[LS]

Hendrix was asked once who was better, him or Clapton. He said

"I'll play a lick, then Eric will play a lick, but Jeff Beck beats us both."

[SkyPilot]

Hendrix was a real dichotomy. He seemed to enjoy tweaking the noses of other fantastic 60's guitar players, but he would later come up to them and befriend them all.

Pete Townshend allegedly went up to him once and asked him if he could have a piece of the guitar that Hendrix set on fire, saying "Jimmy, you're kind of my idol, you know?" Hendrix was said to reply: "Sure, you want me to autograph it for you too...Honkie?"

However, much of that was probably just bravado and razzing. Hendrix was fiercely competitive, but also such an incredible artist. He worked at it also. A former roommate said he practiced guitar all the time. He said even in "the loo" Jimmy would bring the guitar with him and practice. He walked around all the time playing.