Active Band Man Chats - My New Additions for the First Half of 2023

So, what’s today’s topic?

Gah!

Gah?

Gahhh!

Huh? What’s got you so worked up?

New gear!

Ah, I see... It’s time for new gear talk, isn’t it?

Exactly!

Picked up anything cool lately?

Just a little bit. Since we’re halfway through the year, I figured I’d do a quick roundup of my new gear from the first half of 2023.

Ah, the tradition.

For me, it’s mostly been small stuff.

Kyser / KGEB

A capo? That’s not something a bassist like me is super familiar with.

Yeah, it’s an electric guitar-specific Kyser capo! Up until now, I’d been using my acoustic capo for electric guitar, but I finally got one designed for electric.

Electric-specific? I didn’t even realize capos could differ between acoustic and electric guitars. So, how does it perform?

I haven’t used it on stage yet... Just tested it at home. According to the description, it doesn’t clamp down too tightly.

Makes sense—acoustics need more force to press down the strings. A lighter tension would keep your tuning stable and prevent the notes from going sharp.

Right, and I imagine if you measured it super precisely, the tuning would be a lot more stable!

“Measured super precisely”? Anyone using an acoustic capo on electric might want to give this a try. Plus, it’s affordable, so it’s an easy upgrade.

Next up, this! A tool kit.

CruzTOOLS / GrooveTech Guitar/Bass Multi-Tool

It’s surprisingly important.

Yeah! I used to get by with cheap ones from the dollar store, but I wanted something more reliable.

You can’t underestimate the dollar store these days. This multi-tool comes with hex keys for both metric and imperial measurements, which is super handy. Guitars and basses often use a mix of both systems, so having this one tool could save you a lot of trouble. Plus, it’s compact.

Next, something even smaller—a windscreen.

CLASSIC PRO / MWS-B

And it’s in a pretty plain color.

This isn’t exactly gear, more like an accessory. I bought it for infection control purposes. When you put it on a rental mic, it just makes you feel more at ease.

Just my personal opinion, of course. Most studios are on top of infection control these days, but hey, it’s all about the peace of mind.

That’s right. Next up, a Telecaster bridge saddle.

Graphtech / PS-8163-00

It’s rare for you to buy parts.

As I reported in a previous post, the screw on the Telecaster bridge saddle got stuck, so I ended up replacing the whole thing. The CruzTOOLS set came in handy!

Glad to hear that. You really can’t go wrong with handy tools. So, how was it?

I really like this material and Graphtech. I feel like the chords ring out bright and clearly.

So it really does make a difference depending on the material. And at a reasonable price, it’s worth trying out. Plus, it’s easy to switch back to the original if needed.

Also, my new gear, or rather, new goods, is just a pick.

Master 8 Japan / Infinix Hard Polish Triangle - 0.8mm [IFHPR-TR080]

It has great features like anti-slip and good thickness, but...

But?

In the end, I always come back to this one. It’s cheap!

ESP / PD-H10 / Y

You love yellow picks!

Right? It was kind of unintentional or just a coincidence. So that’s it for my 2023 mid-year gear! Honestly, I haven’t bought much.

Yeah, mostly small items...

As for pedals, I’ve been getting them from my friend and builder at euphoricguitars, so I’m good for now.

I see. But there must be something else you want, right?

Well, if I were to buy something in the second half of the year... it would probably be for my new board.

One Control / Minimal Series Tuner MKII with BJF Buffer

This looks great, doesn’t it? I’m interested in it too. I love tuners!

You do, don’t you? I’m building a new board, and I need a smaller tuner. This one seems compact but still easy to read! And it looks like the buffer could be really good too.

It’s from a trusted brand, after all.

And for my own place...

ZOOM / MS-50G Multi Stomp Multi Effects Processor

Huh? Didn’t you already have one?

I have the Bluetooth version, but I want to keep that on my board. This one is for quick use at home as a multi-effects unit.

That’s a good idea. I’ve been wanting to build a home board too.

Next, an electro-acoustic guitar.

Valencia / VC304CE

You’ve got quite a few things you want, huh?

I do!

And you’ve been saying for a while now that you want a nylon guitar.

I’ve always wanted one. I need to get one first!

Good luck! The first one you get often becomes the benchmark for the rest. It’s surprising how affordable some are, though.

It’s a buy, I guess. It’s been a while since I bought a guitar.

It’s a buy, indeed. I’m looking forward to the second half of this year!

