Active Band Man Chats - The Desire-for-Gear Edition Part 2

What’s today’s theme this time?

What could it be?

Continuing from last time—let’s list our wish lists!

Last time it was your wish list, so this time… is it mine?

Exactly!

Hmm… I don’t think I have that many… I’m worried this won’t work as a topic…

Don’t worry! You definitely have some!

You’re awfully positive about this, huh? (laughs)

Yep! Just look deep, deep inside your heart, okay?

Uh… right…

But! There’s a condition!

This time it’s electric stringed instruments only, right?

Yes! And here’s the important part — these are only current products handled by Sound House!

So we can immediately link it to purchasing, right!

Yes! Yes!

No, seriously, I don’t have that many. I can cover things with what I already have…

It’s fine! You can use an unlimited (imaginary) budget!

Okay then… I’ll venture into the jungle known as the Sound House catalog…! (Several minutes later…)

Welcome back, horry! How many did you find?

…I found eight, sir!

More than me! (laughs) Well, let’s go through them one by one.

Let’s start with the classics.

FENDER / American Professional II Jazz Bass Olympic White

Fender, huh! As expected—Horry’s favorite is the Jazz Bass!

Yeah… I had a brief period when I used a Precision Bass, but I always come back to the Jazz Bass. Sound House has tons of Jazz Basses, but when I tried this one before, the neck felt really good… It says “Slim C-shape neck.” I wonder if it’s different from the others? I chose this based on that impression.

And the color is white?

Yes. I’ve never used a white bass before… so I went with white on purpose!

And next…?

Another Fender. A Mustang Bass.

FENDER / Player Mustang Bass PJ Aged Natural

Oh, cool! Natural with aged processing!

There are several Mustang variations, but this one has PJ pickups, so…

You’re right. Mustangs are mostly P-type, but this one also has a J added.

Maybe because I’m more of a Jazz Bass guy than a P-Bass guy, but I tend to choose ones with two pickups (laughs). And since this model also has a pickup selector, I went with this eon.

The neck is short-scale, right? That would make it easy even for guitarists to play…

The next one is a bit unusual, too.

FENDER / Troy Sanders Jaguar Bass Silverburst (Jaguar Bass)

A Jaguar Bass! And it’s Troy Sanders’ signature model?

He’s a member of Mastodon. I’d actually been interested in Jaguar Basses for a while. I just never mentioned it.

Why didn’t you say so… how cold of you (laughs).

No particular reason (laughs).

Oh, there’s a battery pack on the back. Looks like it’s for the onboard preamp.

Yeah, that seems convenient to use. Next up is Fender’s sub-brand.

SQUIER / Classic Vibe Bass VI Black

Ah! This is perfect for guitarists! I want it!

Easy there, tiger. This time, you’re supposed to keep your gear-desire in check, remember?

Okaaay

This one has six strings and is tuned an octave below a guitar. I guess it’s kind of an instrument between a guitar and a bass? I’ve been interested in it for a while… and lately, there are some reasonably priced ones.

And it has a tremolo arm!

Yep! Bass guitars normally don’t have arms. I really want it… even though I probably wouldn’t have a chance to use it (laughs). So, are we at the halfway point?

What’s next?

The next three are all Ibanez.

Whoa, three out of eight are Ibanez! That’s an impressive ratio!

Ratio? (laughs) First up:
Ibanez / EHB1505-PLF Headless Bass

Five strings! Finally! And it’s headless, too!

Yep! It’s headless! I’ve been interested in this ever since it came out. I want one someday… and while I’m at it, maybe five strings wouldn’t be bad. I’ve never played a multi-string bass in my life. This one seems to have a good price, too.

True. I don’t associate you with multi-string basses. Even Ted doesn’t have one.

Right. Ibanez has a lot of options for headless models, and you can even choose multi-scale frets… but that seemed a bit scary, so I avoided it.

Multi-scale… that’s the fanned fret type, right? Scary?

Well, I’ve never played one… I hear you get used to it quickly, but I went with the standard parallel scale just in case. Next up…

Ibanez / SDB3-PW

Mirage shape! It’s so gaudy!

Every once in a while… Actually, I used to have this shape before. It was a Greco, though. I gave that one to a relative’s kid… so I’d like to have one again. By the way, I did consider a “Killer Bass” in a weird shape, but that one is short-scale, so I went with this instead.

Oh, it’s the signature of the bassist from Arch Enemy! You pick quite a few signature models, huh?

Hmm… maybe? Some people avoid them because the artist’s style is very strong, but I don’t really mind. I think I like using them deliberately.

I like that kind, too. And the third Ibanez?

Ibanez / AEGB24E-MHS

This is basically an acoustic bass.

Ah, but this time we’re limited to electric-necked instruments! …but, since it’s an electro-acoustic, it’s okay.

Please let it slide (laughs).

Fine then.

Thanks. Sound House has lots of acoustic basses, too, but this one has a finger rest… it just seemed convenient, so I chose it. I just want to try playing it a little. Now, the last one.

NS DESIGN / NXT4 Black Satin

Oh—it’s so sleek and cool!

I thought I would like to have an EUB (electric upright bass) too. I usually use the Ibanez UB-804, but that one has the same scale as a regular electric bass, so I was curious about other EUBs…

This is the same style as the UB-804. It comes with a stand.

Yes. That’s an important point too. I thought this one would let me transition smoothly. I’m also curious about others, like Yamaha’s Silent Bass, for example.

I see. Well, that’s all 8! Let’s wrap it up! Are we sticking with just these 8 for life?

W-well, if you put it that way… I actually am curious about G&L too, but they only have the L-2000 type. If there was an SB-2… that would’ve been 9 in total. So greedy (laughs).

Right? (laughs) By the way, up to this point, the total comes to ¥857,500.

Well… that sounds about right…

Huh? Why is it cheaper than mine even though you have more instruments?

Maybe because the Mustang and the acoustic bass are reasonably priced?

Or rather, Sound House is just a great deal to begin with!

That’s true. Plus, if you buy this many, you can get another one with all the points you’re looking for.

Oh, you’re right! I’ll go look for a 7th one!

W-wait a second! Before you start searching, close this one down (laughs)!

Sorry, sorry. So, everything is…?

For love!