Active Band Man Chats - The Desire-for-Gear Edition

So, what are we doing this time?

mumbling…

Huh?

Mumble mumble…

Hmm?

Mumbl… want…

Speak clearly!

Ah! horry, you were here!?

Is my presence… really that faint? (lol)

No, it’s strong!

Oh? (blush) I’m not that strong, am I?

My material desires are strong! This time we’re checking our material desires!

Checking? What do you mean?

You know how we go to the music store whenever we have free time?

Yes.

And sometimes we end up buying gear on impulse and regret it!

…Yeah, that does happen…

To prevent that, we’re making a list of things we want beforehand!

Huh… a list?… is that really effective?

Well, let’s give it a try. It’s my turn this time!

Go ahead.

And I’m adding conditions!

Right, otherwise there’d be no limit.

This time it’s electric guitars only!

I see.

And this part is important! Only current products sold at Sound House!

So you can buy them right away, right?

Gulp!

I can see right through you.

And the budget is?

Unlimited!

We did that once before, didn’t we? (lol) Feels nostalgic already. Well, it’s an imaginary budget, so go wild!

How many guitars does a person need before their material desires are satisfied…? To find out, our expedition team ventures into the jungle known as the Sound House catalog…!

Please stop with the narration like an old Shōwa-era TV adventure show (lol).

Let’s start with the Fender types.

Going with the classics, huh?

The most standard choice in electric guitar—the Telecaster!

FENDER / American Professional II Telecaster, Maple, BB

Ah, the standard choice. Nice.

I do own a Tele Custom, but I want a normal one with two single coils like this! Kinda gives me Ozaki Yutaka vibes!

So that’s the reason, huh (lol).

Next up, the Stratocaster!

You could say it’s the perfected form of the electric guitar. Because of that, there are tons of variations, but…?

My pick is this!

FENDER / Made in Japan 2020 Limited Collection URUSHI Stratocaster

U-Urushi?

I loooove lacquer crafts!

Couldn’t you get a rash or something from it? (lol)

It’s probably fine! Still, it looks so cool. It even has a kind of kintsugi-style finish! And the Made-in-Japan part totally hits my sweet spot!

Huh…

Next, this is essential for Merseybeat—a Rickenbacker!

I see. You’ve been saying for ages that you want a Rickenbacker.

For me, I kinda like the look of the 360!

RICKENBACKER / 360W

The sound is unique too. Personally, I think I associate it more with the 620.

It’s a sound only this one can produce. It covers the areas Fender types can’t.

What’s next?

Duesenberg!

DUESENBERG / DTV-CPL Starplayer TV Creamy Perloid

Not many people have these. They’re pretty rare.

I once saw Shiina Ringo using one and thought, “Someday I want that…”

I see.

I looked it up a bit online — apparently, Duesenberg guitars are based on jazz guitars designed in Germany in the 1950s, and they aim to create functional yet beautiful electric guitars incorporating Art Deco aesthetics! How thrilling!

Well, we do have (an imaginary) budget, so take as many as you want.

Next! My roots! The Fernandes TEJ!

FERNANDES / TEJ Deluxe SUS

That’s the Hotei model shape. A Telecaster with a Concord headstock. That guitar is truly a product of that era…

Exactly! I always admired this silhouette! And this time I’m going with the humbucker + sustainer model!

The 2-single-coil version is unique of course, but the sustainer sound is something you can’t replicate with any other guitar.

Right! Eternal sustain, here I come!

Well, until the battery dies…

Ah! Look closely — it’s discontinued!

Unfortunately…

Guess I’ll have to give up then.

Anything else you want?

Don’t underestimate me! Of course I do!

I figured (monotone).

Just one more!

Go ahead.

The last one is this!

MUSICMAN / Majesty Red Sunrise Ebony

That’s a really unexpected choice.

Really?

You don’t exactly give off a “technical player” vibe…

Don’t underestimate me! (second time)

No, no — I just think you have a different charm, the opposite of technical (lol).

Ahem!

He puffed up! (lol)

Music Man makes the easiest-to-play guitars I’ve ever held! Though I only tried one in a shop.

So the neck and grip suit you, huh.

Probably! Ahem!

He puffed up! (second time)

I was thinking of picking a few Gibson-type humbucker guitars too…

Les Pauls or SG types, right?

Yeah! But if I have a Music Man, that might cover everything.

I see. It seems like it can deliver powerful and versatile tones.

Right?? Ahem!

He puffed up! (third time)

I already have a Flying V, so I think I’m good on Gibson types.

Oh, you’re surprisingly modest on the gear-lust side. But… this is just my personal opinion — Fender types really suit you, kizuhiko. I don’t get much of a Gibson vibe from you… though you do play a Flying V.

You think so? Well, anyway, that’s about it!

No interest in more outlandish guitars?

I already have… my beloved Teisco…

You say that like you’re a one-woman man (lol). So that’s six guitars! Well, one is discontinued, so five! I’m ending the list now! You’re okay living with these five for the rest of your life?

Well, when you put it like that…

Right? (lol) By the way, the total so far is 1,605,100 yen.

Ah! Then I want a studio where I can keep all these guitars and crank up the volume!

Oh, give it a rest (lol).

Yes — and everything is…?

For love!