Me too Steve. I saw a quote from (I think) John Lee Hooker who when asked how to play like him replied "you ain't me - you you" which I've always taken to mean put your own slant on it. I've been through the guitar tab "note for note" approach as I'm sure many others have and I've never been happier playing until I threw it away and just started to do my own thing.

I agree we're all copyists to some degree. That goes for so many folk genres though - for example how many non-Irish love Irish trad, how many shanty singers have sailed etc etc etc. Personally I don't have a problem with it at all.

Hoot - just to add to Rob's query above, do you regard Doc Boggs as a real bluesman?

Country Blues

Pete