Great Equipment Bought in 2022 - A Comprehensive Review

※※This is a talk from December 2022.※※

Cheena: Well, I'm sorry that Eru-san is away on business this time.

Parazio: Well, hello to both of you.
The year 2022 has come to an end, and seriously speaking, prices have fluctuated considerably this year due to so many things happening around the world.
Some expensive items that I thought I couldn't afford I bought at prices I didn't expect, and vice versa....
By the way, I bought a bass speaker cabinet EDEN TN1108 Terra Nova Series 8Ω this year at a bargain price!
It’s over-the-top for home and I can't have it.

EDEN / TN110/8

By the way, this is the previous model.
Surprisingly, it was half price, so I was too quick to buy it.
I thought I would leave it unused, but I use it during the daytime on holidays.

Cheena: One 10” speaker is nice.

Nemoto: I once used a combination of this and an Eden amp head, and it sounded great even though it was cheaper than Ampeg and other standard amps.

Parazio: Simple and good. And, it has tweeters. The head is not an Eden, but a Hartke TX300, which I also bought on sale.

HARTKE / TX300 bass amp head

I have an ALBIT A1BP VINTAGE MARK II connected to the return and use it as a preamp.
I use the TX300 as a power amp.

Nemoto: Sounds like a combination that can't go wrong.
The quality of compact amp heads is getting better and better, and it's hard for me to choose just one.

Parazio: How was your year, Nemoto-san?

Nemoto: I think it was the Aristides 050 that I bought during the Black Friday sale.

ARISTIDES / 050 Aluminum

It is easy to play and has a punchy sound that even Fender users can easily transition to.
I feel like I can't get the best out of it if I set it up the way I like it, so I'm wondering if I should adapt it to the instrument or the instrument to me.

Cheena: Here it is...the alloy bass that appeared in the article “Talk about the equipment you want” where I talked about what I want.

Parazio: This is the part where I mistakenly talked about Atlantia and Aristidis lol.
I think the most storable things other than wood would be metal or ceramic.
hey are very logical instruments.
If you consider that the surface of a wood instrument is just a resin finish (paint), you can keep it in very good condition for a long time. Does it also sound rather loud?

Nemoto: It's loud. It has a hollow body, although it has a small volume, which gives it a rich sound. When I knocked on the body to check the sound, I was surprised and said, “This sound is not made of wood. It’s attractive, but I think it’s not suitable for those who want a good Fender sound. I don't think people who want Fender would be interested in it in the first place.

Parazio: I'm intrigued! I'm not really particular about Fender, so I'm uneasy.
I like it. I like that I can make it sound ginormous!
It also has an active circuit, and that seems really easy to use.
By the way, does it feel metallic in your hands?

Nemoto: Surprisingly, not so much. It feels cool and cold, but it’s a normal base to hold.

Parazio: That would be a comfortable change from a regular bass.
You made a good purchase. I'd like to take a look at it.
How was your year this year, Cheena?

Cheena: I ordered some things (I think it's obvious to those who read Twitter...), so I couldn't spend much money this year.
However, I did collect a lot of junk.

If I was told that a guitar with a broken scarf joint, but no bent rods and no scratches on the fretboard was 3000 yen with a case... it’s good, right? (laugh)

Parazio: I see that you have one on order! I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.。
This junk is also very nice! Are the pickups EMG?

Cheena: No, they are Grassroots pickups, passive. 2V2T, but I had to replace them because the pots were too hard and they were spinning no matter how hard I tightened them....

After that, I attached the pickguard. In this picture, I don't think it was chamfered yet.

Parazio: I see.
s for Cheena's big report, do you think we will be able to hear it next year?

Cheena: Yes, probably around February...?

I would like to order one someday, too.
This year I tried to build an electric bass myself, and I honestly felt that just building it like a plastic model does not work the way I wanted it to.
In fact, after working on it, I thought again that you can't be too stingy with things that are sold for less than 100,000 yen.

 

Cheena: There is also the benefit of mass production. The player is also attracted to stories behind instruments that don't appear in mass production. ......

Parazio: Yes, instruments are works of art.
So I think it's something different to talk about looks.
Good ones are good, and I thought that the grade of the wood used is actually very detailed.
Comparing the Alder bass I used to build with the Alder bass I have, I felt it was a little different.
It's not just the appearance, but the sound and mass.
It may be just my imagination, but these differences were one of the first things I noticed when I built it myself.

Nemoto: Wood does not grow in the same way. Some makers choose materials so that they will have the same weight, but if they don't, there can be a difference of almost one kilogram for the same model. Naturally, there is a difference in sound as well.

Parazio: Yes, it’s true that the sound is completely different.
The sound is produced by quality control.
I think the fundamentals of manufacturing are the same everywhere. (Quality is important.)

Nemoto: It's true that if even the smallest details are done well, it gives a sense of security and luxury. I understand the opinion that it has nothing to do with the sound, but personally, I think it's fine.

