Best blues guitarist, Clapton or Green

Voodoochile, the people you lump together as old school cover a huge range. I would argue that the leap from Robert Johnson to Albert King is far greater than that from Albert/B.B. to Eric Clapton. For the vast majority of his long career EC is clearly a rocker, but in his youth with John Mayall and later the Immediate All-Stars (Jimmy Page et. al.) showed him to be an accomplished and significant blues artist. The fact that Clapton currently doesn't play with the intensity he had when he was 19 shouldn't be held against him.

What about Duane Allman? True he is classed as a great rock & roll guitar player, but he could make that Les Paul of his cry "wit da blues" in a lot of his live performances; especially just before his untimely passing. IMHO, his licks were far sweeter and poignant that anything Clapton was doing in those days. The first time I went to see Eric Clapton in 1975 or so as a headliner, he had Ben E. King as a sideman playing with him. When Clapton hit the stage he was so intoxicated all he could do was keep roaring: "I'm so f***ing drunk". Thank God Ben E. was there to handle the guitar chores. It wasn't until 6 or 7 years later when I caved, and went to see him playing lead guitar for Roger Waters on his Pros and Cons of Hitchiking tour did I get to see what he is capable of. All in all, while I dont't believe Duane Allman to be the "best" blues player, he could dust Eric Clapton any old day.

Onhwy61,

Im talking more about music itself more so than age..
I really think those people i mentioned are the blues.

Im also a big Jimmy Page fan... He was heavily influenced
from blues also... But is he a blues man? Not in my book..
Just like EC.

Bottom line personally Im glad that there are MANY
different styles and variations.. I just think some are
more truthful to the roots.

For me SRV is probably the hardest too play he played the
guitar with so much emotion... Its really the funnest to
play also..

Happy holidays to everyone!

Voodoochile, who said anything about age? I was referring to their individual guitar styles. To call Clapton "watered down" is an extreme statement. "Have You Heard" the Mayall/Clapton Beano album?

Onhwy61,

I misread your post... about the age thing.

I have never been that impressed with EC thats just my opinion. I think he is a VERY GOOD guitarist but not that
great. If you do... Then great.. Im sure you would disagree
with some of my pics and thats fine with me...

Im not sure if i have heard the Mayall/Clapton Beano album
but i will make a point to pick it up... I do have an open
mind and im not out to put anyone down. I respect most who
play the instrument because it is not an easy one... I also
respect that you have your own opinion just like me.