this is from an article in the february 2006 issue of japanese magazine GIGS about the equipment they used in recording MY FOOT. i did my best to puzzle the product names out, if something's not right let me know.

part 1: http://pirouzu.net/stuff/gigs_gear1.jpg

[b]Fender cyclone[/b]
The only guitar Yamanaka used is his usual. Can create tone variation using volume adjustment when he switches the rear and front pick-ups.

[b]Fender Japan MUSTANG[/b]
Manabe's main guitar, used on 'The Third Eye' and 'So long universe'. Using this and his Big Muff together creates his characteristic sound.

[b]Fender Japan MUSTANG with Seymour duncan JB PU[/b]
When he needs a thick, powerful sound, he switches the rear pick-ups to a single size Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker.

[b]Epiphone Explorer[/b]
Used on 'MY FOOT' and 'Degeneration'. Manabe also recorded using a Jagmaster this time.

[b]Vocal booth[/b]
This is the vocal booth where Yamanaka recorded songs. In addition, he recorded guitar in here.

[b]TAMA Starclassic drum set[/b]
This time, even for recording Satou used his favorite TAMA Starclassic Birch set. A simple three piece set- 22"x16" bass drum, 13"x10" tom tom, and 16"x16" floor tom. He has three Meinl cymbals (16" and 18" crashes, 20" ride), and a Zildjian 14" hihat.

[b]TAMA PBZ455A[/b]
Main brass snare (14"x5.5"). Even though it has a metal shell, it possesses fat acoustics, and features a sound that is tight and beautiful.

[b]Ludwig LS401[/b]
Satou also uses the well-known maple snare (14"x5.5") used by Ringo Starr of the Beatles.

part 2: http://pirouzu.net/stuff/gigs_gear2.jpg

[b]Orange OVER DRIVE Amp Head [/b]
Manabe uses this Orange Amp 100% of the time. Because he sets the gain at 10 o'clock, rather than strain the amp itself, he uses nuances in his picking. He also suppresses the treble and bass somewhat.

[b]VOX AC30 & Orange Speaker Cabinet[/b]
This time, because the tone of the Ampeg Reverb Rocket (R212R) he'd been using up until now was no good, Yamanaka hastily switched to this VOX AC30 pictured at left. Surprsingly, the sound turned out to be good. Furthermore, Manabe used the Orange speaker also at left.

[b]Manabe's Effects[/b]
Manabe's effects board. From the bottom left- Line 6 Delay Modeler (DL-4), Sobbat A/B box, Big Muff, BOSS Mega Distortion, Blues Driver, Morley Wah. From the top left- BOSS Super Shifter, Big Muff.

[b]Yamanaka's Effects[/b]
What's different from Manabe, who plays with only rear pick-ups? In comparison, Yamanaka has very few effects. From the left- BOSS Equalizer, Boss Blues Driver (overdrive), Line 6 Distortion Modeler (DM-4), BOSS tuner.

[i]Manabe's particular about fuzz- What sort of effect is the Big Muff π? [/i]

[b]electro-harmonix SOVTEK BIG MUFF π[Made in Russia][/b]
This is Manabe's main Big Muff that creates the explosive sound he's known for. "The logo is fading, it's become BIG MOFF (laughs)."

[b]electro-harmonix SOVTEK BIG MUFF π [Made in Russia][/b]
Made in Russia like the one to the left, but this one is used for crunch. "Compared to the American version, the finer grain of the distortion allows you to make use of the guitar's nuances."

[b]electro-harmonix SOVTEK BIG MUFF π [Made in USA][/b]
"It's the same name as the Russian brand but it's a totally different fuzz," Manabe says. Instead of a strong low-pass component, it's a crushed fuzz sound.

Wow, great find!

Looks like everything is in check.

Great stuff.

It seems odd that I would ask what kind of bass Jun was using.

[quote="Alero"]It seems odd that I would ask what kind of bass Jun was using.[/quote]

due to his junior status, he pretty much gets left out of interviews.

No exact model, but it's a Fender Japanese (duh) Jazz Bass. I'm leaning on that it's a JB75-90 Jazz Bass. Black body, bound maple neck with pearloid block inlays, tortoise shell pickguard. Looks like a Jazz Bass from the CBS era.

[quote="thejedipunk"]No exact model, but it's a Fender Japanese (duh) Jazz Bass. I'm leaning on that it's a JB75-90 Jazz Bass. Black body, bound maple neck with pearloid block inlays, tortoise shell pickguard. Looks like a Jazz Bass from the CBS era.[/quote]
Thanks, my friend was really interested in knowing.

Terra - PWNED in a not so funny way!

Any word on if Manabe uses the Russian or US Big Muff?

[quote="GoldenRhino"]Any word on if Manabe uses the Russian or US Big Muff?[/quote]

Don't the pics show that he uses some of each?

[quote="Alero"][quote="thejedipunk"]No exact model, but it's a Fender Japanese (duh) Jazz Bass. I'm leaning on that it's a JB75-90 Jazz Bass. Black body, bound maple neck with pearloid block inlays, tortoise shell pickguard. Looks like a Jazz Bass from the CBS era.[/quote]
Thanks, my friend was really interested in knowing.

Terra - PWNED in a not so funny way![/quote]

you seemed to ask because jun was noticeably omitted, i explained why and left your actual question to whoever might know.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]Any word on if Manabe uses the Russian or US Big Muff?[/quote]
Two Russian and an American

[quote="Alero"]

Terra - PWNED in a not so funny way![/quote]

I see no evidence of said pwning.

[quote="Cloudy_One"][quote="Alero"]

Terra - PWNED in a not so funny way![/quote]

I see no evidence of said pwning. [/quote]
I meant Terra pwning Jun.

This is interesting. I'd though that Sawao only used a Fender Twin Reverb since around 1998. I can't recall ever seeing a video where he's playing an Ampeg- even on the US videos, I could have sworn it was a Fender Twin he was playing.

I sure didn't know he'd switched to an AC30, obviously. He's "surprised" that it sounds awesome? Even the cheap Chinese made AC30s sound great. The Vox probably has my favorite overdrive sound, period. This does make sense, though- it seemed like Sawao's tone didn't suck so much on My Foot. (that sounds really strange, doesn't it?)

Manabe should ditch that stupid Mega Distortion. It sounds like goat excrement and is totally unneccessary for their style of music. The Blues Driver and fuzz pedals are more than enough.

[quote="Thinliine"]Manabe should ditch that stupid Mega Distortion. It sounds like goat excrement and is totally unneccessary for their style of music. The Blues Driver and fuzz pedals are more than enough.[/quote]
I beg to differ, if you know how to use it, it's great. It can be changed from an octave pedal to distortion.