Carlos Santana... forgotten genious?

[horns666]

Santana smokes in this one!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=4Eiq8z4cxLo

[Learn Guitars]

I liked Carlos earlier hits, but his latest efforts are just too much of him stepping all over the vocalists he invites into the recording session.

[MetalMedal II]

I think the earlier you go, the better he gets!

From woodstock:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XnamP4-M9ko&mode=related&search=santana%20carlos%20concert%20live%20jam%20guitar%20soundstage%20latin%20congas%20band%20drums%20magic%20wicked%20tower%20chicago%201977%2077%20legendary

[shredmonster]

Blah. When I hear blah playing I know it's Santana. Talk about a recognizable style and tone - yeah it BLAH.

I actually like his new stuff with other artists. The songs have groove. At least its not repetitive as his old stuff (EXCEPT FOR HIS LEAD PLAYING).
I had about 4 of his albums. Some catchy tunes.

But he certainly is not even in the hunt when it comes to good technical guitar playing.

I like Latin stuff - the minor stuff. So his writing is decent. But thats it.

[RobRR]

I find Santana booring and repetitive.

Signature sound? Well no shit... if I played the same scale with the same guitars and same amps over and over again for 20+ years, youd damn well better believe Id have a "signature" sound too.

[rjohnstone]

[excon]

Santana has been playing and successfuly selling records for closer to 40 years. In fact he is one of the first people to try out and buy one of Randall Smith's first modified Fender Princeton amps. This amp later evolved into the Mesa Boogie MK1. I'm not sure how long Carlos continued using Mesa Boogie's, but I heard he is attributable to Mesa's early success. Does anyone know if he still uses them?

[MetalMedal II]

Santana has been playing and successfuly selling records for closer to 40 years. In fact he is one of the first people to try out and buy one of Randall Smith's first modified Fender Princeton amps. This amp later evolved into the Mesa Boogie MK1. I'm not sure how long Carlos continued using Mesa Boogie's, but I heard he is attributable to Mesa's early success. Does anyone know if he still uses them?

I think Santana is credited to giving the name "Boogie" to it while playing that modifed amp, "this thing boogie's" was the reference used by him. ...better than booger, I guess!

[Mr Metal]

I don't care much for his musical direction, but (as Robert Burns also mentioned) you can recognize the guy's playing in two seconds.........I like his tone also (but again not the recent music).........He seems to make great entertainment in middle-of-the-road please-all corporate parties though

[Norton]

Carlos Santana is very recognizable. You can tell that it's him, just by looking at how much he sucks

[SEEGERMANY]

Come on guys, the guy doesn't suck. He plays a style you might not like, but apparently millions of people do like his playing. "jgcable" is correct in that at times his playing is sloppy, but I can say the same thing about Blackmore, Malmsteen, Lynch, Van Halen, Page, etc, etc.

[hippietim]

I find Santana booring and repetitive.

Signature sound? Well no shit... if I played the same scale with the same guitars and same amps over and over again for 20+ years, youd damn well better believe Id have a "signature" sound too.

You're way wrong here dude. Please get your facts straight. He's been doing that same lame shit for more like 40 years.

[hippietim]

Come on guys, the guy doesn't suck.

Ok, he blows then.

[Norton]

Come on guys, the guy doesn't suck. He plays a style you might not like, but apparently millions of people do like his playing. "jgcable" is correct in that at times his playing is sloppy, but I can say the same thing about Blackmore, Malmsteen, Lynch, Van Halen, Page, etc, etc.

Millions of people love his playing and he sucks. Richie Kotzen plays great,too, but he's not known by millions of people. It's not about the numbers. Numbers only report the marketing success. But gotta admit that, anyone would love to have Santana's career, well, except for Condoleezza Rice. She hates non-white people

[MBreinin]

I think Santana is credited to giving the name "Boogie" to it while playing that modifed amp, "this thing boogie's" was the reference used by him. ...better than booger, I guess!

He plays Dumbles now, apparently. I saw a live thing on HD net recently and I could not see his amp, but he had a single 1x12 wood and wicker Boogie cab up there with him.

Alot of hate for Carlos in this thread. I like him myself and I always have.

Mike