Allan Holdsworth and the Dual Rec

[Neptical]

Hey All,

I came back to an article that I've read many times now about how Allan Holdsworth use to use a pre-500 DR and apparently recorded a few albums with it as well. I'm still stumped how he used this amp and was able to obtain those notorious fluid tones he's always had. Was there anything special about his amp? I believe the Boogie Board member Silverwulf has/had one of his DR's so maybe he can chime in. I remember back in the days I use to see him with Studio Pre's and Mark series which is more up his alley for his tones...but a DR? How did that ever work?

~Nep~

 

[fluff191]

Yes Silverwulf did indeed own Holdsworth's personal Dual Recto. Very early model.

PM Silverwulf and ask him about it! He is a totally cool guy and had loads of info.

 

[Neptical]

Thanks, Fluff!

~Nep~

 

[giantstepjoe]

Neptical- love the Dynamic Duo avatar. I have also been curious about the fabled Holdsworth Dual Rec-I never really thought he would use one.

 

[droptrd]

Got any clips or recomended listening?

 

[allphourus]

I'm not sure if this is right concerning his use of the Rectos or not, but in the past he used a device he invented that was manufactured by Rocktron as the Allan Holdsworth Juice Extractor (or something like that). It was market only briefly and discontinued quickly because of fire hazard ( it got very Hot and was a single rack space unit). It was a reactive load box with line out to drive another power amp. It simulated a speaker load allowing high gain, output tube distortion, not a power soak, it actually replaced the speaker with out harm to the amp. I probably have this twisted slightly as it's from vague memory of a Guitar Player Article back in the late 80's or early 90's, but that's the general idea of how he produced his tone.

 

[fusguitar]

Allan used to use rectos back in the early '90s until he switched to Yamaha DGs in mid to late '90s.

He was using exclusively the vintage (orange) channel of the recto, boosted in front with the TC Electronic Line booster and the TC1140 parametric eq in the loop of the recto (before the power amp) to fine tune some frequencies.

He said in an interview that the early recto (pre 500 serial number) was the best amp ever played (...until his same statement for the Hughes & Kettner after the endorsment...)

His cd "None Too Soon" is a fine example how he sounded with rectos. But don't be fooled guys, Holdsworth can make virtual any amp sound like...his sound. For instance his "16 men of tain" cd recorded exclusively with the Yamaha DG-80 amp and his sound is also remarkable (to my ears)

Here is a pic from an early '90s gig with the recto for leads and a Fender for cleans.
http://img6.imageshack.us/i/holdsworthrig06.jpg/

 

[domct203]

That's a 3-channel head in that pic, are you sure it's from the early 90's?

Dom

 

[fusguitar]

No, i'm not sure. Maybe this is a rented amp for a gig that Allan couldn't bring his amp.
But i know for sure that Holdsworth uses extensively the recto in early 90's, as i used to be active member on his forum (before it's turned down).

I am a big fan of him and i study in depth his gear (and his music) over the years.

I used to have the Roadster and it's vintage channel is really close to this sound...well ok, if you can play some of his extraterrestrial lines... :mrgreen:

p.s.: i don't know the recto version history but this pic must be at most mid '90s because after that period Allan switched to DG's, (and never turn back as far as i know), first the DG1000 head and then the DG-80 combo.

 

[giantstepjoe]

Great pic. Too bad its not close enough to see how it's dialed in. Not that it matters though Holdsworth would sound killer through a Line 6 Spider.

 

[fluff191]

p.s.: i don't know the recto version history but this pic must be at most mid '90s because after that period Allan switched to DG's, (and never turn back as far as i know), first the DG1000 head and then the DG-80 combo.

Your dating on that pic must be incorrect then. What Dom is saying is that version of the Rectifier (3 Channel) did not even come out until mid-2000, early 2001ish.

Just trying to keep it accurate 8)

 

[fusguitar]

Great pic. Too bad its not close enough to see how it's dialed in. Not that it matters though Holdsworth would sound killer through a Line 6 Spider.

ok here it is...

GAIN - 2 o'clock
TREBLE - 2 o'clock
MIDDLE - 2 o'clock
BASS - all the way off
PRESENCE - 10 o 'clock
MASTER VOLUME - wherever it sounds good depending on the venue

p.s.: i don't know the recto version history but this pic must be at most mid '90s because after that period Allan switched to DG's, (and never turn back as far as i know), first the DG1000 head and then the DG-80 combo.

Your dating on that pic must be incorrect then. What Dom is saying is that version of the Rectifier (3 Channel) did not even come out until mid-2000, early 2001ish.

