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Vibrationbaby 
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Joined: February 13 2004
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 Topic: Compare and contrast McLaughlin & Holdsworth
Posted: June 01 2006 at 11:55 |
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Discuss from a layman`s viewpoint.
Both are fusion guitar Gods who originated from the UK. I love em both
but I would give the edge to Mclaughlin. His playing is more passionate
while Holdsworth can get so technical that his music becomes
unlistenable at times. I don`t think these guys have ever played
together either. Anybody?
Edited by Vibrationbaby - June 01 2006 at 11:57
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wolf0621
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 12:26 |
I definitely prefer McLaughlin, but also like AH a lot. Here's an interesting article, an interview with both of them for Guitar Player magazine, re: their use of synths:
Quote of note: "MCLAUGHLIN: Yes! Your work on the SynthAxe is nothing short of phenomenal in my opinion. I tried to play one once but I just floundered like a beached whale—and it was a shame because I would like to have been able to get a handle on it. Allan, I’m not flattering you, but you are the standard-bearer on that instrument."
Of course their direct connection is via Tony Williams' Lifetime project, where Holdsworth was hired by Williams as McLaughlin's replacement (in "The New Tony Williams Lifetime") in 1975...
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micky
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 12:27 |
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oh this one is easy...
both leave my jaw on the floor....
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Phil
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 12:47 |
 wolf0621 wrote:
I definitely prefer McLaughlin, but also like AH a lot. |
Nicely put - I agree with that!
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memowakeman
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 13:03 |
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McLauglhin is my choice here, his work with Shatki is amazing.... freaks me out!
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Follow me on twitter @memowakeman
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Chris_Kemp
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 13:03 |
I definitely prefer AH, but also like McLaughlin a lot. 
Edited by Chris_Kemp - June 01 2006 at 13:03
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"That's not your face...it's mine! IT'S MINE!!
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Raff
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 13:47 |
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micky
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 14:00 |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Empathy
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 14:11 |
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They're both pretty astonishing. I do find that McLaughlin can be a tad
sloppy at times, and Holdsworth leaves me a bit cold occasionally.
Holdsworth has one of the most insane legato techniques I've ever seen,
and McLaughlin plays with such intensity, I'm always afraid he's going
to snap something!
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JrKASperov
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 14:47 |
McLaughlin is really uninnovative when improvising, except on acoustic. And Holdsworth cheats by hammeronning lots of his notes, which makes him sound playing faster than he can. My vote goes to.... DiMeola. 
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Epic.
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wolf0621
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 15:09 |
JrKASperov wrote:
McLaughlin is really uninnovative when improvising, except on acoustic. And Holdsworth cheats by hammeronning lots of his notes, which makes him sound playing faster than he can.
My vote goes to....
DiMeola.
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Hmmm...DiMeola cheats by moving his pick really fast, and is uninnovative by drawing on Spanish musical influences that date back hundreds of years...The thread was about comparing/contrasting McLaughlin & Holdsworth, not comparing them to others...
Since when is using hammer-ons & pull-offs considered to be cheating? I guess it would be if AH were paid by the note. In that case, EVH would have to be the biggest cheater in your book, eh? Ooops, just used another comparison!
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Hierophant
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 16:11 |
There is no such thing as cheating in music.
This statement : "And Holdsworth cheats by hammeronning lots of his
notes, which makes him sound playing faster than he can." makes no
sense. If he is playing fast then he obviously can and is playing fast... How exactly is he "deceiving" anyone if what you are hearing is what he is playing? 
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Empathy
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Joined: June 30 2005
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 16:20 |
wolf0621 wrote:
JrKASperov wrote:
McLaughlin is really uninnovative
when improvising, except on acoustic. And Holdsworth cheats by
hammeronning lots of his notes, which makes him sound playing faster
than he can.
My vote goes to....
DiMeola.
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Hmmm...DiMeola cheats by moving his pick really fast, and
is uninnovative by drawing on Spanish musical influences that date back
hundreds of years...The thread was about comparing/contrasting
McLaughlin & Holdsworth, not comparing them to others...
