Holdsworth Pickup

[Mincer]

Looking at the specs, a SD Holdsworth pickup is kinda like a JB. His other 'signature' pickup from Carvin is totally different- though he doesn't ever use Carvins live.
You can see a clip of the sound I am looking for here.

Kinda Sax-like. It will be going into a headless guitar as well (maple). Does Allan ever use the SD pickup that bears his name, or was the pickup left over from years ago?

Which current (non-custom) SD pickup can get closest?

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

This article talks a lot about his guitars, pickups, amps, bridges, nuts, even gets down to guitar plugs.
http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/allan-holdsworth/Jan-00/4716

It mentions the SD '59 several times.

I don't know where I read it but I thought his custom SD was based of the jb.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

I thought the Holdsworth was basically a Jb with alnico II mag and dual screw bobbins. I'm guessing the JB with alnico II would get you closest, though the dual screws smooth out the highs and bump up the mids slightly, which probably contributes to his fluid tone.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

BTW, what is the Carvin Holdsworth pickup like? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

What about a Custom Custom? Alnico 2 mag and lots of mids.

BTW you are giving me headless guitar gas.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

well, i own a CC and a JB, and whatever he is using in that clip doesnt sound like either of them.
to my ears, the JB is a lot brighter...the CC is middy-er...his solo tone in that clip is more reedy, i guess...with sustain. maybe it is just his amazing technique.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

I too always tought his Pickup was a JB mode. (A JB with an A magnet and diff pole pieces)

 

[Mincer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

Right, a JB-alike. However, he seems to get a much warmer sound than any JB I have ever heard- esp being a bridge pickup.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

I had a set of the Holdsworth pups from Carvin, and while nice, full and round, they made a high-mid razor sharp edge that didn't set right in the guitar I had them in, and Ibanez AS-120 semi. I went to the Seths for that reason, and the searing edge went away.

 

[PylonRacer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

Right, a JB-alike. However, he seems to get a much warmer sound than any JB I have ever heard- esp being a bridge pickup.

Yes, that is warmer than a JB. I can only get close to that with 250K pots & the tone rolled off. Maybe there's a tone knobin the equation. Is he playing a solid body guitar or hollow?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

the one he normally plays is semi-hollow...actually, closer to hollow body..the pickups are mounted on 2 beams in the body. but most of it is hollow.
he uses just a bridge pickup too.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

Is that his Bill DeLap guitar he is using in that clip? I couldn't find much info on it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

yeah, the DeLap...it is headless, and apparently the carvin fatboy copied the 'twin beam' body thing. the guy only makes a few guitars a year, from what i hear. although i would love a guitar like that with 2 pickups- i wish the carvin model was closer to the guitar allan actually has been playing.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

yeah, the DeLap...it is headless, and apparently the carvin fatboy copied the 'twin beam' body thing. the guy only makes a few guitars a year, from what i hear. although i would love a guitar like that with 2 pickups- i wish the carvin model was closer to the guitar allan actually has been playing.

I read somewhere that Carvin changed it slightly to make it more marketable. Still if you are going to do a sig for someone isn't generally customary to offer their guitar to the people? I guess that is why he isn't playing it much lol.

How good are you wood working skills? Pickup a Carvin chop the headstock and bottom of the guitar and add a Steinberger trem.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

yeah, i wouldnt trust my woodworking skills- also, steinberger parts on the used market are really expensive.
allan did use one of the original composite steinbergers in the mid 80s and sounded great.
he likes the headless designs because they are easy to travel with (they are).

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

I know he prefers headless guitars and has a deal with Bill DeLap; but I have seen several clips with him using his Carvin...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

I had a set of the Holdsworth pups from Carvin, and while nice, full and round, they made a high-mid razor sharp edge that didn't set right in the guitar I had them in, and Ibanez AS-120 semi. I went to the Seths for that reason, and the searing edge went away.

Thanks for the info, bro. Can you compare them to anything else from the Duncan line?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

a jb with an alnico II magnet is as close as youll get without going custom shop. the cc isnt made with the right wire and a stock jb uses the wrong magnet. the pole piece thing will change the tone slightly but it will have less effect than the magnet

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

The new DeMartini custom shop pickup is a JB with an Alnico 2 magnet, no?

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Holdsworth Pickup

The new DeMartini custom shop pickup is a JB with an Alnico 2 magnet, no?

correct but it is still not the same as the ALLAN Holdsworth...