Active Band Man Chats - My New Gear 2022 First Half Edition

So, what’s on the agenda today? ■

New gear from the first half of the year!

Didn’t we do that in April? If we’re talking about the ‘first half’, we should be doing this around July, right? Why April... and now September?

Because it’s autumn, the season of art? Mumble, mumble... And, you bought more, didn’t you?

Well, yeah, I did. What about you, Kizuhiko?

Gulp

Alright, Kizuhiko, you’re up. Confess!

Umm, I bought a guitar.

Oh, a new axe! Nice.

I bought a Squier Jazzmaster.

You’ve been saying you wanted a Jazzmaster for a while. So, you finally got one?

It was such a good deal!

Was it second-hand?

Yeah, and super cheap! I was cautious, wondering if something might be wrong with it, so I gave it a careful test...

And how did it go?

It felt perfect!

Did it now?

I really liked the neck grip!

Ah, I get that. The neck grip is actually really important. You can understand some things just by looking, but the feel is something you only get when you actually hold it.

Exactly. Sometimes online, they’ll show things like U-shape or V-shape, but you really need to grip it yourself.

True.

Before I started The Captains, I was using a Fender Japan Jazzmaster in my previous band. And when I held this one, it just brought back memories!

I know that feeling. The grip of the first guitar or bass you play tends to influence your preferences later on. It’s kind of like an imprint. For me, my first bass was a Yamaha Motion, so I ended up preferring the Jazz Bass grip over the Precision Bass.

Oh, so that Yamaha was more like a Jazz Bass?

Yeah, more or less. Although, it’s probably closest to a Les Paul bass, out of all the ones I’ve played.

I also really like the tone of the Jazzmaster!

Of course, that’s another crucial point!

And this Squier model doesn’t have a tremolo arm.

Don’t they usually have one?

Yeah, but I barely use it anyway! And without it, tuning is more stable, so that’s a plus. After some research, I found out it’s a model called the Deluxe Jazzmaster ST.

Right, if you don’t use the arm, it’s better not to have it.

I actually swapped out the bridge on my old Jazzmaster for a Tune-O-Matic.

Did you now? So, you liked it enough that...

I bought it!

Of course you did. I feel like I was there when that happened, too!

You’re not wrong about that!

I’ve already used it at a Show Words’ gig. How’s it been?

Great!

That’s what matters. With Show Words’ sound, it’s more about just being able to get a powerful sound out there rather than tone nuance.

It worked out well, right?

Yeah, I think it has enough thickness even for a three-piece band without sounding too thin, and it has just the right amount of wildness to match your style.

Maybe it’s because of the aluminum pickguard, but it has a unique tone! It’s a little sharper than a regular Jazzmaster, almost like it squeals right before feedback!

Squeals, huh? Not sure what you mean, but as long as you like it!

Yeah! I think it’ll be my main guitar for the Show Words, but it could be fun to use it for The Captains, too.

It is a 60s-era design, so it wouldn’t feel out of place.

Plus, the color!

Hmm?

It’s The Captains’ color!

Oh, I see where you’re going with this... Matching the guitar to the band colors, huh?

What colors are used in the costume for The Captains?

The Captains’ costumes are red with gold trim and black accents, right?

Well, so is this Jazzmaster!

Ahh, I get it now. The guitar and the costume share the same colors.

Here it is!

Well, it’s a bit too much, maybe? Matching your guitar to your outfit might be over the top.

But that’s the way I live!

Right... (deadpan) Being over the top is kind of The Captains’ thing, after all.

Did you say something?

Nope, not a thing. What else have you got for new gear?

Well, I did a big overhaul on my pedalboard for The Captains.

Oh! You’re always upgrading your pedalboard, though.

But this time, I didn’t change the pedals, just the case!

That’s it?

As I mentioned before, I wanted to fit my guitar effects, mic preamp, and wireless mic receiver all in one board!

Oh, you did mention that.

So, I bought a big case and packed everything in there! I even measured everything ahead of time.

Smart.

So, this case is my new gear!

Well, I guess that counts.

It’s more about convenience for transportation, though.

You used to have separate cases for guitar pedals, wireless mics, and the mic preamp, right?

Exactly. Now that everything’s in one case, it’s heavier but way easier to carry, and the bandmates love it!

Portability is key for a gigging band.

Next up is something small and unremarkable...

