Alan Holdsworth or John McLaughlin??

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   I doubt if the Gom Jabbar could penetrate the thick skin Allan has developed over the years from the jabs by the JM camp. McLaughlin is amazing, we all concur. I have read interviews with JM and he does feel AH is, technically, superior. I also agree that Allan plays something beyond the comprehension of most casual listeners. Of all the duet possibilities out there, this is the one showdown that could prove to be the single most electrical firestorm. I'll side with Allan, tone, originality, emotive quality.... it's all there. 
Just for the Curious: http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/allanshome.htm

Poll Question: To finally set this to bed - is John or Alan the puppy’s pockets?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
John McLaughlin is da best	5	[13.89%]
Alan Holdsworth is not as good as John McLaughlin	2	[5.56%]
John McLaughlin is better than Alan Holdsworth	7	[19.44%]
Holdsworth is fantastic, but McLaughlin has the edge	21	[58.33%]
Alan blubbed when he took the Gom Jabaar, John laughed	1	[2.78%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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Dan Bobrowski Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 02 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5243	Posted: February 17 2004 at 11:22
	I doubt if the Gom Jabbar could penetrate the thick skin Allan has developed over the years from the jabs by the JM camp. McLaughlin is amazing, we all concur. I have read interviews with JM and he does feel AH is, technically, superior. I also agree that Allan plays something beyond the comprehension of most casual listeners. Of all the duet possibilities out there, this is the one showdown that could prove to be the single most electrical firestorm. I'll side with Allan, tone, originality, emotive quality.... it's all there. Just for the Curious: http://www.therealallanholdsworth.com/allanshome.htm

Jim Garten Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Retired Admin & Razor Guru Joined: February 02 2004 Location: South England Status: Offline Points: 14693	Posted: February 17 2004 at 07:17
	That's pretty fair comment Corbet, On a purely technical level, AH could be seen as a superior guitarist, but as far as emotion & feel goes, I'd have to go for JM everytime. I like the quote from JM - reminds me of a track on Zappa's 'shut up & play yer guitar' album - "The Secret Carlos Santana Chord Progression"; with Zappa though, you never knew whether he was playing serious homage, or taking the p - I hope it was the former. This also leads to a couple of mid '70s albums that JM released with Carlos Santana - I've never heard them & would be interested if anyone out there has......
	Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

corbet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 01 2004 Status: Offline Points: 101	Posted: February 17 2004 at 04:36
	haha, I love those "options" Jim. I actually had to stare at it for a few minutes before I figured out why I couldn't seem to pick.... Now, my glorious opinion: John McLaughlin is a masterful guitarist, but, relatively speaking, he comes from the "standard road" and it's not too hard to see what he's doing on the instrument or how he does it. He can rip, for sure, and he definitely has more rhythm hand action than Allan, but most importantly for me, I tend to actually like the musical projects he's involved in without too much reservation. Allan, on the other hand, is a one-of-a-kind guitarist, and a completely unique force in the history of improvisation. He's simply one of the best soloists ever, on any instrument. His technique and imagination are off the charts. McLaughlin himself once said, "if I had any idea what Allan was doing, I'd steal from him! But I don't have a clue" or something like that. ... However, most of Allan's solo albums sound like 80's elevator music -- except with mindblowing solos. DUH. "Secrets" is one of my favorite albums ever, but I would never play it for anyone except another AH fan!! Or maybe a Sade fan. sigh... He just needed some testosterone shots in his diet...

Peter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 31 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9669	Posted: February 16 2004 at 23:19
	I voted for Alan McLaughlin, but John Holdsworth is very very VERY good too!
	"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy.

Alexander Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 02 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 237	Posted: February 16 2004 at 21:36
	Both are fantastic, but I prefer McLaughlin.
	On A Dilemmia Between What I Need & What I Just Want

Gonghobbit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 03 2004 Status: Offline Points: 232	Posted: February 16 2004 at 17:46
	Personally, I think McLaughlin is notably more accomplished than Holdsworth, who of course is excellent himself.
	'This is a local shop, there's nothing for you here'

Redstar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: February 16 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 61	Posted: February 16 2004 at 16:48
	I find it hard to cast a vote in this thread without seeing Fripp's name anywhere on the ballot. A vote between the two names listed is fine, but when you start throwing phrases like "de best ever" into the mix, my conscious won't let me vote honestly without ol' Bob as an option...

Vibrationbaby Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 13 2004 Status: Offline Points: 6898	Posted: February 16 2004 at 10:27
	John McLaughlin is the god of guitar.

Jim Garten Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Retired Admin & Razor Guru Joined: February 02 2004 Location: South England Status: Offline Points: 14693	Posted: February 16 2004 at 07:24
	Please note, this is a totally unbiased and objective, honest poll to truly discover who in the group's opinion is the greater guitarist; John McLaughlin (all praise to him from whom all blessings come), or ..... the other one.
	Jon Lord 1941 - 2012