Parazio: Indeed. But some people say that the sound comes from the logo, so I think the appearance and texture are also important.
I think that the appearance and texture are important, and I think that standard products and high-end products are very solid.
I digress a little, but this Vivie Rhinotes 190 Red Zone has a good sound.
To be honest, I don't think there is any other product that can distort so much without losing the bass.
I think that even Darkglass Electronics has solved a difficult problem! I am very impressed.

Cheena: How did you like the MONOLITH?

Parazio: I bought Papa Goriot Studios (PGS) ADVENT MONOLITH. after learning about it from the YouTuber Tapé's video.
It is very difficult to review, but the word “high quality” fits perfectly.
The sharpness is like Vivie Rhinotes 190 Red Zone or Darkglass stands out and it’s cool! I think it's more of an image of enhancing the current sound and making it higher quality.
I think it’s better to leave it on and use it as a preamplifier than as a jumping-off point.
According to the description, it uses a CMOS circuit. This circuit is similar to the one used in Darkglass, and it’s said to reproduce a sound similar to that of a vacuum tube amp.
So, it has a slightly rounded sound.
I compare the sound of the tube amp with that of the “ALBIT A1BP VINTAGE MARK II,” but I think the CMOS circuit is a little too round compared to the real thing.
But still, the sound that follows the touch of my finger is so good that I have been using it for a long time now.
Also, the mode? The tone can be selected from two types, but there is no extreme difference between them. I really want to check it out in the studio, but I haven't been able to yet.

Nemoto: Looks pretty good. I'm not too familiar with effects pedals, so I'll have to look into it...

Parazio: こEven an amateur like me can understand the quality of this one. The lack of noise is also great.
However, if you don't buy it at the right time, it’s often out of stock.

Nemoto: I see.

Parazio: Did you have any other good purchases, Nemoto-san?

Nemoto: One that I thought was pretty good was a high-end cable from Classic Pro.

CLASSIC PRO / HGC030 High-end instrument cable (shield)

Compared to the standard, the plug is well made, which I like. It sounds like a microphone cable like L4E6S or 1192A. I don't think it's good that high-end cables are straightforward. I think that high-end cables tend to make the good parts of the instrument stand out or make the sound thicker. It’s inexpensive.

Parazio: I was wondering about that too.
I have an image of high-end products being expensive, but CP is indeed inexpensive.
I also think that honest sound is unexpectedly difficult to achieve, but if I can experience it at a reasonable price, I would like to have it.
Speaking of an honest sound, an acquaintance of mine recommended Canare to me and I have been using it for a long time, but I would like to try it if I have a chance.
After all, the electrical system of an electric guitar changes the sound.

Nemoto: Even with the same CANARE, the GS6, GS8, and L4E6S have different tone characteristics, so this is also a swamp....
If you make your own, it's cheap, so you can dive right into the swamp.
It's hard to get an honest sound, that's for sure. It depends on the person, but if it's super wide + flat like Zaora, people say “cold”, “hard”, or “clangy” instead of “honest” or “uncolored”. Even “colorless” is a world of gradations...

Parazio: I see, so if changing the shield is better than buying an additional preamp, then it would certainly be more cost-effective to buy a high-end shield.
Oh, this is a swamp.... (similar to the swamp of distortion effects pedals)

Nemoto: For ready-made cables, I like EX-PRO or Monster Cable.

Parazio: I would like to try one. I guess you probably can't tell with a trial. I would like to use it carefully at home. Do you think it will reduce noise? I often see reviews about reduced noise in high-end class products. I would be interested in hearing reviews of the characteristics of these cables.

Nemoto: Monster Cable is just a fancy flavor. I think you can choose the sound by the name. The plugs are sturdy and low noise, but some models increase noise. For example, PJB's Bass Buddy (only the old one. The current version is said to be improved).
EX-PRO is clear and natural sounding. It is more robust than the Monster and can be used with guns. The good thing is that it withstands rough handling.

Parazio: I see, I thought that high-end instruments would be nervous, but they are quite suitable for real-world use. I guess that's what makes them different from the cheap ones.
Actually, the first cables I made myself were terrible. I know that the sound can change considerably depending on how you put them together. I don't have anything other than my own cables, so I'm thinking of buying a set of shields that are assembled from the beginning. If this is the entrance to the swamp, it might be bad...

Nemoto: Since many people move around on stage, robustness is the minimum performance requirement. I feel that cheap ones have brittle plugs and connections and are prone to disconnection. If you make it yourself and use it yourself, it's fine if it's messy. You can fix it and it's your responsibility.

Parazio: Yes, I would definitely buy one and see what happens.
I would like to see the real thing, too, since I usually make things myself.
In that sense, the bass I made this year was a good learning experience.
I got everything except the wood from Sound House.

