Building Brilliance: Mark Kiesel on working with Allan Holdsworth

[@BobGuido]

Allan Holdsworth is the reason why Carvin / Kiesel make headless guitars.

[@nogbadthebad2609]

Having the greatest electric guitarist of all time on your books for so long says it all about Kiesel really. I think I am right in saying that this is the longest that Allan worked with anyone (20 years+). We all miss him so much.

[@Calbertone]

Holdsworth was a genius and you were the perfect partner to create some of the best and most innovative instruments. I have a fatboy and that guitar sounds so much bigger than it is, with gorgeous well defined tones. Thank you Mr Kiesel for making music history and a fantastic guitar making company

[@jbognap]

I love my H2T. I actually had Allan sign it. It's so light and resonant.

[@garygatti-guitarist777]

Thank you, Mark for showing us this glimpse into the build process of Allan’s guitars. Kiesel is always on the cutting edge! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@fusionhar]

Thank you Mark......nobody comes close to his Astounding Approach and Beautiful Chordal playing. Miss him so much.

[@vaughnkavon3993]

I have a Carvin "Holdsworth" guitar. Pure Tone from a one of a kind type of instrument. Beautiful design and beautiful sound.

[@x3a3x3]

You should do more videos talking about all your experiences and designs Mark, that was a very nice video, i could hear you talking about guitars and pickups all day!

[@JesseMichel]

More videos with Mark! Such a great speaker

[@garygatti-guitarist777]

Holdsworth is the Greatest of all time!! ❤

[@brettgarsed]

Wonderful story to hear Mark, thank you! And thank you for making amazing guitars for the most amazing guitarist who ever lived.

[@IncompletenessTheorem]

Incredible to see how many specs that are Kiesel staples today came about from collaborating with Allan! This is also a testament to Mark's brilliance in being willing and able to make it happen. Hope more of Allan's models are brought back. Either as limited runs, or permanent additions. Would also be cool to see his logo as a 12th fret inlay (the circular one with spokes on it) Though, i'm sure it's closely guarded by copyright.

[@thomasbreene893]

Sorry, Jeff: You're very cool, but your dad is SUPER-COOL. The generational knowledge your family has accrued is amazing. And to put it in service of arguably the greatest guitarist who has ever lived says a lot about you all, I would humbly argue. Cheers!

[@marcorogani3977]

I really miss this legend

[@SmartAlec77]

Great to Hear these stories from Mark!!! Living legend!!!!

[@leddygee1896]

Allan's playing on Soft Machine's album from 1974 entitled "Bundles" is staggering to me. And I don't even play guitar! I'm just a fan of jammin' good music, And this album is it... Oh, And EVH regarded Holdsworth as a GOD! RIP Maestro...

[@cortical1]

Thanks for talking about this! Love for Allan's body of work is as strong as ever worldwide. We appreciate hearing about the history of your collaboration with him.

[@kjhellfire]

Wouldn't mind seeing more videos like this. Mark is a fountain of knowledge. Passing that on though a series would be nice.

[@tc9716]

Thank you, Mark, for this detailed explanation. You have made many guitarists dreams come true with these amazing guitars. I love my HH guitars!

[@Arcnaught]

Allan continues to inspire me. It was fascinating to hear how he contributed to design of the modern guitar. The Holdsworth pickups sound fantastic in my Leia.

[@jfo3000]

Speaking of his contribution to modern guitar design...Holdsworth put buckers in a Strat years before Eddie. Also had a custom made neck in that Strat. Eddie borrowed quite a bit from The Big Boss.

[@lefujyou]

We have the same birthday August 6 Hiroshima day. What an incredible and inspirational musician one of the greats I bought one of his guitars when he passed away I can’t put it down. I don’t play anything like him style wise, but always was inspired by him. Love and miss him.❤️☮️✨Lefuj

[@JimDewdGuitars]

Thanks for sharing Mark! What an amazing story of an incredible guitar player and human! ❤

[@greatgooglymoogly]

So nice to see Mark breakdown Carvin and Allans history. I had a nice chat with Mark about this very subject. I had the original H22 pickups and a Fatboy. Got to play the latest headless model with the new pickups. To me this is the culmination of their work together.

