How to Dial In "City Nights" by Allan Holdsworth - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "City Nights"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Secrets (1989). His sixth studio album, produced by Allan Holdsworth and recorded at Front Page Recorders, Music Grinder and The Brewery in California, it was released on 6 November 1989. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Carvin Allan Holdsworth HF2 through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, the nearest rig to the one documented for Allan Holdsworth, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "City Nights" Tone
What guitar did Allan Holdsworth use on "City Nights"?
The guitar on "City Nights" (released 1989) isn't documented; the Carvin Allan Holdsworth HF2 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: single pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "City Nights" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5, Presence 4.5, Volume 5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "City Nights" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "City Nights" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "City Nights" by Allan Holdsworth are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.