Andy Summers vs. The Edge?

[WildRanger]

Which guitarist do you like better/appreciate more and why?

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Andy Summers, and it's not close.

[wolfking]

Andy Summers, and it's not close.

This.

[DTA]

I'm only familiar with Andy's Police output of 5 albums, while Edge has 40 years of U2 evolving through a multitude of styles and trends so it's gotta be The Edge purely for the variety.

[HOF]

I'm only familiar with Andy's Police output of 5 albums, while Edge has 40 years of U2 evolving through a multitude of styles and trends so it's gotta be The Edge purely for the variety.

I’m in the same boat in terms of familiarity. Both are unique and interesting guitarists, but I’m just much more familiar with The Edge.

[Stadler]

The Edge, and IT'S not even close.

[WildRanger]

The Edge, and IT'S not even close.

How it's not even close?

[Stadler]

The Edge, and IT'S not even close.

How it's not even close?

I think The Edge is a better guitar player, all things considered, than Andy Summers.   He's written, played, and produced some of the greatest music of the 21st century.   

[pg1067]

I'm not voting because my familiarity with these guys extends to only about two albums total of material, about half of which I don't like.

But this is one of the stranger WRanger polls simply because The Police existed for only six years and five albums, while U2 has existed for over 40 years and 14 (studio) albums.  Even if one is supposed to consider whatever work Summers and Evans did outside the context of the Police and U2, it doesn't look to me like Summers did much of anything notable since the Police broke up.

[hefdaddy42]

For pure technical ability, I'm voting for Summers, but this is a really weird comparison.

[Nekov]

I agree with Hef. From a technical standpoint Andy is better.
However, I think The Edge has an amazing understanding of how to use the guitar to create amazing sounds. I remember watching a video where he explained how he mixed sound effects and distortions for a specific riff. What he was playing on the guitar was by no means complex, but the sound that came out of the speakers was unbelievable.

[KevShmev]

The Edge, and IT'S not even close.

How it's not even close?

I think The Edge is a better guitar player, all things considered, than Andy Summers.   He's written, played, and produced some of the greatest music of the 21st century.

Agreed.  I like the playing of Summers a lot, but The Edge is on a whole other planet, if for no other reason that the fact that he basically wrote the music and arrangement to Where the Streets Have No Name on his own.

[Elite]

How The Edge is not winning this poll in a landslide is absolutely beyond me. From a guitar standpoint, the guy has single-handedly changed the way guitars are played and could sound in a band context using digital effects. He has a voice of his own on the instrument and has used that to great effect in a band with a career spanning 4 decades.

[Kram]

How The Edge is not winning this poll in a landslide is absolutely beyond me. From a guitar standpoint, the guy has single-handedly changed the way guitars are played and could sound in a band context using digital effects. He has a voice of his own on the instrument and has used that to great effect in a band with a career spanning 4 decades.

I agree.  But I'm guessing many are considering Summers a better "technical" player - like he can play a better solo or something.  But there's a lot more to it than that, as you've pointed out.  And I'd contend neither are good "soloists", as far as my tastes go.  Overall the Edge has had more of an impact on the instrument than Summers.

[Orbert]

To be fair, the question wasn't who you consider a better technical player, or soloist, or even who's had more of an impact overall.  It was simply "Which guitarist do you like better/appreciate more and why?"

I voted for Andy just because I like his work with The Police more than the few U2 songs I've heard that I actually like.

[hefdaddy42]

Exactly.  I mean, I like the Edge, and I respect what he's done in the field.

But on average, I'd rather listen to the Police than listen to U2.