[@pythonflying]

That was awesome. I got one of the first HH2X models from 2012, my fav guitar. RIP Allan.

[@guitarman45.]

Mark you were always a pleasure to work with in the 70s and 80s you always aimed to please have many many carvin guitars🙂

[@John_Patelis]

Thank you so much Mr. Kiesel for remembering such a Maestro of Maestros, while sharing all the inside information with us disciples of the man!🙏 Utmost respect and what a wonderful plus touching tribute to the one and only 🎸🎼Allan Holdsworth 🎶 Had the honor of seeing him perform live two times and sharing a few very inspiring words along with photos he gracefully allowed to be taken which are cherished for life. He is missed but his Music lives on✨️🫡 P.S. Owner of an original Carvin neck-through/flame-top/Floyd Rose/HSS/Sperzel locking tuners w/graphite nut and ebony fretboard🎸 Elite level instrument⚡️

[@jirikrajnak9047]

Fascinating. Holdsworth's legacy permeates throughout Kiesel's catalogue to this day.

[@philzyqotsa]

More Mark videos please wealth of amazing stories! I am 44 been following the company since the mid nineties so I appreciate the old stories ! You're still badass too Jeff!

[@BobGuido]

Kiesel pickups do sound really great. Especially the Beryllium line. They are very responsive and dynamic under the fingers.

[@ChrisHollandGuitar]

The Beryllium and Holdsworth pickups are definitely the best humbuckers they offer. I have experience with almost all of the Kiesel pickups...I guess I just prefer lower output.

[@alsmith7316]

Great video Kiesel Guitars. Thank you Mark for sharing some of your history with Allan.

[@visog]

Lovely reminiscences and insight. Miss Allan and the music he might have gone on to make your guitars so much - grateful for what we have though.

[@jonm3956]

I seen Allan at the Reopening of the Carvin store in Sacramento, CA back in 2006. He was amazing demoing his new guitar and talking about his technique and life. I had the pleasure of giving Allan and his girlfriend at the time a ride to the Sacramento Airport after the event. He was a really special guy. I'm honored to have met him.

[@glennmichaelthompson4112]

Thanks for the video. I love my Holdsworth Fatboy HF2S. I bought it to celebrate my 51st birthday. Not long after I received delivery, Carvin began offering the Holdworth Headless, which I've been wanting ever since. It just seems life expenses keep getting in the way! Hope to get one at some point before my time's up on this planet! Thanks again for reminiscing about your friend Allan Holdsworth. Great to hear.

[@guitarboomer88]

Thanks for this video. Allan was definitely the best!

[@dadudezpr]

Beautiful thanks for sharing!

[@jacobwisenbach1234]

This was beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing these memories.

[@61stratman]

Thanks for the wonderful touching video for Alan Holdsworth. I obviously didn’t know all these details that went into the making of his signature model. I definitely need to do more research on Kiesel guitars and see which one is for me. Keep up the good work. 🙏

[@DaveStejna]

Fantastic video, thank you for sharing this historic information. The world needs to keep discovering this man’s legacy and unparelleled genius. I was lucky enough to see Alan perform numerous times and as anyone who had the pleasure to do so will attest, it was an absolutely religious experience. You knew while watching and listening to Alan that you were witnessing a one-in-a-hundred year talent. Alan deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of musicians along with the likes of Coltrane, Parker, Davis etc. There is a void without him in this world. A true uncompromising artist who deserves to be studied and remembered.

[@McRocklin]

Brilliant video, thanks for the story, the history and the smile it put on my face.

