Steve Howe v.s Steve Hackett poll

Here's a quote from Steve...Hackett that is  taken from an article in Classical Guitar (June 2005)

"I find the older I get, the more capable I am of playing quickly, but it's an important gear to avoid. It's important not to keep proving to people that you can play quickly and there is so [much] purely fast playing in rock music nowadays. I prefer the slow, legato line. It's important to learn all the properties of the guitar and an excess of technique doesn't really help you to write a simple tune. I'd rather be a composer than a virtuoso."

In other words, perhaps the two Steve's are not that far apart technique-wise, they just have a slightly different approach to the guitar in general...

Though I do think that Howe very often managed to incorporate virtuosity AND atmospheric musicality in an admirable way during the golden era of Yes (Drama included)

Still, I voted for Mr. Hackett -if only  because he is so far the only guitar player that has managed to reduce me to tears (Firth of Fifth and Hairless Heart)

I don't buy the idea that Steve Hackett is a more emotional player than Steve Howe.... like I said, Steve Howe is one of the most emotive guitar players I have ever heard. There are FEW rock guitarists who play with more emotion than Mr. Howe.

And ladies and gentlemen lets get another thing straight...It is possible to be technically sound AND emotionally fluent.... technique and emotion DO NOT need to be separate!!

Deliriumist wrote: I like Hackett more than Howe - Hackett's technique is better and he seems to be far more educated in the field of music. Howe just plays well and it looks like he's more into that country and rag and jazz thing.

..........What's wrong with the country/ jazz/ rag thing?????????????????

...oh you also forgot that he plays CLASSICAL guitar, BLUES, guitar, ROCK guitar.... he also uses a larger assortment of guitars than Hackett does.

Progger wrote: I have spoken to artists to have played with both and they all said the same thing, 'Howe is the far better player'. Howe's awards in the field are unrivalled. I like Hackett but he was only a 'bit' part player in Genesis with too much inactivity!

A bit partof Genesis?

The atmospheric sound that was trademark of Genesis was created and developed by Hackett, Genesis resisted the departure of their lyricist and most charismatic figure (Peter Gabriel) but the quality went down when Steve left.

Which Howe awards? Howe made 90% of his career in Yes, Hackett has played with almost every Prog' musician and has probably the most solid solo career in Prog.

Iván

Howe is in my avatar right now so I'll vote for him.. but Hackett is definitely better :)

There must be some multiple voting here.

Howe is the better by far, and possibly the greatest guitarist of all time. His versatility and ecclectism are unrivaled.