Active Band Man Chats - Kizuhiko’s New Gear from 2021

This time’s theme is "My New Gear of 2021”!

Is it that time again already?

This year flew by so fast.

It really did. Just like last year, I couldn't quite be as active as I wanted to be... and now it's the end of the year before I knew it.

But you still played a lot of live shows, right, Horry?

Yeah, I participated in quite a few. Altogether... I think it was about 45 gigs?

I think I did around 30, combining The Captains, The Showers, and my solo stuff.

That’s a fair number too!

I used to do like 100 gigs a year, you know!

Yeah, there was a time like that...

2021 was such a tough year for in-person live shows! I mainly focused on live streaming instead!

Yep, I’m well aware of that.

I think I did about 200 streams this year!

That’s a lot!

I wanted to try all sorts of new things through that experience.

And that’s where the new gear comes in?

Exactly! Finally getting to the main topic!

It always takes forever to get to the point… Let’s try to keep it tighter next year, yeah? (laughs)

（(ignoring) So yeah, I tried out a bunch of new things. First off—keyboard! The YAMAHA PSS-A50.

That’s the mini keyboard with built-in speakers, right?

Yep! Total beginner, so just learning chords was a struggle!

Gotta start somewhere.

But I even wrote some songs on it.

I see.

And I streamed my practice sessions live too.

You streamed your practice? (laughs) That’s so you.

At first, I put stickers on each key—like A, G, etc.

You really love your stickers, don’t you?

After I had my fun with the keyboard for a while…

“For a while” (laughs). And then?

I took on the ukulele next!

Oh yeah, I remember that. There was a period where you were always wandering around music stores checking out ukuleles. So… what did you end up with?

The Fender GRACE VANDERWAAL SIGNATURE ukulele!

Fender makes ukuleles too, huh?

Yep! And the headstock looks very Fender-like. It’s electric, has a built-in tuner, and of course—I streamed my practice live again.

Again! But I'm no longer a vocalist or a guitarist or whatever list (laughs).

I'm just me!

Yes, yes. That's true.

I'm also a tarot reader!

(ignoring him) But since the ukulele is also a stringed instrument like the guitar, wasn’t it easier than the keyboard?

That's what I thought! But the ukulele has a different number of strings, different tuning, and the strings are made from a different material—so I got totally confused!

Ukuleles have nylon strings… four of them, right?

Exactly. Because I had experience with guitar, it actually made things more confusing. Like, if you play a D chord on the guitar, on the ukulele it becomes a G! If you play an E chord, it’s a Dm on the uke. It’s totally confusing!

I see… that does sound tough. Good job sticking with it.

There are some simple one-finger chords, though.

Oh yeah? Those would be the so-called barre chords, right?

I mean, there are chords you can play just by pressing one spot. Like, play the 3rd fret on the first string, and that’s a C.

Oh?

But honestly, practicing the keyboard helped me grow as a musician, and I really liked the ukulele—for both its sound and how portable it is.

That’s great to hear.

I started composing songs as soon as I learned some simple chords on both instruments. It’s so fun.

That’s what matters most. It’s really admirable how you’ve taken on these new challenges lately.

Oh wait, I forgot one important piece of new gear!

Hm?

A PLAYTECH Flying V!

There it is!

And it’s peachy pink!

I’ve said it a bunch of times, but the color doesn’t matter! (laughs)

But it’s pink, you know…

(ignoring him) You played it at a live show too, right? How was it?

I love it!

Oh, that was quick! (laughs)

I moved the strap pin to fix the neck dive, I like the tone, and above all else… it’s pink!

Enough already! (laughs)

(laughs) But seriously, I wanted better pitch stability, so I swapped out the tuning pegs and had the nut adjusted.

You really put a lot of work into it after buying it. All to make it more stage-ready, huh?

ep! That about wraps up the main new gear I got this year. Next time, you’ve gotta tell me about your new gear, too.

Will do.

Because everything is…?

All for love!