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Topic ClosedJohn McLaughlin vs Allan Holdsworth
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Poll Question: Which guitarist do you prefer?
Poll Choice Votes Poll Statistics
50 [52.63%]
45 [47.37%]
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Tom Ozric View Drop Down
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Points: 15921 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2013 at 05:54
Originally posted by tszirmay tszirmay wrote:

Both are massive talents, John has a high Everest while Alan has the mountain range! Holdsworth for Gazeuse specifically as well as his Ponty work.
Couldn't have said it better myself
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Points: 3242 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 26 2013 at 05:37
Both brilliant guitarists for me. Just wondering, is one more technically proficient than the other (I can't pick)?
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Points: 195 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2013 at 09:42
McLaughlin for me. Then again, it's purely personal taste and not a vote against another great guitarist.
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Points: 3834 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 25 2013 at 09:18
Holdsworth every time, I can't stand John McLaughlin.
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Points: 20624 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 22:42
There should be a both button on this one.
I went with John because the first 2 Mahavishnu lp's knocked me out when I first heard them and still do to this day.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
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Points: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 22:09
Try listening to bello horizonte, 1981, a warm show of the posibilities what a guitar can have, you might dont like it at first, but there are such beaty in his lines
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Points: 6673 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 21:52
Both are massive talents, John has a high Everest while Alan has the mountain range! Holdsworth for Gazeuse specifically as well as his Ponty work.
I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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Points: 213 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 21:43
Originally posted by Capt Fongsby Capt Fongsby wrote:

I absolutely love his playing with Soft Machine, Gong, UK and Bruford, so my vote goes to Holdsworth.


My favorite Soft Machine and Gong albums are the ones he played on, and that turns out to be no coincidence at all. I also loved his playing on "Metal Fatigue" and other later solo albums.

McLaughlin is undoubtedly great, but I haven't found much interest in his post-Mahavishnu recordings.
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dr prog View Drop Down
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Points: 2511 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 16:49
I went with Holdsworth because gazuese and million dollar legs are more enjoyable than Mahavishnu
All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.
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Points: 4596 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 16:46
Tough choice...I like them both for different reasons...I find McLaughlin's soloing more fiery & emotional while Holdsworth's is just drop dead unbelievable, he has to have the most gifted solo technique of any player out there.  Got to meet Holdsworth in '85 at a promo performance he gave at Manhattan Beach Music in LA...he was incredibly nice and humble (as most of the great prog musicians are) so he gets my vote Wink
Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987
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dr prog View Drop Down
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Points: 2511 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 16:39
Holdsworth a bit boring
McLaughlin a bit annoying
Not much of a fan of fusion now. Compositions are a mess usually and there's too many solos. I don't really like violin which is not classical style either
Canterbury fusion and zeuhl is cool though. Has some great melody and colour

Edited by dr prog - October 24 2013 at 16:46
All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock.
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Points: 7251 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 16:13
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Points: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 24 2013 at 16:00
Originally posted by Progosopher Progosopher wrote:

Two of the absolute best.  I think Holdsworth has the better technique, the most identifiable style, the more complex musical tonalities, but his adherence to electric and synthetic abstractions makes a lot of his music sound the same.  McLalughlin is more conventional but also more flexible in what he plays - he has offered us a wider diversity of sounds and styles.  I will choose based on the most recent albums I have purchased by these two giants: McLauhglin's Que Allegria is mostly acoustic.  The music runs from contemplative to high energy, from straight jazz to flamenco, and he is one of the few that can convincingly wail on an acoustic.  I like this album a lot.  On the other hand, Holdsworth's Sixteen Men of Tain has proven a disappointment.  I really cannot tell one track from the other, most of what he does on it he has done countless times before and for once I will accuse him of merely noodling.  The vote goes to St. John.

actually each one is the best in their own; JM on Alternate picking and holdsworth on legato
they both are Coltrane heirs but in diferent ways; you can listen to Sheets of sound on Mclaughlins Playing but you will hear the modal stuff heard in my favorite things, so thouse are very diferent but comes from the same
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Points: 4460 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 18:33
Originally posted by Fox On The Rocks Fox On The Rocks wrote:

Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

I think DiMeola could be holding his ground in this poll as well. 
I'd prolly vote for him.

I was going to add him and maybe even Carlos Santana, but I thought it would be interesting just to see the results for two guitarists, especially theses ones for how celebrated and influential they are. By the way, who did you vote for?
If you're going to add a name you should consider Shawn Lane.
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Points: 5012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 15:47
Originally posted by spknoevl spknoevl wrote:

DiMeola might have been interesting as his technique is on par with AH and JM, however I don't feel he's nearly the groundsbreaking musician they are.   Santana?  I love early Santana, when he had some fire in his playing, but he's simply not on the same level as these guys, either harmonically or technique-wise.  How about John Scofield?  Probably not all that well known in prog circles, but another harmonically gifted player with a unique voice and one who has influenced a generation of jazz guitarists.

I've heard a bit of John Scofield from his work with other musicians such as Miles, Herbie, etc. I think he is an amazing guitarist with a real knack for originality and like you said, chord theory/knowledge. He probably got a lot of influence  from Holdsworth and vice versa. I really like Santana, especially on the album where he collaborated with John. The Coltrane cover is excellent - A Love Supreme.
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Points: 16952 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 09:46
Originally posted by HolyMoly HolyMoly wrote:

Mahavishnu Man
Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Points: 26138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 08:08
Mahavishnu Man
My other avatar is a Porsche

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Points: 296 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 07:52
DiMeola might have been interesting as his technique is on par with AH and JM, however I don't feel he's nearly the groundsbreaking musician they are.   Santana?  I love early Santana, when he had some fire in his playing, but he's simply not on the same level as these guys, either harmonically or technique-wise.  How about John Scofield?  Probably not all that well known in prog circles, but another harmonically gifted player with a unique voice and one who has influenced a generation of jazz guitarists.
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spknoevl View Drop Down
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Points: 296 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 30 2012 at 07:50
2 of the greatest guitarists who ever strapped on the instrument.  Holdsy is absolutely my favorite guitarist - a guy that completely developed a unique style and has the holy trifactor of stunning technique,  a great sound and an advanced harmonic vocabulary.  And yet, one could make the same argument for Johnny Mac.  I have pretty much everything these guys have ever recorded.  Another poll I'm simply not voting in.  I expect JM to win since he's the better known of the two.
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The notes are just an interesting way to get from one silence to the next - Mick Gooderick
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Fox On The Rocks View Drop Down
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Points: 5012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 29 2012 at 22:38
Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

I think DiMeola could be holding his ground in this poll as well. 
I'd prolly vote for him.

I was going to add him and maybe even Carlos Santana, but I thought it would be interesting just to see the results for two guitarists, especially theses ones for how celebrated and influential they are. By the way, who did you vote for?
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