[@YW86-de5yz]

Thanks for the nice video! You guys really innovated the electric guitar in collaboration with Allan, resulting in some fantastic models. I love my HH2 to pieces, cannot put it down, it’s that good with regards to playability (stellar), dynamics and tone! Only one thing, probably in the name of a whole community of Allan fans: please re-introduce the Fatboy guitar as a regular production model, instead of limited run, please!

[@Mister_Jahn]

Incredible musician... Also Love the Holdsworth pickups on my Vader 7x. Best guitar Ive ever used.

[@andy.pitcher]

beautiful video, thanks dearly for capturing this special history.

[@cecilmusick8629]

So glad to hear you have brought the Fatboy back with the I-Beam suspension, really cool design!!!

[@LivioLamoneamusic]

Thank you very much! I have a HHX, and I love it ❤️

[@dvvelldoom5239]

Thank you for this 👌

[@leegollin4417]

I’m dying to get my AH2. I’m at 10 weeks into the build and getting more and more excited. This video is mocking me!!

[@zerobot75]

this is awesome! good idea to do this, guys!

[@EDWINPIERCE168]

❤

[@777Jonathan777]

Thanks for this sir.

[@tymanngruter1808]

After he played the Godin, Allen played a Kiesel guitar! What a good change.....🎯

[@gadymarcus2362]

Bello/Magnifico.😭✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️

[@pizzaface4079]

Miss you Allan

[@leddygee1896]

Allan was truly a giant in the history of modern guitar playing and compositional structure. Zappa thought he was the $hit back in the day. I wish they both could have worked on a project together, That would have been the ultimate session. maybe an errant track is hiding in the Zappa vault archives somewhere...

[@stringtheoryx]

Terrific insights! Allen had way more structural knowledge of guitars than I thought. I can understand him preferring alder to poplar, but I was always surprised that he didn't prefer mahogany over either. Or even maple, like famed ancient violins and cellos. Any idea why? Also would have thought that the thru-body neck design would maintain all the advantages of internal bracing, heavier neck, etc. That was a surprise.

[@BaroqueBlues]

3:18 I've purchased 4 Allan Holdsworth pickups & all of them were wax dipped, even though it says in the description that they are not..😢

[@pobinr]

My Fatboy is my go to guitar. Sounds great clean too. Well done thank you. I'll get buy a headless Holdsworth Kiesel sometime

[@czzham]

How did the tone and gain stacks on the Nomad and Classic amps evolve? I heard Allan had to do with that as well. Thanks!

[@zoomzoom3950]

No one comes close to Allan's playing.

[@razeshbudhathoki]

"Otherwise known as Jeff's dad "

[@lucmichel7588]

🙏👌👍

[@edlicari3909]

👍👍

[@zipchtkdn7804]

I'd like to get one of these and solid maple. Body

[@cashway0420]

mark and Jeff have the same speech patterns lol

[@spb7883]

I don’t see the Fatboy on the company website.

[@elevenAD]

I regret not buying one, i need to fix that.

[@gkniffen]

So Alan thought "tone wood" mattered too, eh?

[@lex.cordis]

He's certainly forgiven!

[@jfo3000]

It does matter, in the way it sounds and resonates against one's body and responds acoustically, which are all part of the playing experience. Also how easily the guitar will hook-up in feedback. Also the sustain before feedback, ie., not loosing note duration into a mushier wood. There is more to electric guitar than just a pickup sensing the strings. Of course Allan knew all of this and more.

[@A.FoxGuitarman]

I have loved Allan since 1975 and he could have played anything. This is just a bit bollo and the typical wanky nonsense that YT proliferates. OMG the wrong coloured wire, give me a break! Total bollo. Yeah, Keisel thought these were so great they never made another one!

[@ifly65]

Awesome Mark. Great info. The opposite of what I would have guessed. Grover Jackson has similar stories.

[@neaippehtuuppin]

This is terribly interesting. lol