Guitars duel to the death!!!

OK, hypothetical sitaution here....

I'm sure that at one time or another most of us have seen the film Crossroads (No, not the Brittany Spears flick), You know the one, The Karate Kid-vs-the Devil. And if you know the film you probably remember the "Cuttin' Heads" scene where the Karate Kid takes on "Scratch" (Steve Via) in a lick for lick guitar shootout. Of course Macchio wins because he's not playin' the tele, Ry Cooder is off camera (another tread entirely).

Anyway, I digress, Weigh in on this......

Big Dave Gilmour -vs- Mark Knopfler........

Who wins?????

Tough one. Knopfler on speed, Gilmour on tone and feeling. But I can't say that I've heard too much of Knopfler's work.

Dave wins, hands down. I like Dire Straits, and Mark Knopfler does rock, but David Gilmour is just a so much more awsome guitar player - IMHO.

I'm with the Guy in not having heard enough Knopfler to make a fair comparison. But hey, David wins just out of Floydy loyalty.

Tough, indeed. Two different styles...both have done some jaw-dropping stuff.....Both have great tone and feel, though I think Knopfler uses a greater variety of tones and textures; whereas I can always tell it's Dave playing when I hear it.......ARRGHH!

I'm flipping a coin....heads Dave; tails, Mark......

Heads. Big Dave.

Dave, no questions asked. Like already stated, Knopfler is great, but Dave...is just awesome.

As Stratman said...it is a VERY close contest in my opinion.

Technically speaking Knopfler is probably the better guitarist...hell the guy doesn't use a pick (all finger work I'm told). And he can certainly play like greased lightning when the urge takes him.

As far "feel" and emotion...well that's almost a dead tie. Knopfler's well placed use of volume peddle to "introduce" some some of the notes he play adds an element of painful beauty to some of his more noteworthy solos (eg Local Hero, or Brothers In Arms). But of course we all know BDG can tug on the heart strings with the guitar strings just as well.

I'd have to say Knopfler...maybe...just

When Dave did his "online chat" thing a year or more ago, I posted a question asking him what his opinion was of Knopfler's playing (which I thought was a good question...but the pillocks who ran the thing preferred questions like "do you sing in the shower"). I'd still be interested to know what he thinks of Knopfler...and whether they would ever work together (wouldn't that be a treat )

I like both guitarists, and I don't really know which one is better.
Knopfler seems to approach the guitar more like Clapton - using little or no FX, where Gilmour is a 'state of the art' guitarist - playing with a very processed sound.

Santana, Knopfler, Gilmour, Clapton, Beck and Hendrix are my all-time most favourite guitarists, because I extremely like all their styles. Hard to choose - a draw between them all.

I think Big Dave has slightly more hair than Mark Knopfler so he wins by default.

Being you, I would better count them. To me, the hair duel seems like another draw.

Since I posted this thread initially I have tried to sit back and not jump in until now. I gotta say it's a very tough decision for me. Both of these guys are nothing short of amazing. Both are a huge influence on my playing style.

A lot of you have made some very good points about both guys. Dave is more process oriented, uses more effects, and has a very signature sound and style. Mark is more of a "purist" prefering to let the natural tone do the work not the effects boxes. Mark is a much faster picker, but Dave can do more with one note and the appropriate silence thereafter than anyone else.

I have to say I love 'em both and I just can't....no....I won't decide.

Damn it, I live In Utah and if folks out here can have two wifes, I can have both Gilmour and Knopfler.

But, Driven has hit the nail on the head, I'd love to hear them together...

Knopfler said something about wanting "to make a guitar cry and sing"; Gilmour, IMHO, did this to perfection on the Comfortably Numb solo off The Delicate Sound of Thunder album. Tricky question/delightful dilemma- both are a pleasure to listen to. But if you want my choice, casting my loyalty to Pink Floyd aside, Knopfler would outjam Gilmour.

i dont't really familiar with knopfler..
i guess dave.

:o Turncoat! Leave this forum immediately!