Active Band Man Chats - Gears with Spring Vibes

So, what’s the theme this time?

It’s been getting warmer lately, hasn’t it?

Yeah, it has.

The plum trees in the park were blooming too!

Really?...

I just thought it feels more like spring!

Well, we’ve passed the start of spring and the Doll’s Festival too.

Right!

So, what do you wanna say?

You must have figured it out by now!

Huh? I don’t get it.

This time’s theme is... gears with spring vibes!

Huh, what do you mean by that?

There are spring, summer, fall, and winter for equipment too, you know.

Are there?...

Of course there are!!!

I see... Since you’re so sure, Your Highness, it must be true.

That’s right! Now that it’s decided, I’m off to check it out right away!

Where to?

To find spring!

Go ahead then.

Off on an adventure! I’ll run through the spring field of Sound House!

Take care and have fun!

(10 minutes later) I’m back! I found it, spring!

Welcome back. Which one is spring?

Grass Roots / G-LP-CTM/FM/STPI
It’s a model with a vibrant pink color that reminds you of cherry blossoms. See?

Ah, I see, cherry blossom color.

There were many others blooming too!

PLAYTECH / ST025 PINK 570mm Scale Type

Oh, PLAYTECH. This brand offers a great deal and a wide range of color variations. Is this a short scale model? The reviews are highly rated... It seems that this junior-sized guitar is often bought for children. I’d recommend it for kids who will be starting school this spring.

A new school year, a new guitarist! Oh, next is a model I used to play as the main guitar in The Show Words for a while!

PLAYTECH / FV430 Pink

You certainly had that one. Peach-colored V.

Both peach and cherry blossoms give off a spring vibe, right?

Fernandes / ZO 3 '24 PINK W/SC

The long-selling ZO3! This is a new model for this year, with a matching head too.

Mooer / GTRS S801 PINK

Oh, a guitar from Mooer, famous for their effects! However, it gives the impression that built-in guitars have really come a long way... Though they’ve existed for a while.

That’s true. But this one has some really interesting high-tech features!

Squier / Sonic Stratocaster HT H Maple-FB White-PG Flash Pink

Flash Pink? There are so many shades of pink, huh? I can almost hear that famous line from a certain celebrity: “There are 200 shades of pink”!

Who? Audrey? Asagaya Sisters?

Let’s move on.

Ibanez / JEMJRSP-PK

Oh, it’s Steve Vai’s signature model!

Yes! According to the description, the fingerboard is made of jatoba wood and features the Tree of Life inlays, which are a signature of the JEM Series. Perfect for the spring, the season of new life!

I see.

When it comes to pink, each company has its own unique take. For example, this one...

Jackson / X Series Soloist SL1X Platinum Pink

Platinum Pink!

A translucent pink.

Schecter / SD-2-24-AL Pau Ferro See-Thru Pink

The wood grain really stands out.

EVH / 5150 Series Standard Maple Neon Pink

Neon pink... it also reflects the era, doesn’t it? But personally, when I see the ‘5150’ number on a guitar, I can’t help but think of that legend... I wonder if it’s related?

That legend, huh. I wonder about that too. Anyway, next up:

Balaguer Guitars / ST Espada, Gloss Pastel Pink

Gloss Pastel Pink? I assume it means it has a shiny finish? Also, this one seems to have quite a bold contour shaping. With the heel cut and the shape of the cutaways, the playability seems great... Sound is important, but playability like this is just as important, right?

Yes, exactly. While you can get a sense of the sound from videos, playability is harder to judge... You really need to try it out yourself.

That’s true. So, it’s helpful when playability is also mentioned, not just specs. It’s good as a point of reference.

Right. Next up, this one. It’s called Roxy Pink.

Paul Reed Smith (PRS) / Silver Sky Rose Roxy Pink

It’s Fender’s traditional Shell Pink with added pearl elements!

Squier / Contemporary Stratocaster HH FR R-Maple Shell Pink Pearl

Yamaha / Pacifica Standard Plus Ash Pink

Oh, the Pacifica Series. It’s a classic from Yamaha. Ash Pink? This one has a more muted, subdued feel. At this level, it’s probably not too hard to accept!

Guild / Surfliner Deluxe Rose Quartz Metallic

Hmm, Rose Quartz Metallic?

In Japanese, it would be ‘beni-suisho’.

Paul Reed Smith (PRS) / S2 Custom 24 Bonni Pink Cherry Burst

Pink Cherry Sunburst! As expected, it has such a luxurious feel.

Yeah! It’s like a top-grade A5 beef!

You’ve gone from spring to talking about food!

Sometimes it’s all about food over flowers...

Next up, this one’s called Twinkle Pink!

ESP / Snapper Ohmura Custom /M Twinkle Pink

The name is clever, such a cute pink!

Legend / LST-MINI Kawaii Pink

‘Kawaii’ is a universal word now.

If you go simple, Light Pink is the one.

