How to Dial In "Road Games" by Allan Holdsworth - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Road Games"
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 the Road Games EP (1983). Road Games is an EP (or, according to its vinyl sleeve, a "specially-priced 6-cut mini album") by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, released in 1983 through Warner Bros. 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. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the single pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Road Games" Tone
What guitar did Allan Holdsworth use on "Road Games"?
The guitar on "Road Games" (released 1983) 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 "Road Games" 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 "Road Games" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Road Games" 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 "Road Games" by Allan Holdsworth are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.