Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

K

Kinight Templar

New member
Hi, I am wondering among the current SD catalog, which bridge humbucker can let me approximate the Allan Holdsworth's later fluid tone as heard here?


Do low to mid-output Alnico 5 units suitable for the job?
I have the setups for approaching Allan's tone. My guitar is Yamaha SBG200.
Thanks!
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

I think he never used his signature pickup.
 
Last edited:
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

I don't think he used the Metal Fatigue, either. The double screw neck 59 is the one. However, Allan's tone is a whole system of things, from his multiple simultaneous delay lines used for his chords (sort of an ultra-rich chorus), to his really unique way of barely picking, so you never hear the attack of the note. He seemed to get his tone with a variety of amps. A truly remarkable player.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

One of the models Holdsworth used at some points was a dual screw coil JB with A2 magnet. But as others have said, he changed what he used, later he likely used his signature Carvin models stock, and I forget what he had in them. Google or Wayback Machine might still know...

But the pickups are the least part of his sound, he frequently used an attenuator to run his amp into a 2nd power amp also set for extra power amp distortion, then finally to a speaker.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

Mincer said:
I don't think he used the Metal Fatigue, either. The double screw neck 59 is the one. However, Allan's tone is a whole system of things, from his multiple simultaneous delay lines used for his chords (sort of an ultra-rich chorus), to his really unique way of barely picking, so you never hear the attack of the note. He seemed to get his tone with a variety of amps. A truly remarkable player.
Click to expand...

Is the double screw version of 59 neck a custom shop thing? I don;t see it on Custom Shop page.
Regardless, after that sound processing, the type of pickup may be kinda irrelevant. However from what I gather, Holdsworth tends to favor humbucker with more mids, am I right?
Here is my setup. Forget the Les Paul, cuz I am not using it for legato playing. If you wonder, it's Yamaha Studio Lord SL400S.

68964005_10158054676891874_1666278346834575360_o.jpg

So, it's guitar->volume pedal ->Yamaha DG Stomp -> Yamaha MagicStomp -> amp's loop. I already have the necessary patches for AH tones. I may hunt another Magicstomp.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

I'm guessing a Carvin/Keisel Holdsworth model humbucker set would be a good place to start. That's what the Holdsworth model guitar he is playing appears to have in it. (Black pickups with black pole pieces)
 
Last edited:
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

He constantly tinkered with sound: pickups, guitars, amps, effects, etc. Live, on some tours, he would use whatever amps the venue provided, so I think he worked hard to take the amp out of his equation. He used up to 6 MagicStomps to get his delay/chorus sounds happening. He had a signature overdrive in the last few years, too, but I still think his sound transcended the gear he used. But for most (all?) of his career, he favored vintage-output pickups. Well, usually just the bridge pickup as he rarely used a neck one.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

Mincer said:
He constantly tinkered with sound: pickups, guitars, amps, effects, etc. Live, on some tours, he would use whatever amps the venue provided, so I think he worked hard to take the amp out of his equation. He used up to 6 MagicStomps to get his delay/chorus sounds happening. He had a signature overdrive in the last few years, too, but I still think his sound transcended the gear he used. But for most (all?) of his career, he favored vintage-output pickups. Well, usually just the bridge pickup as he rarely used a neck one.
Click to expand...

Thanks, then I will go with PAF or APH-1. I won´t go with 6 MagicStomps, just 2 max and DG stomp to make it a Holdsworth Jr. rig......
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

I don't know when the name changed to Metal Fatique but some 20 years ago, it was simply known as the AH-1. I could swear he used it for a time in the 80's. But yeah, he had some pickups from Carvin too that were in the vintage output category.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

Not pickup related, but I have a feeling Holdsworth is one of those dudes who's gear myths contain a lot of BS.

Last year, I saw the band Marbin, who had toured with AH shortly before he died. I was talking to Dani about his setup, and he brought up Allan. Said everybody always talks about his super light strings and super low action, but he'd played Allan's guitar, said it felt like 10s with medium-ish action.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

I saw Holdsworth several times playing live - especially at NAMM shows where I could get up close. I'd say it was all in his hands. When he was with Ibanez, the pickup in his signature model seemed to be the same humbucker used in all the low-end Roadstars that were NOT V-2's. I could never get through the mass of people that surrounded him offstage at a gig or trade show - so I never got to ask him any questions. Pity.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

Allan was a strange guy. He never really liked his tone (or his playing) much, and while he constantly tinkered, I don't think he was ever happy with it. Being something of a super fan (I might have everything he's recorded), I don't think anything I've heard uses a Super Distortion. His sound did get smoother with age, though, and it was absolutely all in his hands.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

JB_From_Hell said:
Not pickup related, but I have a feeling Holdsworth is one of those dudes who's gear myths contain a lot of BS.

Last year, I saw the band Marbin, who had toured with AH shortly before he died. I was talking to Dani about his setup, and he brought up Allan. Said everybody always talks about his super light strings and super low action, but he'd played Allan's guitar, said it felt like 10s with medium-ish action.
Click to expand...

No kidding. For that kind of legato playing I thought 9's and low action are the must. At least that's how I set up my Yamaha SBG200.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

Kinight Templar said:
No kidding. For that kind of legato playing I thought 9's and low action are the must. At least that's how I set up my Yamaha SBG200.
Click to expand...

Dani’s guitar had a pretty aggressive setup, 11s with what most would consider relatively high action. Could’ve just been his frame of reference, but he made it sound like Allan’s setup wasn’t as light as we’ve always heard.
 
Re: Bridge Humbucker for Allan Holdsworth tone

When it comes to Holdsworth, I think pickups were practically irrelevant. He used quite a variety, changing them continually. IMO even the amps & effects were not that central to his sound. Sure, he had rich chorus and smooth lead tone. But he would've sounded exactly like himself playing through Robben Ford's rig. Or EVH's.

More so than with just about any other player, the distinctive signature Holdsworth sound was all in his hands and his style.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top