Allan Holdsworth's solo sound - So unique that it's almoust

MorbidDream · #1 11-26-2001, 05:25 AM

Like the topic tells... How the heck he does it. I've heard that he actually keeps he's tone knob on start postition ??? From amp, bass and high also in same position, but mid is full. Can this be true ?

I've looked all Holdsworth forums and there ain't good information in any of them-

nuno · #2 11-26-2001, 08:36 AM

Allan uses many racks taller than the lights above the stage. He plays thru millions midi multiFXs and stuff like.
I think it's impossible to know what does he use to achieve his unique tone.
Also, he changes rig from album to album.
I guess that even his tech doesn't know exactly what Allan uses...

nuno

caprile · #3 11-26-2001, 11:46 AM

i believe he uses a guitar synth. weird tone and weird music.....cool!

boblynch · #4 11-26-2001, 05:09 PM

Allan's constantly tweaked his setup over the years, but I've got a pretty good handle on the various stages of his equipment development. As far as guitar synths, etc., the Synthaxe has remained a steady companion of Allan's. The Roland VG-8/88 sneaks in here and there as well, but almost always in conjunction with the output of one the Carvin Holdsworth models. I'd be happy to detail Allan's signal path for anyone that wants it, but I'd have to know specifics, like what tune, CD, tour, year, etc.

I've brought this up before, but it's important to know if you're after Holdsworth's "tone" in some way. Allan typically uses custom wound Duncan pups on his guitars, even the Carvins. These are NOT the same pups as the "Allan Holdsworth Model" ones. Carvin built the Holdsworths pretty much to Allan's specs, but not entirely. Just because he endoreses their pickups does not mean he uses them or prefers them. Also, you won't find any 500k pots attached to any of Allan's pickups. He uses 250k ones and they help to fatten the sound up. Hope this helps.

ericbrowning · #5 11-26-2001, 10:33 PM

Hey, I was messing around thinking about your question, and I found that you really need quite a lot of midrange to your sound to nail Holdsworth's tone. *I tried 3 amps, all with an Ibanez S-series trying to get a similar tone (to his most recent releases)
Amps:
Budda 1*12 combo : Couldn't get it out of this at all, got a very good vintage-y type distortion, but not as much gain as is needed for Holdsworth esque sustain. Great sounding amp though!
Ampeg SS-140C combo: late 70's amp, solid state, 2 12's. This amp has more than enough gain/sustain, but even with the "Ultra Mid" lol, cranked, and the Treble down nearly all the way, it had way too much treble. *
Crate GFX-65 : This was the surprise of the day; on its 2nd distortion channel, with the Shape knob turned too way to the "midrangey" side and the treble at almost nothing, bass on about 2 or 3, and gain at about 4 it sounded just like Holdsworth! *I blew through some altered licks and other fusion-y things, and it was great! *I used both neck and bridge humbuckers, and they both sounded fantastic. *Now, I have replaced the stock speaker with a Celestion, so that might affect it some, but not too much I imagine. *I cranked the amp up to the level I jam with drummers at, and only had to adjust everything a tad to retain the tone. *So, I don't know if thats any help, but as cheap as Crate amps are, it would be easy to use your regular set up, then switch to a Crate like mine for a Holdsworth sound, if you really wanted to. *It's a very processed sounding amp, which lends itself well to his tone.

MorbidDream · #6 11-27-2001, 01:39 AM

Thanks fellows ! I'm really looking after that holdsworth sound. That Crate GFX-65 thing sounds very interesting. In tought holdsworth uses several different amps and he has always the same sound (not exactly but identifical as "holdsworth" -sound). We are at the moment in studio with my band (Morbid Dream www.saunalahti.fi/~mdream) doing our second demo. I've tested many different sounds for solos, but there was one that I would loved to test, but I couldn't get it... Holdsworth.. :-)

Got to test that GFX-65

germX · #7 11-27-2001, 07:22 PM

of course, currently Mr. Holdsworth is using a certain Yamaha DG amp...

ericbrowning · #8 11-27-2001, 10:02 PM

Right, I haven't tried any DG amps. * I think the GFX-65 surprisingly works not only because it has gobs of gain on tap, but it's got that "Shape" knob, which to the right scoops the mids considerably, and to the left boosts mids and smooths out the treble.