Allan Holdsworth and Soft Machine at the 1974 Montreaux Jazz Festival

Watch Allan Holdsworth and Soft Machine play “Floating World/Bundles” at the famous Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1974.  That year, I entered high school; I was 13.  I discovered Mr. Holdsworth’s music when a friend lent me a Betamax tape of his 1984 concert in Tokyo, Japan. 

Way back then, devoid of all the high-tech equipment that are now part of his arsenal (look at him tune up by sticking his ear to his guitar’s body), Allan Holdsworth already had his signature style and sound.  It’s not as refined as it is now, but listening him play those unison lines never fails to amaze me.  Mr. Holdsworth is truly one of the greatest jazz fusion guitarists of all time.

Check out his white Gibson SG.  Aren’t those cartoon character stickers?

Dang, I miss my dark brown MIA Gibson SG Deluxe fitted with a Di Marzio Super Distortion, complete with a rectangular hardcase, manual and a Maxon that’s a clone of the Jordan Bosstone (I only found that out recently).  How much did it everything cost back in 1979 or so? A mere 1,600 pesos, just double the price of a locally made brand-new-but-fake Gibson SG, gadget not included.

I bought the second-hand package from a professional guitarist who played in a dance band.  He told me he had purchased everything brand new in Japan.  I remember very clearly how I marvelled at the kind of paper used for the manual and the fact that the people who built the guitar had affixed their signatures on it in ballpen ink.  I learned a lot from that tiny manual, including what the proper string action of the guitar should be.