[dizong]

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I put both Page and Clapton above Hendrix.

Page was better at: Composing, performing, showmanship, soloing, changing gears, and better with the acoustic, and bow-playing.

Hendrix was great at what he did, I'll admit, but he had many less dimensions than did Page. Most great guitarists just say Hendrix was the bomb and better than them because he a) is dead b) was American and c) was black. That's right I said it.

If the grim reaper showed up and said I have to pick a guitarist to compose and perform a good enough rock song to keep me alive, I'd pick Page everytime over Hendrix. Unless the reaper was wearing a Mariners hat or something.

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Where do you come up with this stuff about dead, American, and black? You think Clapton, Townshend, Vaughan, Santana, et al are thinking about these very things when they acknowledge Hendrix's genius?

I think many today underestimate or forget just how powerful Hendrix's innovations in technique were back then. We take them for granted nowadays, i.e. his ability to control feedback, use the whammy bar, wah pedal, various effects, etc. Sure he didn't invent these things but he just took these elements to an entirely different level, much of which has yet to be replicated. Not to mention that his showmanship is on par to that of Page's; whomever you think had "better" showmanship is a matter of stylistic preference (playing guitar with your teeth vs. playing with a violin bow in a laser light pyramid).

Look at my avatar, I'm a huge Page fan. He is quite diverse in his style and composing ability. But I don't think you've listened to enough Hendrix... check out some of his Band of Gypsys and live stuff. There are tons of bootlegs and outtakes out there which reveal his true virtuosity and are only just now coming to light to the masses...