Since when is using hammer-ons & pull-offs considered
to be cheating? I guess it would be if AH were paid by the note. In
that case, EVH would have to be the biggest cheater in your book, eh? Ooops, just used another comparison!
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Wow, you actually give DeepPhreeze a run for his money in "Confrontational Responses 101". 
FWIW, I agree with you in that legato is not "cheating"!
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YYZed
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Joined: April 03 2006
Location: United States
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Points: 282
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 16:22 |
Hierophant wrote:
There is no such thing as cheating in music.
This statement : "And Holdsworth cheats by hammeronning lots of his
notes, which makes him sound playing faster than he can." makes no
sense. If he is playing fast then he obviously can and is playing fast... How exactly is he "deceiving" anyone if what you are hearing is what he is playing?
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I agree 100%. How any technique employed by a human musician on a musical instrument could be cheating is beyond me. Personally I'm split between the two styles. McLaughlin reminds me of a Jazzier and more technical Jimmy Page, as his playing is sloppy at times, likely on purpose. Usually sounds great and is very powerful. He is more of a straight ahead rock guitar player (when playing electic) than Holdsworth is. Holdsworth's legato phrases are awesome. He is obviously very inspired by jazz horn players that have come before him, especially John Colatrane and his "sheets of sound" style. The styles are both cool, and both players are amazing. Also, props for Holdsworth's SynthAxe!
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Empathy
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Joined: June 30 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1864
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 16:45 |
YYZed wrote:
Also, props for Holdsworth's SynthAxe!
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Have you ever had an opportunity to play one? I've heard it takes some getting used to (slight understatement)
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wolf0621
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Joined: April 07 2006
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Points: 264
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 16:59 |
Empathy wrote:
wolf0621 wrote:
JrKASperov wrote:
McLaughlin is really uninnovative when improvising, except on acoustic. And Holdsworth cheats by hammeronning lots of his notes, which makes him sound playing faster than he can.
My vote goes to....
DiMeola.
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Hmmm...DiMeola cheats by moving his pick really fast, and is uninnovative by drawing on Spanish musical influences that date back hundreds of years...The thread was about comparing/contrasting McLaughlin & Holdsworth, not comparing them to others...
Since when is using hammer-ons & pull-offs considered to be cheating? I guess it would be if AH were paid by the note. In that case, EVH would have to be the biggest cheater in your book, eh? Ooops, just used another comparison!
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Wow, you actually give DeepPhreeze a run for his money in "Confrontational Responses 101".
FWIW, I agree with you in that legato is not "cheating"!
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But softened by clever usage of strategically-placed emoticons!
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wolf0621
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Joined: April 07 2006
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 17:07 |
Empathy wrote:
YYZed wrote:
Also, props for Holdsworth's SynthAxe!
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Have you ever had an opportunity to play one? I've heard it takes some getting used to (slight understatement)
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I had the good fortune to try one out, had no clue...The music store trying to sell it also had no one who was familiar with it, but it definitely drew a lot of stares (in the middle of the store)...I don't think they ever actually sold it, just shipped it off to a different store in their chain. From what I recall, it came with a boat-load of processing gear that was required, like a full rack's worth...It also had a tag on it that announced "previously owned by..." Can't recall the owner though, might have been Lee Ritenour...
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Empathy
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 30 2005
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Points: 1864
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 17:17 |
Were you suddenly able to fret those ridiculous spider-like chords that Allan's famous for?
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Dick Heath
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 17:27 |
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When we get this attempted comparison, I'm reminded that pointlessness of these types of threads. Simply nobody can provide a critical analysis explaining why one is better than other, with resorting to technical lnaguage beyong most of us. Otherwise it is personal opinions. Both brilliant both from Yorkshire - not just England.
Edited by Dick Heath - June 01 2006 at 17:31
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Bj-1
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Posted: June 01 2006 at 18:27 |
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I like Holdsworth more though McLaughlin is great too!
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Compare and contrast McLaughlin & Holdsworth
Those who think that Petrucci is God's gift to guitar playing should get an earful of those two... Perhaps there's still time for them to see the light! 