Speaking of guitars, Horry, didn’t you new-gear a guitar recently?

“New-gear” as a verb?

“New-gearing”?

Yes, yes. Well, recently I got two guitars...

Oh, so now it’s your turn!

Got it. So, recently I got a bass and a guitar as new gear... for use at my mother’s house.

For your mother’s house!

Yeah, I’ve been going back to my hometown in Yamaguchi about once every two months. There are a few reasons, like my mom being alone. I usually stay for about a week, but I end up with a lot of free time. You know, in the countryside, there’s not much to do, right?

True...

I do have a few basses at my mother’s house, though.

Oh, you do!?

The condition is a bit questionable, so I wanted to get something that could actually be played properly, which is why I bought these.

Not just a bass, but a guitar too?

Yeah... I thought it would be good to have a string instrument around for checking chords. These days, you can use apps to check chords, though. Anyway, it’s also for killing time.

I see.

First, I got a bass, and I went with a 5-string. It’s the Yamaha TRBX305.

Yamaha / TRBX305 WH

Trustworthy Yamaha!

I could have gone with a 4-string, but recently there’s been more demand for 5-string basses, so I thought practicing with a 5-string at my mother’s house would help me get used to it. Plus, this one is super affordable, right?

Oh, you’re right! It looks good functionally too!

But it’s really solid. Honestly, I was surprised by the quality of the build. The sound is also very well-balanced. It’s under 50,000 yen at Sound House, and for that price, the quality is amazing. I truly felt the excellence of Japanese-made products.

Japan!

This one has a Performance EQ with a 5-way switch, and it’s fantastic. You can instantly switch between 5 preset EQs, which is super useful. It could really come in handy for live performances if I get the hang of it.

I see—very thoughtful feature! You’re really praising it.

If I’m being picky, it would be great if I could customize these presets... but that’s truly a luxury at this price. Still, this bass is really good. I don’t have it with me right now since I’m in Tokyo, but I might buy one for here too. The first bass I ever had was also a Yamaha, so I guess it’s like a return to my roots. Or maybe not!

Even buying two would be under 100,000 yen...

So, for the guitar, it’s this one: Aria Pro II’s MAC-STD.

Aria Pro II / MAC-STD Metallic Red Shade

This one has great cost effectiveness... I envy young players today.

You want to say that, right? SSH pickup layout with a tremolo arm, and it’s under 20,000 yen?!

At first, the tuning didn’t stay stable, and I started to worry, like, “Did I make a mistake?”

Ah, the classic “buy cheap, buy twice” scenario?

Exactly. But it stabilized quickly, so it wasn’t a problem. Honestly, I can’t tell the difference between a good and bad guitar, but for playing at home, it’s more than enough. I’m satisfied.

Is that it? Your comments are shorter compared to the Yamaha bass!

I told you, I don’t know much about guitars. What I can say is that it’s excellent value for money. As I said earlier, it’s truly a great Japanese product. And the other item is the NUX Mighty Air, which I mentioned in my new gear predictions for this year. I actually went ahead and got it. Good job!

NUX / Mighty Air

Good job, good job.

It’s a compact amp. This one was great too. The standout features are the wireless functionality and rechargeable battery, which free you from the hassle of cables. No need for a power cable or shielded cable.

I remember back in the day when mini amps used to take those 9V square batteries and you’d plug in those skinny cables.

Right... and this one sounds good too. It’s a modeling amp, and the presets are excellent. There are a few effects you can use at once, which is a bit of a drawback, but with the price, that’s a luxury to ask for. Oh, and it also has a simple drum machine. Perfect for practice.

Impressive. I can see why it’s so popular.

And you can control the presets and built-in drum machine with a smartphone, right? Using an app. I was pretty surprised by that, too.

Amazingly surprising, right?

I didn’t go that far.

It’s becoming more common lately, right? Being able to control parameters with an app. When I think back to when we started, it feels like a totally different era.

Yeah... and this one can be used for both guitar and bass... so it’s also for the home. So, those are the three new gears for the first half of the year. In the end, they’re all for my mother’s place.

For a two-location lifestyle? That sounds cool!

Is it cool? Even the Prince used to leave his guitar at my place for a while. The Prince wasn’t living a two-location lifestyle, more like a multi-location lifestyle with tours and all... rather than a prince, you’re more like a…

A backpacker...? Who’s the rootless one!? Fun, fun new gear! So, everything is?

For love!