Metal Sludge Gossip Board

The What You Give Is What You Get thread got me listening to Invasion again and Warren is fucking astounding. 4 note per string runs that would make Satch run for cover.

He's got as much or more natural dexterity as Vai or Dimebag.

Nuno comes to mind. That fucker was so fast and slippery.

Obviously Ed was the gold standard and started the whole race.

Who do you guys think had the best hands? Personally I think Warren might have been the dude.

Yngwie, and it’s not even close.

fret123 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 7:31 pm Yngwie, and it’s not even close.

Yeah Yngwie came to mind for sure but Jake E Lee made a good point when he said that Yngwie is very good at a very narrow scope of guitar. He has his down down up thing nailed and his hands barely move at all but I don't see his left hand grabbing a 7 fret span like Warren and playing it at hummingbird speed. But yeah you might be right.

HottKarl777 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 7:38 pm

fret123 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 27, 2025 7:31 pm Yngwie, and it’s not even close.

Yeah Yngwie came to mind for sure but Jake E Lee made a good point when he said that Yngwie is very good at a very narrow scope of guitar. He has his down down up thing nailed and his hands barely move at all but I don't see his left hand grabbing a 7 fret span like Warren and playing it at hummingbird speed. But yeah you might be right.

I was thinking somewhat similar. Yngwie has mind bogglingly efficient technique.

Nuno is a good pick here, and Warren was the first one that popped into mind when I saw the thread title.

Nuno or DeMartini are good choices. When I saw "natural dexterity," I immediately thought of Shrapnel era Richie Kotzen.

killeverything wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 8:10 am Nuno or DeMartini are good choices. When I saw "natural dexterity," I immediately thought of Shrapnel era Richie Kotzen.

Yeah Kotzen is just something else. And then he can sing like Cornell on top of it.

Lynch should get a mention, IMO.

Jason Becker.

Vito Brata...the guy just flowed. The solo in "Wait" showcases this.

RicksPickWrangler wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 5:18 pm Vito Brata...the guy just flowed. The solo in "Wait" showcases this.

Vito was so good and that solo was like he channeled EVH, Eric Johnson and Mozart all in one moment. Breathtaking and easily in my top 5 solos of all time by anyone.

aznsquirt wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 12:13 pm Lynch should get a mention, IMO.

He really should. Around the time of Wicked Sensation his chops were just SHIT HOT. He was pulling off the Yngwie stuff, Rhoads sounding diminished licks, all the Lock and Key licks etc at insane speeds with the craziest fucking circular vibrato I've ever seen. The instructional video he made with Max Norman is absurd.

Paul Gilbert is absolutely amazing, but I don't like Mr. Big at all.

Allan Holdsworth

There are worse answers than Jake E Lee.

Ozzy Stradlin wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:36 pm There are worse answers than Jake E Lee.

I'd definitely put him up there. He did it all without a whammy bar too.

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 9:41 pm Allan Holdsworth

This may be the actual correct answer. All other guitarists boggle at his left hand.


The Paul Gilbert mention is also totally deserving he might be the guy. It's hard to tell when you get at adept as Allan and Paul. They are aliens.


Now that I think about it the guy that Gilbert always bowed down to was Shawn Lane. And he could shred piano as hard as guitar, which I've never seen anyone do.

I thought I read somewhere EVH was a huge Holdsworth fan, dude has a different sound and perspective from the average Joe for sure.

I gotta look up this Shawn Lane dood!!

Is "The most natural dexterity" any different from "list the best shredders of the 80s"?

HottKarl777 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:09 am
Now that I think about it the guy that Gilbert always bowed down to was Shawn Lane. And he could shred piano as hard as guitar, which I've never seen anyone do.

Tony McAlpine is known for being an shredder and an equally accomplished piano player.

Holdsworth's left-hand legato is ridiculous. But, he's not an "80's shredder".

Gotta give some love to Steve Lynch and Jeff Watson. They could shred, and utilize most of their fingers while two-handed tapping. That takes dexterity.

Also, Michael Angelo Batio is ambidextrous.

Dexterity = just look at Paul Gilbert's pinky on his fretting hand whenever he goes into hyper-shred mode. I've never seen a pinky used as much with such speed and articulation. Guys like Warren aren't even on the same planet as him when talking about command of the fretboard, but having said that I'd prefer listen to Warren by a wide margin.

EzyRider wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 6:56 am I thought I read somewhere EVH was a huge Holdsworth fan, dude has a different sound and perspective from the average Joe for sure.

I gotta look up this Shawn Lane dood!!

Don't bother. All hype, no happening.

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:13 pm

EzyRider wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 6:56 am I thought I read somewhere EVH was a huge Holdsworth fan, dude has a different sound and perspective from the average Joe for sure.

I gotta look up this Shawn Lane dood!!

Don't bother. All hype, no happening.

Fuck that. He can phrase very nicely slowly. He is not just a shredder.

https://youtu.be/4naGFSdu38M?feature=shared

Hellbound wrote: ↑Wed Apr 30, 2025 12:38 am

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 1:13 pm

EzyRider wrote: ↑Tue Apr 29, 2025 6:56 am I thought I read somewhere EVH was a huge Holdsworth fan, dude has a different sound and perspective from the average Joe for sure.

I gotta look up this Shawn Lane dood!!

Don't bother. All hype, no happening.

Fuck that. He can phrase very nicely slowly. He is not just a shredder.

https://youtu.be/4naGFSdu38M?feature=shared

I've heard it all. I'm probably as close to an expert on 80s instrumental guitar as you're gonna get. I bought Powers of Ten.