Active Band Man Chats - Weird Obsessions

What are we talking about this time?

This time, it’s about strange obsessions!

Strange…?

When you’ve been in a band for a long time, you develop your own… you know?

You know…?

Ru… ru… ru

What’s wrong with you?

Ru… ru… ru

From the North?

Ah! A red fox!

I figured you’d say that… but don’t go off on weird tangents (lol)

O-okay.

“Ru”? What is it?

You’ve got your own Lou Thesz, right?

Huh? I don’t quite get it.

You don’t know Lou Thesz, the legendary wrestler?

Sorry… I’m not into pro wrestling at all (awkward laugh)

Then you’ve got your own Lou Reed, right?

Yeah, I do. From the Velvet Underground… wait!

Ah, now I remember! Routine!

You finally got there. That was a long intro again (lol)

Not just routines, but also attention to small parts and details, you know.

Well… yeah, I do have those.

For example?

In terms of specs, I prefer a single volume knob.

Yeah yeah, stuff like that.

I know there’s an opinion that two volume knobs sound better, though…

That’s news to me!

Depending on the band, there are quite a lot of situations where I control the volume during live performances. So I prefer a single volume. Well, if it’s two volumes, I use a volume pedal.

I see, so you need something like a master volume. Thinking in terms of real performance, right. What else?

Let’s see… for the bridge, instead of the kind you find on Fender vintage models, I prefer something more rounded and solid if possible. I tend to pick pretty close to the bridge, so with vintage types, I’ve actually injured my hand from picking too hard… There was even a time when my right hand was covered in blood after a live show (awkward laugh). Lately, I’ve gotten better at controlling it, so that doesn’t really happen anymore though.

That sounds painful… In that case, it’s safer if the grub screws that adjust the saddle height don’t stick out, right?

Yeah, ideally… but I think to some extent it can’t be helped, and vintage types are good in their own way too. It’s not an absolute requirement.

Nooo, I don’t want horry’s craftsman hands getting hurt.

Thank you (monotone)

Any preferences outside of the guitar itself?

Hmm… on my pedalboard, I guess I put the tuner at the end.

Yeah, that’s how you do it. For troubleshooting. It’s a reasonable approach, I get it.

But I think that’s a minority position for tuner placement. Probably. You put yours first, right?

That’s just how I’ve always done it for years, with no other reason. I just feel more comfortable stepping on it with my right foot.

I see. There are all kinds of reasons. What about the guitar itself?

I like plastic tuning pegs (the turning part).

They’re cute. But I prefer something more solid.

I like matching headstocks.

So the body and head are the same color.

Yeah! That’s not a concern for headless-lover Holy though.

True! No matching color on headless… but I do own some with matching headstocks. If it’s an option, I’ll choose it.

If it has a head, that is…

Like shrimp? (lol)

Also, I like unusual position marker inlays.

I get it… but it feels expensive. Why not go with a rose pattern someday?

I’ll take that idea!

He took it…! (lol)

One volume and one tone is enough for guitar controls.

Oh, we share the same preference for one volume.

Too many knobs just get confusing!

That sounds very much like you. What about accessories?

I prefer cloth-covered cables from the effects to the amp. You can tape them to the stage floor, and they come off clean. For plugs, I like ones covered in rubber or similar rather than exposed metal. Plastic is fine too!

I’m not really a fan of cloth-covered cables… I feel like they’re not as easy to handle.

You like softer cables, right, horry?

Yeah. Though not too soft. As for plugs, I switch between L-shaped and straight depending on the gear. I think I mentioned it before, but I try to use L-shaped plugs at the input and output of the board.

That’s very detailed! So craftsman-like!

Also, maybe it’s not a preference but more of a personality thing… you put stickers on your guitar quite a bit, don’t you?

Yeah! I love putting stickers on! Especially on the back of the neck.

What’s the idea behind that?

I put them around the 5th and 12th frets! So I can get to them quickly!

How many years have you been playing guitar?…

Over 20 years!

He said it! Proudly! (lol)

ahem!

He’s bragging! But I get it. It’s actually pretty useful. I probably wouldn’t do it though (lol). I don’t put stickers on at all.

Back in the day, I even had a sticker with my PHS number on it.

Huh?

Like, “If found, please call this number.”

PHS?

That was the era! Anyway, to wrap up, here’s a routine and a life hack.

Oh, I want to hear that.

Run the cable once between the strap and the body before plugging it into the guitar jack.

It makes it harder for the plug to come out. That’s essential, right?

Exactly! I learned it from Igarashi, who was great at guitar back in high school, and I’ve stuck with it ever since. It’s simple, but important!

But you can’t do that with the Xvive wireless transmitter you’re using now…

Oomf, sharp!

That’s not sharp… anyone can see that (lol)

Here’s another similar life hack! Take the cable from the effects board, run it behind the amp, loop it through the amp handle, then plug it into the amp’s input jack.

You plug it in from above the amp, right? That also makes it harder to come out. If the cable just hangs down after plugging in, even though it’s slight, the weight of the cable puts stress on the jack. So it’s better to reduce that load as much as possible… I do that too.

Yep!

After doing this for years, you naturally pick up little tricks to reduce trouble.

Yeah! I guess the things you care about change depending on the guitar you use. Like, “If it’s a Gibson-style, then this!” I’d also like to hear preferences from other styles different from what you usually use!

Yeah, that would be a good learning experience. But… if you talk too much about these preferences, people might think you’re being “too picky”…

Hm?

The other day I was talking with a fan, and they said they read my column about cases… and then they told me, “You’re really particular about the details.” The nuance of that was… you know (awkward laugh)

I see (lol). Not “meticulous,” but more like “too nitpicky!” (lol) But it can’t be helped. It bothers you, after all!

Well, yeah (lol). Oh, and one last thing! These kinds of preferences aren’t about what’s right or wrong—it’s just “this is what works for me,” so I don’t want people to misunderstand.

Exactly. Everyone should gain experience and find their own unique preferences. So, in the end, everything is…?

For love!