Unremarkable? Go ahead.

It’s a drink holder!

Wait, for the gear van?

No, for the mic stand!
CLASSIC PRO / CPCH

I see! I’ve seen people who had it.

They had one at the rehearsal studio, and I thought it was so convenient that I got one for myself.

That’s definitely something a live band would appreciate.

I used to put my drink on the floor during shows, but now I don’t have to bend down to pick it up!

Yeah, it’s a pain to crouch down, especially as we get older.

No more kneeling for me!

As a prince should!

Plus, my drink shows up nicely on camera during streams!

Is that important?

Of course! The Captains’ stage drink is SunAlps water!

Okay...

The Captains provided the commercial jingle for the commercial of this delicious water from Sunaga Corporation!

Oh, it’s important then...

SunAlps, SunAlps, pure pure water!

Sunaga!

Gulp gulp, delicious knockout! All for love!

Okay, stop padding out the word count with this! Is that all the new gear?

That’s about it... Oh, wait, I also got a clip-on tuner.

Which one?

This! The Snark!
Snark / SN-1X

Snark?

I hadn’t heard of the brand either, but it’s super easy to use!

Hmm, I don’t use clip-on tuners much, but I’m sure they have their differences.

That’s pretty much it for me! How about you, Horry?

Me? I don’t think I’ve bought that much... Let me check...

Take a look back!

Hmm... After I purchased my 5-string Ibanez bass... four items maybe.

Confess!

First is a reverb pedal, TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2.

Looks good! And it’s red.

Yes, it’s red lol. This one’s for my electric upright bass (EUB). I used to use a chorus in some parts, but I thought reverb would create a better vibe.

And how’s it going?

I’ve tested it out a bit, and TC’s pedals seem to handle bass well. I think this one’s the easiest to use among several pedals in the series.

Because it’s red?

Yes, yes. Because it’s red (deadpan).

What’s the difference between the models in that series?

Basically, just the number of knobs. The more knobs, the finer the adjustments, but I’m happy with this three-knob version. Oh, by the way, looking at the Sound House website, the one-knob model is sold out, and the three-knob version is out of stock as well. Must be popular!
→ List of Hall of Fame Pedals

Gotcha. Guitarists might prefer more knobs for reverb.

They do tend to be particular about reverb. Next is the BBE Sonic Stomp, model MS-92.
BBE / Sonic Stomp MS92 Bass Effects Pedal

Another one?

Yeah, another one. It’s my second.

Because it’s red?

No! I just wanted one on each of my pedalboards.

Like adding ginger to your beef bowl?

No, I don’t do that!

But you really like this one.

Yeah, I trust it. It’s so simple to use with just two knobs: one for highs and one for lows. I highly recommend it to other bassists.

Got it!

And next is the Sonic Research ST-300. A tuner.
Sonic Research / ST-300MINI

Another tuner? Don’t you have enough?

I do! But I saw someone say that “this one is great for tuning an EUB,” and it caught my interest. It’s a bit pricey for a tuner, and it had been out of stock at Sound House for a while, so I ended up looking for a used one and got it.

How is it?

The precision is amazing. In fact, it’s so precise that it’s almost impossible to tune perfectly.

Huh?

Even the manual suggests settling for ‘close enough’. But it’s definitely made me more particular about the pitch when playing the EUB.

Harsh!

Lastly, the TDC-YOU 006 Bass Driver. It’s a distortion pedal.

I’ve heard it’s really good!

Oh, but I’m also using it like a preamp. I keep it on all the time. I feel like I use it to add some distortion. When I add distortion with this, the sound really cuts through.

Hmm.

I’ve seen it used on various people’s boards, and I’ve been curious about it. A lot of people seem to keep it on, so I thought it must be good.

I succumbed to my gear lust.

I did! I can be surprisingly easily influenced, too...

That kind of trendy enthusiasm is important for enjoying gear.

That’s right. At this point, that’s all. And...

And...? Is there more?

Well, there’s the HAO RUST Ride, which is a distortion pedal for bass...

That’s the distortion you mentioned in this column before, right?

Yes. The RUST Ride isn’t in production anymore, so I asked an acquaintance to make a similar type of distortion for me... I currently have two made, including a prototype.

Wow!

I’ve already used it for gigs, but I think it needs a bit more adjustment. Can I include this in my new gear?

I think it’s fine! So, everything is?

In the name of love!