanwhile, George is easily in the top 10, probably top 5.

Lynch top 5?

Who are your picks above Lynch?

I think Lynch was good but I also thought he was over rated. From that era, I would pick many players over Lynch back then. Here are some off the top of my head. I know I am missing some...

Richie Kotzen
Marty Friedman
Jason Becker
Michael Lee Firkins
Tony MacAlpine
Joe Satriani
John Sykes
Paul Gilbert

When Vivian and Carlos came out, it was the early 80s. Before the Shrapnel invasion. So if you ask and include whole decade of the 80s, I'd change my top ten. But at that point Vivian would be completely off any list. Lol

 

[Racerxrated]

Well, NONE of the guys on your list had Lynch’s chops so... Lynch was a fucking beast lol

I recall a clinic (I think it was a clinic?) where George wasn't using his Dokken era high-gain + effects rig. He sounded terrible! IMO, Vivian Campbell is a superior player.

It's really pretty simple. Could Lynch play Vivian's catalog note for note? Easily. I've seen bar players nail his stuff without breaking a sweat. Could Vivian play Lynch's? I seriously doubt it.
Gain? Do you realize how little gain these guys actually used to record with? And, listen to Stand up and Shout..that's easily as gainy as anything Dokken put down in the 80s.
Sorry but comparing these two is like having a D3 football team play an NFL team...It's no contest. I do enjoy Vivian Campbell but Lynch? Lynch is on a whole other playing field. Far and away the better player. Lynch was in the discussion as one of the worlds best players..not Vivian. Ever.

I disagree. Vivian would wipe the floor with George, I'm sure of it. I'm not a huge fan of Warren DiMartini either. George, Warren, and Jake E. Lee are in the same camp, IMO. Out of those three, Jake E. Lee is my favorite. I digress.

Two of the greatest guitarist ever was Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher. Vivian Campbell could easily cover a Gary Moore/Rory Gallagher tribute tour note-for-note. Could George Lynch do the same? Not a chance!

It's your opinion and you are entitled to it. I would say 99% of players on this forum would disagree with your opinion though, when it comes to Lynch, Warren and Jake. Good God man listen to their catalog. I put Gary Moore in my top 5 of course. Bought Victims when I was 16 and am 80% Irish. I was in.

To be clear, I do like Vivian and Holy Diver/Last in Line are in my regular album rotation. I don't think he's in the same class as some other 80s shredders, however.

 

[Goat]

For 80's 'kid grind'... Gary Moore, Vivian Campbell, John Sykes, and Criss Oliva were my favorites.