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jzstephan
Advanced Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 289
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 3:34 pm:   Edit Post

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
Advanced Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 290
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 3:52 pm:   Edit Post

http://youtu.be/hXP_nUp2kQQ
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 6041
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 4:05 pm:   Edit Post

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
Junior
Username: samsamaha

Post Number: 27
Registered: 4-2015
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 5:39 pm:   Edit Post

Not to derail this discussion but I happen to have the same strap for my Alembic! Moody strap
samsamaha
Junior
Username: samsamaha

Post Number: 28
Registered: 4-2015
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 5:47 pm:   Edit Post

> Have no idea why that uploaded sideways sorry….
hieronymous
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1503
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 6:03 pm:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: hieronymous

Post Number: 1504
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 6:23 pm:   Edit Post

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
Advanced Member
Username: jzstephan

Post Number: 291
Registered: 1-2012
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 7:15 pm:   Edit Post

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
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 4480
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 11:58 pm:   Edit Post

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.

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