Author Topic: Kazumi Watanabe (Read 294 times)

jzstephan · « **on:** April 21, 2015, 03:34:24 PM »

Anybody know how Kazumi Watanabe gets this distortion sound? It's really good. My series guitar is easy to get that clean sound, but this distortion is very convincing and I'm sure it's a pedal (along with some very talented fingers). Help me, Kazumi Watanabe, you're my only hope.

http://youtu.be/Re6kmctA26U

jzstephan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2015, 03:52:24 PM »

lbpesq · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2015, 04:05:45 PM »

Maybe it's the Moody strap he's using! lol

Seriously, though, my current set up for distorted tones with Alembic electronics is a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone compressor and a Pigtronix Aria Disnortion pedal (yes, I spelled it right). The Pigtronix boxes seem to like my Alembics more than most pedals. Also, my effects all see the full signal from my guitar as I keep my guitar volume on 10 and control volume with an Ernie Ball volume pedal at the end of my effects chain. That way the effects always see the same signal - accomplishes the same thing as an OBEL without the extra cable.

Bill, tgo

samsamaha · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2015, 05:39:05 PM »

Not to derail this discussion but I happen to have the same strap for my Alembic!

samsamaha · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2015, 05:47:07 PM »

> Have no idea why that uploaded sideways sorry….

hieronymous · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:03:10 PM »

Wow - thanks for posting these JZ! I can't answer your question but wanted to say that I've been a fan of Kazumi Watanabe since I was in high school in Tokyo since the '80s. Even saw him live at a tiny place - the Pit Inn in Tokyo - in around '86 or '87 - I put saw in quotes because the place was so packed and a pole was in my way so I never actually saw anything!

Those two videos with the Alembics are awesome. I wonder if his tone is related to his filter settings? I mainly play bass but have played with distortion quite a bit and find that I sometimes prefer having the tone knob lower when using distortion - the highs tend to be obnoxious, though that can be useful too. Kazumi sounds smooooovvve....

hieronymous · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2015, 06:23:35 PM »

Oops, double post - would post a pic instead, but can't, so will just say that I dug out what Kazumi Watanabe albums I could find and will post later!

(Message edited by hieronymous on April 21, 2015)

jzstephan · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2015, 07:15:25 PM »

Thanks for the replies! Can you upload a demo with your Alembic? (Kazumi's clean tone is just ideal, and his distortion is really great, his playing is wonderful)

jazzyvee · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2015, 11:58:16 PM »

I toured with my alembic Orion for about a year and found it difficult to get a distortion/overdrive sound that I was happy with using a solid state or digital pedal. So where I could I used the high gain channel on a tube amp. In the past couple of years I've been using a Radial Trimode and a Radial Classic with my Series I and Orion guitars. Both are tube driven pedals which give me type of overdriven sound I want.
For compression I occasionally use a Boss RCL 1/2 rack unit.