It does. Just use your ears.

Phil is streets ahead of Richie in terms of reliability and dare I say it, technique, these days.

The new songs don't need technique, look at John Shanks for the love of God.

Still doesn't change the fact that Phil is technically a great player, probably more accomplished than Richie. Yes, Richie was able to emote the right feeling with his great playing, there's no doubt about that.
But when the above comment was made I knew it'd be less than 20 minutes before you jump on it :D

PhilX is just the real PhilX. If you don't know his vids for Fretted Americana you should check some of them, it'll give you a good idea! ;)

And you can rest assured that Shanks didn't do it by accident. Predictable, mild-mannered, uncomplelling guitar work that doesn't overpower Jon is his form of unemployment insurance.

I don't hold it against Shanks or Phil that they aren't Richie; I hold it against them that they don't make me miss Richie. I have never believed that Brian Johnson is as good as Bon Scott, but I believe he's done a good enough of preventing me from missing Bon Scott.

The new songs are nothing to do with Phil's technique being better than Richie's these days.

There's people on this board who will probably have a better technique than RS right now.

He is a mess. His repetitive licks and runs and lazy phrasing are obvious to anyone who plays.

He used to be an exceptional player, very clean and had a wonderful sense of melody.

Rolo, I promise you if RS put on a guitar clinic now and challenged Phil X, Phil would embarrass him.

Plenty of players that have been at it for a long period of time have some signature tricks they tend to use often and they also tend to lose some spark, some sense of what made it special at the beginning or peak. Richie is still a great guitar player, what he lacks is consistency and maybe some confidence, but his passion is still there. As for who is better, I believe I read somewhere on here that that's like comparing Eric clapton with Eddie van halen, they're both guitar gods to me, and so are richie and phil. It all boils down to personal preference, Phil is definitely more technically proficient and consistent, but I can't envision him writing something as moving as stranger, that said he's the perfect guitarist for Bon Jovi right now....

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I agree some guitarists do lose their edge - the problem I have with Richie is he is going backwards. He's not plateaued - he's in decline and it is horrible to see. He was my guitar hero.

No doubting Phil isn't of the same calibre as RS in terms of song writing. Richie Sambora between 1986-1998 was exceptional - great guitarist, gifted song writer and a fantastic singer.

The honest truth of the matter is he is currently a very sloppy, lazy guitarist and for that reason alone, he can be judged against someone who stylistically, may be different. He is being judged on basic things, things all professional guitarists should be competent in.

Phil being a faster player wouldn't make him better than Richie - but Phil being much more professional and consistent and way more innovative in his approach to playing, does.

That's how I see it!

richie is a better musician artist guitarist songwriter imo, phil x is more technically accomplished the last 10 years or so...
richies timing chord use harmonies ideas are better imo he just became lazy with time and abussions...if you once were a great musician(not just guitarist)you cant unlearn it...phil x pleasantly impressed me during the last 4 shows but he goes into the axeman / shredder category for me than in the musicians one..