My appreciation for John Frusciante

[Dan O]

John Frusciante (of the chili peppers) has gotta be my biggest influence as a guitar player.

I mean, i enjoy listening to the shredding of john petrucci and eric johnson, and so forth...but i can't play that style of music.

However, i can play most, if not everything, that John Frusciante does. His solos are smooth and melodic...something you can sing to. I think he is perfect proof that you dont need to play 4,000 notes per second to write an amazing solo.

Most of the stuff i do as a guitarist spans from something inspired by Frusciante, whether it's a piece from the chili peppers, or something from his solo work. He truly ranks #1 to me, and people like him are half the reason i continue to pick up a guitar every single day.

So yeah, that's my two cents (and i'm not giving any refunds)

[Brian D]

I'm with you Dan. I'm don't consider myself a huge Chile Peppers fan but without a doubt Frusciante's playing stands out when I listen to them. I gave up on being a shredder a long time ago but I can still aspire to be tasty and soulful when I play, and Frusciante is a great role model to me in that regard.

[Dan Desy]

No doubt. I'm not a huge fan either, but I certainly appraciate John's playing. He's the reference for the egde-of-dirty-strat tones. When I back down the volume on my PRS, I wish I could sound like him. Funky and heavy all at once.

[Jo]

No doubt. I'm not a huge fan either, but I certainly appraciate John's playing. He's the reference for the egde-of-dirty-strat tones. When I back down the volume on my PRS, I wish I could sound like him. Funky and heavy all at once.I love the RHCP and JF's playing... but it's his tone that I just can't stand. For instance, on their new song "Fortune Faded" - that intro hook, it sounds yek.... the solo for Californication... a nice solo but it sounds so plinky plonky.

Does that make any sense, that you can like someone's playing and licks, but can't stand their tone?

[Dan Desy]

I love the RHCP and JF's playing... but it's his tone that I just can't stand. For instance, on their new song "Fortune Faded" - that intro hook, it sounds yek.... the solo for Californication... a nice solo but it sounds so plinky plonky.

Does that make any sense, that you can like someone's playing and licks, but can't stand their tone?
It's true that although I never really listened to Californication, I wasn't all that impressed in his tone. I also noticed he's m,oving away from Strats in favor of big jazz-box type guitars.

I was basing my evaluation on older stuff.

[Dan O]

Jo - might wanna take a look at the "live at slane" DVD...i think it's absolutely amazing. I love his tone live, i think it's sometimes hard to believe he can do that with a tele! Also, every single solo on the live DVD is different from the ones on albums. I did read once that John was rather unpleased with the way many of the songs were being produced (by Rick Rubin). Maybe it's somebody else who is altering the tone, and such.


Either way, i still love it!:)

[Dan O]

I also noticed he's m,oving away from Strats in favor of big jazz-box type guitars.

I was basing my evaluation on older stuff.
well, the entire by the way album (except for the track Tear) was recorded with his '62 strat.

Californication (the song, not the album) was recorded using a 1955 Gretch White Falcon, so a different type of sound is expected.

[Jo]

Californication (the song, not the album) was recorded using a 1955 Gretch White Falcon, so a different type of sound is expected.Is that the one he's playing on the "Off The Map" dvd for Californication? I've got that dvd, but only watched it once....

[Jen]

Blood Sugar Sex Magic had a huge infulence on me, and my playing! I remember buying the tab book, and learning every groove and every lick off that album!

I do agree with some of Jo's comments about his tone/playing on some of his latest stuff. I have to say, that until I saw him live with the Chili Peppers (At a KROCK event in NYC back in 99, on the observation deck of the World Trade Center believe it or not)I don't think I had the level of respect and appreciation for his playing that I do now. His tone and playing were flawless, and the band put on a high energy show. He tended to stretch out a bit more live in terms of his playing, took more liberty with his solos,etc. which was cool.

[Dan O]

Is that the one he's playing on the "Off The Map" dvd for Californication? I've got that dvd, but only watched it once....
probably, i know for sure he uses it in the californication video (and live)

i just saw a real '55 White Falcon today, actually!!! It was simply stunning, though i cannot afford the $30,000 price tag:(

[jato]

I thought he was o.k., when I first heard RHCP. I got a glimpse of how good he could be with 'Under the Bridge'. Very Hendrix-y strat work. I dug it.
Then 'One Hot Minute' came along, and I was all into Dave Navarro as the guitarist they should have had all along. I still put that CD in my top 20 of all time. But...it's been bumped down a couple of notches by 'By the Way'.
This is where Frusciante really showed me something. Songwriting prowess, vocal power (especially harmonies) as good as any out there...and he just brought the rest of the band up to a higher level.
In short...he ROCKS! Dude!

Now I gotta go get 'Californication'...how does this CD compare with 'By the Way'?
S.
j

[butterfly]

If you like BTW, you will love Californication as well as the newish DVD live at Slane Castle. IMHO, the DVD captures the peppers as they were on the recent tour perfectly, and you can sense the shift in focus in the band away from Anthony to John.

[Dan O]

Now I gotta go get 'Californication'...how does this CD compare with 'By the Way'?
S.
j
By the way is alot softer in dirrect comparisson. Californication has a bit of a more rock edge to it, with songs like Around the World and Parallel Universe. Californication easily lists as one of my all time favorite albums, and you definately need to get it!!!!!!

(white your at it, pick up the 'live at slane' dvd)

Dude!

[jato]

O.K.
Thanks!

[Dan O]

O.K.
Thanks!
lemme kno what you think of it whenever you pick it up!

I was listening to it in the car today...started at track one right to the very end, loved it all! I did the same with 'by the way' yesterday. Damn i need more roadtrips so i can fit in 'greatest hits' 'mothers milk' and 'blood sugar sex magik'

Cheers!

[Pete]

I actually think that John Frusciante is one of the best guitarists alive today. It's a shame that Anthony Keidis is one of the worst vocalists alive today. And his lyrics are pathetic. He's still writing for the rap/punk band the peppers were 10 years ago. That band is 3/4 great, and 1/4 amatuer.

Pete