Ok, so Ive left hundreds of guitarists out..but these two are mainly in debate, as they are constantly clashed together.
Its simple, who do you prefer and why

hendrix because it seemed natural to him

I prefer Clapton, though I love Hendrix and I think hes one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but I prefer Clapton

Hendrix gets my vote as a man who plays a right hand strung guitar left handed has some sort of talent!  You're right pc31, it did seem natural to him and he seemed to have that feel for music.

Clapton is good in his own right, but I think he has too many other artists influences in his head.  Hendrix was free of all that.  Plus he learnt Sgt Peppers in a matter of hours....

Right now I prefer Clapton, but i bet you tommorow Ill prefer Hendrix...actually,I think Hendrix is more talented, I mean didnt he teach himself how to play an upside down guitar because he was left-handed? and theres many other things, see-I just changed my mid right now LOL

LOL, most of these discussions will go like that....

Just realised, I never voted.
Although Hendrix 'felt' the guitar like no one else..and his playing did seem more natural..to the point of him making it all seem very easy, I prefer Claptons playing/style.

I gotta go with Hendrix. I mean all that apprenticeship with the likes of the Isley Brothers and then coming to UK. Genius stroke and just natural as has been said. I feel the slowhand (Clapton) is a more deliberate guitarist.
I always wonder what may have happened had Hendrix worked with the likes of Miles Davis and other great artists. His later stuff (Band of Gypsy's) was showing so much promise for the future.
Plus the fact I do a Hendrix band aswell. lol...Just makes me more familiar with the material. Clapton?....I'm not as educated in but I think I'd always choose the Hendrix.
The bloke just vibed!!!!

lol

I voted for Hendrix, because I just think he's a master of guitar. Clapton is good as well I just prefer Hendrix.

clapton

on guitar level, Hendrix.  However it seems to me that a lot of his songs are similar in sound.  Clapton has a ton of great tunes, so I voted for him

Hendrix big time

Clapton is better and alive

Got a real mix of responses.
I wouldn't have thought, that so many people would be in the 'Clapton-Camp'.

looks like jimi is ahead.
i love when the gods made love.and who else could come up with the name for a song like the stars that play with laughing sams dice.
remember too hendrix had just returned to america.
there was a lot of pressure from people around jimi to get him to act more black so he could attract a fan base he didn't have....

I prefer Clapton today

still jammin to jimi............

Quoted from pc31, posted December 24, 2004, 12:39am at here

looks like jimi is ahead.
i love when the gods made love.and who else could come up with the name for a song like the stars that play with laughing sams dice.
remember too hendrix had just returned to america.
there was a lot of pressure from people around jimi to get him to act more black so he could attract a fan base he didn't have....

Sure was. I love his teamwork with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. They were really onto something. Love Power to Soul. A corker to play aswell. A real workout!!!!!

i no...i love the band of gypsies album...i think jimi's the best.

does any1 think jimi was influenced by the beatles, or the beatles influenced by him?

Yeah, It was natural for everyone to inspire each other.
Peppers was realesed on the friday, and Hendrix performed Sgt Peppers (Track) on the Epstein managed gig on the Sunday..pretty impressive!
So, by that point, it was them basically making music for each other..a real elite circle.

i just cant seem to make a decision lol .. both are outstanding guitar players.. i give both of them the thumbs up ....

i voted for clapton but now i like hendrix better

i voted for clapton becuase i think that he's better

hes not better he may have better music

i think that clapton is better. i like his voice better too.

jimi could really play, but i think i like clapton's work better. i picked clapton.

JEFF BECK is still the greatest rock guitarist, imho.

Ever hear Jimi's cover of "Sunshine of your love"?  He's playing circles around those Clapton licks.

Clapton peaked with Derek and the Dominoes.  Jimi never really had a single peak--he just kept doing something different.  Better?  It's hard to say.  I like him best when he's using a pop song format and blowing it all to hell (like on Electric Ladyland).  I don't think Clapton ever had an Electric Ladyland in him.  He plays songs--solos--Hendrix played pure music.  Something closer to jazz.  

Don't get me wrong I really like them both.  But Jimi's on a whole 'nother plateau.  He and Dylan are probably the only two American popular artists after 1950 who matter for history.  

Jimi was like the Mozart of his day.  Pure music.  Inexhaustible.  Those types don't come along very often.  All these speed players and technical virtuousos don't seem to get the point of Hendrix.  Stevie Ray is about the only one who touched his soul.  Maybe Clapton on "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad".

Quoted from adamzero

Ever hear Jimi's cover of "Sunshine of your love"?  He's playing circles around those Clapton licks.

Clapton peaked with Derek and the Dominoes.  Jimi never really had a single peak--he just kept doing something different.  Better?  It's hard to say.  I like him best when he's using a pop song format and blowing it all to hell (like on Electric Ladyland).  I don't think Clapton ever had an Electric Ladyland in him.  He plays songs--solos--Hendrix played pure music.  Something closer to jazz.  

Don't get me wrong I really like them both.  But Jimi's on a whole 'nother plateau.  He and Dylan are probably the only two American popular artists after 1950 who matter for history.  

Jimi was like the Mozart of his day.  Pure music.  Inexhaustible.  Those types don't come along very often.  All these speed players and technical virtuousos don't seem to get the point of Hendrix.  Stevie Ray is about the only one who touched his soul.  Maybe Clapton on "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad".

i agree with you 100%  

wow its tied

I love clapton, but Hendirx was left handed, and thats just insane to play a guitar with.

not really, i say hes a genius for playing the gui, left handed!

what's so amazing about playing a guitar left-handed?

Quoted from lennonlemon

what's so amazing about playing a guitar left-handed?

at that time it was(like the 60's), not anymore..

It is kinda cool to see them playing leftie. Just cuz it's so rare. Not too many lefties around.

i'm left handed but i play a right-handed bass. much like paul played a left handed but was right handed for everything else.

Ambidextrous?

Quoted from Mairi

Ambidextrous?

no, i do everything left-handed except when it comes to hockey and my bass.

Little Wing vs Crossroads

I think the only fair way to compare the two is when they were contemporaries, say from late '66 through mid '70 since Jimi died in September, and during those years I have to say they ran neck and neck (no pun intended), though I have to say I give Jimi the nod because he was so innovative. That's not to say EC wasn't-hardly the case-but Jimi was doing everything from straight acoustic blues to his sonic-axis-whateverthehell.  I always thought it was cool that with Paul in attendance at one of Jimi's gigs, Jimi did 'Sergeant Pepper's' two days after the album was released and blew him away.