Better guitarist?

Subjective, I know. Play along.

Takasaki-san

I'll go with Takasaki.

Akira for me. I love yngwie but his overplaying kind of ruins the song for me.

I can't get by the whole Yngwie is a wanker factor, so I'll take Akira and his more humble self. Both are very talented, but the personality behind the guitar is important.

Neither, both get repetitive.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Neither, both get repetitive.

WTF are you talking about, DH? You are banished to Mark Knopfler-land....

I can see that with Yngwie, but Akira? Not at all...

I went with Akira but probably because I've been on a Japanese metal kick this last year or so and so many of the guitarists sound ridiculously good and clearly influenced by the man.

You can't really argue against Yngwie's talent or what he brought to the genre.

Boris2008 wrote:

I went with Akira but probably because I've been on a Japanese metal kick this last year or so and so many of the guitarists sound ridiculously good and clearly influenced by the man.

You can't really argue against Yngwie's talent or what he brought to the genre.

Damn, I LOVE your avatar, Boris!!!!

Yngwie. Hands down.
Rising Force. Marching Out. Trilogy.
Perfection.

Akira but I like me some Yngwie too.

Neither, too boring.

But to pick one, I would go with Akira.

Heavy Metal Ninja wrote:

Yngwie. Hands down.
Rising Force. Marching Out. Trilogy.
Perfection.

My thoughts exactly.

Knopfler land is not a bad place to be.
Both are good guitarists but I find both to be kind of meh to listen to after awhile.

I have been investing a lot into loudness lately and i am really enjoying akira's wizardry.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Knopfler land is not a bad place to be.

It is you know!!

Yngwie by default. Never heard of the Japanese guy...

Troublezone wrote:

Yngwie by default. Never heard of the Japanese guy...

Send me your address. I will send you some loudness from the last 40 years.

Voted Yngwie. Even though both are great.

Yngwie, but only on a technical level, songwriting wise it would be Akira

UNCLE SAXON'S KICKASS CDS wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

Yngwie by default. Never heard of the Japanese guy...

Send me your address.  I will send you some loudness from the last 40 years.

I'll look him up on YouTube.

Malmsteen by far ! I love that STEELER album.
Then Alcatrazz - and all the buzz that was happening about him.
Then those 4 solo albums came out in the 80's.
Saw them both, way back when, far back on the floor. Crowded.
Both were openers, exciting shows, but Malmsteen was a mind blower !
His book was okay. Seems self centered, big time. Drugs.
Now he's clean and a reaL PAIN IN THE NECK ha !

Yngwie was, of course, a genius in his early recordings.

I don't see how Akira would've even been a name if he hadn't been inspired by Yngwie.

Akira Takasaki all the way...while Yngwie is a brilliant guitarist (knows the theory, notes and is highly skilled) I always found him dry, boring and soulless ...his playing does not come from his heart and soul which to me is what makes a good guitarist...I can name many other guitarist that I think are way better guitarist than malmsteen who are not as technically knowledgeable because they play with heart and soul...the music comes from within them and not from their knowledge...