GOTOH / GB2-L4 Nickel

GOTOH / 203B-4 Nickel

SCUD / CTS-A500MM CTS millimeter size compatible pot

SCUD / CR-022OIL

SCUD / OJ-65

It was very difficult because I had to assemble it from scratch. You might think it was just a matter of attaching these things, but I had a hard time getting the dimensions straight without a jig.
As with anything, I felt that price doesn’t lie. I was especially surprised at the accuracy of the GOTOH pegs, so I replaced the pegs on the main base with GOTOH ones.

Nemoto: When I assembled a kit, I installed it properly and the bridge shifted. Amateurs shouldn't do things in a random way.

Parazio: That's right. I had to be more careful than when I was at work.
And balancing the whole thing was more difficult than I thought it would be, so I still feel like it's not finished.

Cheena: Sometimes it’s possible to do the actual work without a jig, but it’s easier if you have a ruler of about 1 meter.

Parazio: Yes, I did it with a 60cm ruler, but I think I will buy a ruler next time. By the way, I also bought GOTOH pegs for my main bass. I get everything at Sound House lol.

GOTOH / GB707/L2+R2 Gold

After I put this on, the bass guitar has really stopped going out of tune. The hurdle of replacing parts has been lowered considerably since I made it.
Cheena, is there anything interesting that you bought this year?

Cheena: I obviously bought too many small things this year...
I started with a Qparts crystal dome knob at the beginning of the year, then a no-name brand T-shaped knob in Akihabara that I’m not sure what to do with it, a knob with the same shape as used on the Atlantia, a scale plate, and then a 5-string bass bridge with unknown details (probably Fender High Mass compatible) and Epiphone's Rear open hum....” I bought a pair of custom Final earphones, which are not instrument-related, but “proper” ones. They are good.

Parazio: You've been talking about earphones on Twitter for a long time, haven't you? Earphones are very deep, aren't they? I still make compromises. By the way, can you show us what you bought?

Cheena: Here it is.

The knobs look like this... the Qparts ones are after-market and the T-shaped ones are a bit out of the shot, so just this one, Atlantia-style...

Parazio: The packaging is already high-end!
I myself use earphones that cost around 5,000 yen.

Cheena: The Final MAKE series earphones are sold with the ability to adjust the sound quality, so it is difficult to evaluate the difference.
It’s good in an emotional sense because it’s made of stainless steel and is much heavier than ordinary earphones, it has a cool shape like three-dimensional origami, and you can always listen to the sound you like.
It is clearly different compared to the same in-ear canal-type earphones, especially IEMs.

Parazio: I see, so it's like there is no comparison.
Actually, I have tried earphones many times, but I always use headphones.
Maybe I haven't found good earphones yet.

Nemoto: I haven't found a good pair of earphones either. Right now, I'm using Final's ZE3000. I have no complaints about the sound quality, so I'm sure there are better ones out there. But the standard is d8000, so I think it's getting really tough...

Parazio: For better or worse, I'm using AKG K240 these days.
I remember that I bought it when I heard that Sound House had become an authorized distributor.
I bought it because it is very good to hear the sound around me. But, I don't know if the sound is good or bad.

AKG / K240 Studio Semi-open headphones

Nemoto: I also use K240ST. I think it's the best headphones among the refurbished headphones in the same price range.

Cheena: AKG is good, I also recommend K92.

AKG / K92 sealed monitor headphones

Parazio: I really wanted Sony, but they looked so cheap that I decided to go with these.
AKG's price is very reasonable.
The price increase in 2022 was huge. Especially for strings.

Cheena: It was a time of violent depreciation of the yen against the dollar. It would be wonderful if there were strings of good quality made in Japan...but I wonder if it would be difficult if the price of materials had skyrocketed.

Nemoto: It's tough because materials are the same and transportation costs are also going up. Prices of both North American materials and parts are going up, so most manufacturers are raising their prices. Aria and some other long-established companies are moving in the direction of not raising prices, but I wonder how long they can hold out...

Parazio: I really wish we had a string manufacturer in Japan.
The price of D'Addario strings has doubled since I first bought them, and the price of raw materials has actually gone up about that much too.
Incidentally, the price increase is not as big for EU makers. I bought stainless steel strings and nickel strings for the first time in a long time.

R COCCO / RC4DN BASS STRINGS NICKEL ROUND WOUND

I haven't strung it yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Nemoto: There is a domestic maker, Osaka RakuGen.

Parazio: Osaka strings? I didn't know that.

Nemoto: They only make double bass strings. They are fairly inexpensive.

Parazio: I see, no wonder I have no connection with them. I only have an electric bass. I only buy 4-string basses because I mainly have 4-string basses now, but if I have more basses in the future, it will be a huge event just to change the strings.
Is Nemoto-san's Aristidis 050 the highlight of 2022 in that sense? Sound House is very generous, aren’t they?

Nemoto: 420,000 yen was half price plus points. That was a surprise.

Parazio: I really envy you! I missed the MNG the other day, so I'm even more jealous (laughs). And I know it's the end of the year as I write this, but let's wrap it up here.
I look forward to working with you again in 2023.

Nemoto: I look forward to working with you!

Cheena: Thank you very much for your support.

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