Just trying to keep it accurate 8)

Probably you're right...as i said i'm not familiar with the recto history...so, this must be a rented amp for an extra gig or something...

 

[Neptical]

His cd "None Too Soon" is a fine example how he sounded with rectos.

Smokin' album.


Good to see us conversing about AH. I don't see enough talk of this fine player. Keep it going! 8)

~Nep~

 

[fluff191]

ok here it is...

GAIN - 2 o'clock
TREBLE - 2 o'clock
MIDDLE - 2 o'clock
BASS - all the way off
PRESENCE - 10 o 'clock
MASTER VOLUME - wherever it sounds good depending on the venue

I didn't know his tone sounded like an AM radio. :roll:

 

[fusguitar]

ok here it is...

GAIN - 2 o'clock
TREBLE - 2 o'clock
MIDDLE - 2 o'clock
BASS - all the way off
PRESENCE - 10 o 'clock
MASTER VOLUME - wherever it sounds good depending on the venue

I didn't know his tone sounded like an AM radio. :roll:

I don't know what kind of music you like and play mate but try it to your Dual Recto (vintage ch), as i see that you have. The 0 bass is to avoid the muddy and i have to mention that Allan also cuts part of bass before the preamp stage with his TC line driver in front of his amp. The TC also act as a booster.

Try it and crank it up. This setting of course is not to play Meshuggah riffs but more of a warm -flute like- leads.

Also it works better with paf style pups and roll off the tone a bit - like 9 or 8.

The point here is to concentrate to the mids only. Also he cut off - smooth out some treble freq. with an MXR limiter in the loop.

To my ears, Holdsworth has maybe the best tone ever and for sure not "like an AM radio"
As you probably already know eqs on Boogies are different structured and very reactive compared to other amps.

 

[YellowJacket]

ok here it is...

GAIN - 2 o'clock
TREBLE - 2 o'clock
MIDDLE - 2 o'clock
BASS - all the way off
PRESENCE - 10 o 'clock
MASTER VOLUME - wherever it sounds good depending on the venue

I didn't know his tone sounded like an AM radio. :roll:

All depends on the guitar. If you have a guitar like a Les Paul and it comes from one of the trees that puts out epic bass, you'd probably have to dial it right out to get a clear tone. I found that with the Recto cab I really had to drop the bass back or I competed too much with the bass guitar.

 

[giantstepjoe]

Great pic. Too bad its not close enough to see how it's dialed in. Not that it matters though Holdsworth would sound killer through a Line 6 Spider.

ok here it is...

GAIN - 2 o'clock
TREBLE - 2 o'clock
MIDDLE - 2 o'clock
BASS - all the way off
PRESENCE - 10 o 'clock
MASTER VOLUME - wherever it sounds good depending on the venue

LOL- These are nearly my exact settings for the orange channel(Vintage) of my Roadster. The only differences are My Treble is at 2:30, Bass is at 9 o'clock and my Presence is just shy of ten at about 9:30-9:45. I am using vintage output PAF style pickups by Jason Lollar in semi-hollowbody of mahogany and flamed maple.

 

[Silverwulf]

Yep, I owned Holdworth's infamous Revision C as well as a few others that belonged to some rather famous musicians. That one was definitely a good one, but you guys know my feeling on "Pre-500's." I wanted to try it, not keep it...

And yeah, PM or email is the best way to reach me these days until work calms down for a bit. I'll be on more regular in a couple months.

 

[fusguitar]

LOL- These are nearly my exact settings for the orange channel(Vintage) of my Roadster. The only differences are My Treble is at 2:30, Bass is at 9 o'clock and my Presence is just shy of ten at about 9:30-9:45. I am using vintage output PAF style pickups by Jason Lollar in semi-hollowbody of mahogany and flamed maple.

This is funny, really...i had EXACTLY the same settings on my Roadster! To me, this was the sweet spot for my leads...lol...also with paf pups....

Yep, I owned Holdworth's infamous Revision C as well as a few others that belonged to some rather famous musicians. That one was definitely a good one, but you guys know my feeling on "Pre-500's." I wanted to try it, not keep it...

I never played a pre-500 recto but i would give everything to crank up one... :mrgreen: i only once saw one on ebay but it way too much overpriced if i remember well...

 

[KillerTone]

To see/hear Holdy using his 2 channel Recto just watch his 1992 tutorial video on Youtube.
You will see mesa 4x12 cab as well towards the end...........as in this clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h-MdM7JCGs

My favourite guitarist ever. Genius.