[quote="Thinliine"]As far as I know, Manabe doesn't playing different tunings much.[/quote]

i've only found ONE pillows song that cant be played in standard tuning, and they just play it live in a different key, still standard tuning. and with manabes rig, he can coax pretty much any sound he wants out his guitar, so he doesnt have ANY reason to use multiple guitars live. what an odd complaint/request.

didn't his guitar break in the carousel thingy at the airport ::refers back to AI interview with the pillows::

yep

[quote="thejedipunk"][quote="StevenB130"]Where the fuck do you come from knowing how "extremely consistent" Fender Japan is? There's now way you can answer that because you've never seen either Fender USA or Fender Japan build a guitar.

My comment was on everybody's mindset that everything from japan is better. Which isn't true. But everything from America isn't better either. It doesn't really matter where it's from. But you come out of nowhere saying stuff about Japan's "excellent craftsmanship" with really no knowledge of either USA or Japan's guitar making process is really stupid.[/quote]

I'm impressed, Steven. This is the first thing you have ever said that actually makes you have some credability. [/quote]

No, he said something else that was really credible elsewhere. I can't remember what. But it was touchingly sensical.

edit: here it is-

[quote="StevenB130"]No. Jesus Christ you're stupid.

You're saying that this kid is stupid because he has some gay shit in his Myspace. Yet, ironically you use your Japanese expertise to play out different scenarios of what "real" japanese people would do.[/quote]

I think this quote is kind of in the same boat as the other one, too. He has a point.

Sorry for bringing this loaded gun back, (I'm just reading up on the old forums...) but yeah, just because something comes from a different place in the world doesn't mean differing quality.

If I took a packet of instant ramen (I'm somehow sure you're all familiar with it...) and cooked it over the stove in a pan, drained most of the water, added the seasoning, and ate it, would it be drastically different if I put the stuff in a wok and went to my neighbor's house and used their stove? Hell no.

And I do agree, the Japanese aren't like cyborgs, they're not all out there to work and do bang-up jobs. What would a real Japanese person do? I think the question is what would a person do. Better yet, what would a -fake- Japanese person do? (Off topic)

But you guys do bash on Steve a little too much. (Not a lot, just a li'l bit. Just a little bit. Eheh.)

Man, when I saw the title of this thread I thought someone had found a video of PROPOSE or something...

Then suddenly, with one click, all my hopes were crushed.

[quote="overAmped"]Man, when I saw the title of this thread I thought someone had found a video of PROPOSE or something...

Then suddenly, with one click, all my hopes were crushed.[/quote]

Aaahahahaha, you haven't brushed up on your old topics reading, have you?

Yeah, overAmped, why aren't you bringing up irrelevant old threads?

[quote="Jomei"]Yeah, overAmped, why aren't you bringing up irrelevant old threads?[/quote]

Because I do it better.

[quote="Blank"]Sorry for bringing this loaded gun back, (I'm just reading up on the old forums...) but yeah, just because something comes from a different place in the world doesn't mean differing quality.

If I took a packet of instant ramen (I'm somehow sure you're all familiar with it...) and cooked it over the stove in a pan, drained most of the water, added the seasoning, and ate it, would it be drastically different if I put the stuff in a wok and went to my neighbor's house and used their stove? Hell no.[/quote]

You know nothing.

The quality of Fender guitars really does depend on where it is built. Fender has facilities all over the world and some of those places use inexpensive parts and wood and some cannot afford the better craftsmanships. Using your analogy, it would be like if your neighbor was making ramen noodles but with cheaper noodles and different spices.

Apparently, Culen managed to convince Thrice on his error regarding Japanese quality. I can confidently say that the Japanese, who just so happen to take guitar VERY, VERY seriously, can build a guitar better than immigrant labor "American" standard models. Not to mention that the Japanese guitars don't have the bad bridges and below quality electronics that ruin the American Standard guitars. The Vintage Reissue guitars are nice, but the US models aren't nearly as good a value as the Japanese ones. I wholly believe that if Fender Japan were using really high quality woods, nitro lacquer finishes, and better pots in their guitars, that they could easily beat everything except really good Fender Custom Shop guitars.

[quote="lmd2131"][quote="omnistry"][quote="TS"]not really a translation but something before the able people do it (I'm not 100%sure of everything):

The title is "From Nagoya"

It's like their last show on the good dreams tour, on Nagoya. The same day Pixies are playing somewhere near them in Nagoya too. I'm not very sure of this, but I think Pixies went to see them play, and he says something about Kim Deal now knowing about their song. He says it was a good moment for them. The he talks about the place they played, he stresses that it was hot, and that it was a good show. He says that the Jagmaster was sounding good. (I wonder if something happened to the Mustang)

it goes around that[/quote]

Didn't the Mustang break on its way here to the US shows?[/quote]

yeah, but i guess maybe he got it fixed, or something[/quote]

At the SF meet and greet, someone asked Manabe why he switched guitars. Manabe said that he wanted to feel "fresh". His Jagmaster sounded great and cut through on all the solos.

[quote="Thinliine"]Apparently, Culen managed to convince Thrice on his error regarding Japanese quality. I can confidently say that the Japanese, who just so happen to take guitar VERY, VERY seriously, can build a guitar better than immigrant labor "American" standard models. Not to mention that the Japanese guitars don't have the bad bridges and below quality electronics that ruin the American Standard guitars. The Vintage Reissue guitars are nice, but the US models aren't nearly as good a value as the Japanese ones. I wholly believe that if Fender Japan were using really high quality woods, nitro lacquer finishes, and better pots in their guitars, that they could easily beat everything except really good Fender Custom Shop guitars.[/quote]

Many, if not all, Japanese Fenders use American made electronics.

Sorry for posting about the guitar thing so late, but I actually talked to Yoshiaki in Shibuya and he was very excited about the Squier Jagmaster...and this is what he said to me:

He said he likes to start tours with new equipment, and in this case he was very proud of the fact that the Jagmaster only cost $250!

He said he chose it for two reasons: 1), it's a great value for the money and plays very well, and 2) he knows fans want to play what HE plays, so this was a win-win situation!

He said that it made him very happy that the fans could get the exact same guitar as his and it was really inexpensive without compromising quality.

So he did it for us! After dropping $1200 on a vintage Japanese re-issue Mustang identical to the one that got busted in airplane baggage (except for the Seymour Duncan HotRail pickups), I'm thinking about one myself... Now if I could just get one with a custom wide neck for my fat fingers...

So there's the story- straight from Manabe. He wanted to make it easy for his guitar-playing fans to get the same good equipment that he uses easily, and I can confirm that he's tickled shitless that the Jagmaster is a winner.

PS: Of course, the whole thing was driven by getting his Mustang busted, and wanting to find a replacement that could be obtained quickly and easily in any major city he happened to be in (within an hour of an impending concert, if need be). Squier to the rescue, for the win-win-win.

[quote="Lepton"]
After dropping $1200 on a vintage Japanese re-issue Mustang.[/quote]

MIJ Fenders use US pickups, which are okay, but there are many, many better options. The mini-pots in MIJ Fenders suck, but the stock American electronics aren't too much better. Adding some CTS pots to your Fender makes a much bigger tonal difference than you would think. You might find yourself playing with the tone control much more often.