Greco / WS-ADV-G Light Pink

Schecter / Machine Gun Kelly Signature PT Tickets To My Downfall Pink

Huh? Tickets To My Downfall Pink? What’s that about? Also, I only knew Machine Gun Kelly as a rapper... But it turns out he’s in a band too. He’s quite talented.

Yeah, and it seems like this is the title of his album.

Next up!

E-II / M-II HST QM Indigo Purple Fade

It’s not pink, you know?

But it still feels spring-like! In Makura no Soshi, there’s a line: “Spring is the dawn (with some parts omitted)... the purple-colored clouds stretch thin and trail,” so I’m calling this purple gradient a spring color too!

Go ahead, you went unnecessarily academic!

The bass was blooming too!

Ashdown / The Saint Shell Pink

Ashdown is famous for their amps, right? They’ve started making basses too, it seems.

BanG Dream! / BanG Dream! Viper Bass Rimi

It’s cute, though.

It’s the instrument featured in the anime BanG Dream!

Aria Pro II / RSB-42AR/5 See-Through Pink

Oh, a 5-string from Aria Pro II! It’s affordable, too. I’d like to try it. Plus, the body is a bit smaller? Looks easy to play.

Alright, I came up with a little verse! “Horry’s appetite stirs in the bright spring!”

Well, it’s okay...

There’s also a pink color lineup for acoustic guitars made with carbon material.

PLAYTECH / AR28 Round Back Pink

Fender / FSR Malibu Player Shell Pink

When you think of acoustic guitars, you usually imagine natural or sunburst finishes, but there are so many colors available.

Yeah!

Rogue / Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar Pink

Oh, the amps were blooming too!

Revv Amplification / D20 Shell Pink

You’re right, it’s a vibrant cherry blossom pink.

Exactly! And for smaller accessories, I think pink is easy to incorporate!

S_IX / Gz Pink/Pearl White

A strap, huh.

Ernie Ball / 18' Braided Straight / Angle Instrument Cable - Neon Pink

It’s a shielded cable.

Scorelay Japan / LP PG Shape-A Cherry Blossom Print

What’s this?

A pickguard! It has cherry blossoms printed on it.

Kyser / KG6 Pink

Even a capo.

Kyser is a staple in the capo world! They have a wide variety of colors.

Not cherry blossoms, but maybe a fresh white-petaled daisy?

Martin / MTN Denim Strap Daisy

Well, let’s call it spring-like.

Vic Firth / 5A Pink

Even drumsticks!

This is a microphone I also have in a different color. The pink one is flashy and nice.

Telefunken / M80 Pink

Sometimes, vocalists shake maracas while singing, right?

PLAYWOOD / MMC-40P

That’s true, but with this maraca and this microphone, it’s quite a lively vibe!

Who’s the carefree pink prince?

I didn’t say that. Not yet.

“Did you say ‘strange’?” Huh?

Don’t cut it off in the middle, I didn’t say it. Just thinking it.

(Ignoring that) Next, this one is the ultimate!

Logos / Logos Forest Premium Smoked Chips 300g (Cherry Tree)

Hmm? Cherry tree... chips?

Wood chips for making smoked food!

I see, since Sound House also handles camping gear... their selection is still amazing.

It’s truly impressive!

Is that all?

Yeah! There was nothing beyond smoked chips.

I thought so... but still, there’s quite a variety of spring-like gear.

Right? Ah, I’ve really enjoyed spring!

Though, I feel like we were just looking for pink gear...

If you say that... but don’t you associate the color pink with spring?

Well, yes, but also, I feel like manufacturers are consciously doing it too. There are a lot of cherry blossom motifs and such.

Exactly. Of course, there are some that are designed with other seasons in mind, but I really think spring is by far the most common. When you think about it, maybe spring is especially meaningful for Japanese people. Ah, but still, it’s been a riot of blooms!

There were more colors than just cherry blossom pink and peach pink, surprisingly.

It’s truly a riot of flowers!

Shall we wrap it up?

Also, when I think of spring, I remember the Fender Telecaster Blue Flower! It’s not a flower, but pink paisley also has spring vibes!

I see... they’ve been pushing paisley for a while now. But like I always say, it’s not really my thing...

And when I saw the Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster, I thought, “Spring has come!”

(Searches for image) Ah, I thought you’d like it.

I do! But, you know, I’m a big, blooming flower myself.

Right...

Oh! Look at the big flower that only I, Kizuhiko, possess!

What is it?

Here it comes...

I designed it myself!

Wow, amazing...

It’s equipped with a Floyd ‘Rose’!

Such attention to detail...

Also, the Prince of Roses model effects pedal!

So the flowers bloom at your feet too.

Yes, yes!! ...Oof, that cold stare... well, let’s wrap this up.

Sure.

Once you get your hands on some gear with spring vibes, your motivation will definitely bloom! So, everything is?

For love!