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Riff Tone

City Nights

Allan Holdsworth

Guitarjazz1980s

Original Gear

GuitarSteinberger GL2T
AmpYamaha DG80-112 (likely), or Hughes & Kettner Cream Machine (possible), but most likely Yamaha DG series for 'City Nights' studio recording

Amp Settings

gain4.5
bass6

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Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1987 (Sand album). Holdsworth was known to use the Steinberger GL2T with EMG pickups for the Sand album. Amp is likely Yamaha DG80-112 or similar Yamaha solid-state/digital amp, as per era and interviews. No evidence of live rig or different gear for this riff section.

Tone Character(10)
smooth and glassyliquid sustainrounded highsfull-bodied midrangeslightly compressedclear note separationwarm, not brittlesubtle ambiencefast transient responseno harsh breakup

Difficulty

The riff section of 'City Nights' demands advanced chordal knowledge, large finger stretches, and extremely smooth legato technique typical of Holdsworth's style, making it highly challenging for most guitarists.

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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