Holdsworth tone

A few people say the original sans amp is good for the holdsworth tone, ask around at:

www.therealallanholdsworth.com/forum

They seem to know just about everything about Mr. Holdsworth.

 

These were both recorded with the original sans amp
The first also was pushed a touch more with an AC Booster



http://www.harryj.net/wank mix4.mp3



http://www.harryj.net/tele_blues.mp3

Harry Jacobson
www.harryj.net

 

I'd look into the Demeter FOD. Holdsworth uses active electronics in his guitars, and always has that huge mid to his tone. The FOD has the Demeter active mid boost, and the OD just puts it over the top. If I didn't already have so many great boosters and ODs right now, I'd buy one. Instead, I still plan on buying the mid boost.

 

Are you sure about this?

Every time I've seen AH's guitars they had Seymour Duncans and passive eq, even the Steinbergers.

 

Correct,Allan Holdsworth does not use active electronics in his guitars,he likes passive wiring,the mid "hump" comes from post eq on the amp,and rolling the tone/volume knob back on the guitar

 

Holdsworth has never used pedals for overdrive, so it's not the easiest call... While I prefer amp overdrive, the V-Stack has proven versatile/invaluable... As mentioned, Tech21 does indeed make some great stuff.

 

I could have SWORN they were EMGs in the Holdsworth video. I must be getting something confused. My bad.

 

He DID use EMGs for a while on his "Secrets" album but he doesn't strictly use active pickups. Now he uses a custom Duncan pickup (custom as in custom shop, not the production model duncan.) It's similar to the 59 although it has two rows of screws and it is slightly underwound (putting a regular 59 neck pickup in the bridge would get you a similar output) and I've also heard that the magnets are A2 but some people say it's A5 (chip on the Holdsworth forums will know.)

 

holdsworth is also a big 're-amper' kinda guy, ain't he? ... mic'ing a 'cab in a box' then adding effects to the mic'd signal before sending it off ... not the kinda thing you'd get in a pedal

t4d

 

In a recent article, he says he tours just using Yamaha DG stomps into rented amps. it sounded like he helped develop some of the delays that Yamaha is using in those pedals.

 

Ask Red Planet.

 

Holdsworth is using THD stuff nowadays.

 

I heard him a while back and I posted about it here, including details of his rig:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/64176

 

this pedal gets pretty close:

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=223

i'm not sure the clips show that, but i've noticed the similarities in person. it's a great ped for stoopit money!


ml

 

MI Audio Blue Boy. Surprisingly close, if you want it to be. (I didn't get it for that, but it's in there)

 

Wasn't Holdsworth using a THD something-or-other in there occasionally for his awesome sound?

 

Hi guys,

I'm a big Holdsworth fan, and I've had the pleasure of seeing him about 10 times here in Sydney. Australia. I got interested in tone as a result of the stunning sounds he produces. The guy's from another planet!

At the end of the day, I'm starting to think that it's in the fingers! Equipment helps, but if you think about it, Allan has often used the strangest equipment, and often things that you wouldn't associate with his type of playing. I mean, come on, throughout the 90's, he was using a 'nu-metal' amp (dual recto)!!! How many jazz fusion guys use a dual recto!?

Next, he went on to use a digital modelling amp (Yamaha), to another tube amp (THD univalve), and has recently started mucking around with the vox modelling unit!!! The one constant is Allan.

In terms of my pedals, I think the Tube Zone might be a bit closer than the Blue Boy,... it's a bit tighter and more focused. Just don't go nuts on the gain!

 

ah, forgot about the tube zone. one of the clips on the miaudio site nails his tone.


ml

 

Yeah, that was cool. Very nice tones on that pedal.