At Sound Messe Osaka, Mexican guitar brand Cream Guitars (creamguitars.com) was present with a very colorful booth, just like they had at last year's NAMM. Here's an interview with Luis Ortiz to introduce this brand, which offers guitars with an unconventional look. Luis Ortiz interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing
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Keystone Stringed Instruments, Keisuke Nishi Japanese luthier interview
Monday, 19 August 2024
It was during the Sound Messe Osaka show that I was able to do another interview with the very talented Japanese luthier Keisuke Nishi of Keystone Stringed Instruments (keystone-si.com). He was exhibiting as part of the Legacy Project and also to showcase his own guitars, which are featured in this video. Keisuke Nishi interview Until
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Allen Hinds, interview with the American musician on tour in Japan
Monday, 12 August 2024
American guitarist Allen Hinds (allenhinds.com), whom I know a little because I've interviewed him several times in Los Angeles (see the archives in these articles), was in Japan for a tour and a masterclass at Sound Messe Osaka. Allen Hinds Archives Allen Hinds interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the
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It was at Sound Messe Osaka that I discovered Nakagawa Guitars (nakagawaguitars.com). I found the instruments on the stand very elegant and well made, so I borrowed a boutique guitar from this luthier to record this demo. The recording setup is a ZOOM UAC-232 audio interface and Blue Cat Audio Axiom for effects and amp
After visiting the showroom and factory of Freedom Custom Guitar Research (fcgrtokyo.com) in Tokyo, whose videos I suggest you watch in these articles here and here, I propose to listen to one of their guitars model Hydra in this demo recorded during the Sound Messe Osaka. It's a Super Strat-type instrument with a HSH pickups
Here's a double instrument demo from luthier Kazuma Tanabe of Oopegg Guitars (oopegg.com) recorded at the Sound Messe Osaka 2024 show. The recording setup is a ZOOM UAC-232 audio interface and Blue Cat Audio's Axiom for effects and amp emulation. Don't miss Kazuma Tanabe interview in this article to know everything about this great Japanese
In the series of guitars tested at Sound Messe Osaka, here's a sort of reinterpretation of Jeff Beck famous TeleGib, built for him by Seymour Duncan. The program is simple: a Telecaster with two humbucking pickups. The result: an incredible sound! Here's my review of the G Seven Special (g7g.biz), which I really enjoyed. G
For years, guitar makers have been experimenting with, or still use, metal to build their instruments. At the Sound Messe Osaka guitar show, I had the opportunity to test a List Guitars instrument made entirely of solid aluminum. Here's the gear review! The body is entirely machined from Duralumin 17S, equipped with a specially developed
At Sound Messe Osaka, I was able to interview Masato Takimoto of List Guitars. As a bonus, after the interview, there's a demo of this aluminum guitar. Masato Takimoto interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Sound Messe Osaka ArchivesJapan Archives
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It was at Sound Messe Osaka 2024 that I discovered HEX Guitars (hexguitars.com) made in Korea. Here's an interview with Sean and a demo of one of the headless models presented during this Japanese show. HEX Guitars Interview & Demo Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For
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Adrian Bellue, interview of the Fingerstyle musician at the Sound Messe Osaka
Wednesday, 17 July 2024
Here's an interview with guitarist Adrian Bellue (adrianbellue.com) at Sound Messe Osaka, where he was present as a demo artist. Adrian's Fingerstyle guitar style is very much his own, blending both acoustic and Metal styles. Adrian Bellue interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. Audio version available
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The American musician Josh Smith (joshsmithguitar.com) was in Japan for the Sound Messe Osaka to play demos on the joint stand of Vemuram and Two Rock / Divided by 13 (see Eli Lester interview in this article). Of course, we took the opportunity to do an interview and find out a little more about Josh's
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Peace Hill FX, Koji Tagaki interview with the tube amp preamp builder in Osaka
Monday, 17 June 2024
Koji Tagaki is the Japanese boutique builder of Peace Hill FX tube preamps (peacehillfx.com). We had agreed to meet in person at Sound Messe Osaka to do an interview. It was a pleasure to meet him, especially as I left with a superb model SSS preamp that he gave me as a gift. Koji Tagaki
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Luca Cesaroni from Cloe Guitars, boutique guitare builder interview in Osaka
Thursday, 13 June 2024
At the 2024 Sound Messe Osaka, Italian boutique guitar builder Luca Cesaroni of Cloe Guitars (cloeguitars.com) was present as an exhibitor and also as a participant in the Legacy Project initiated by Quebec artisan Mario Beauregard. Here was a meeting with a highly talented transalpine luthier. Luca is also involved in Secret EFX (secretefx.com), a
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Keisuke Nishi, Legacy Project interview at the Sound Messe Osaka
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Here's an interview with Japanese luthier Keisuke Nishi of Keystone Stringed Instruments (keystone-si.com) at Sound Messe Osaka. Keisuke is one of Mario Beauregard's 5 apprentices and as such participated in the Legacy Project. Keisuke Nishi interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Luthier InterviewsSound Messe
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Jamie Gale is the founder of the Boutique Guitar Showcase (boutiqueguitarshowcase.com), which offers boutique luthiers an interesting alternative for showcasing their instruments around the world. For the first time, Boutique Guitar Showcase was present in Japan at Sound Messe Osaka. Here's an interview with Jamie Gale, a connoisseur of high-end guitar lutherie, where he explains
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Steve Klein, interview in Japan with the legendary builder for Klein Guitars & Demo
Saturday, 08 June 2024
American luthier Steve Klein is a living legend of modern lutherie. He was exhibiting at Sound Messe Osaka with his Klein Guitars brand (kleinsbench.com), which offers guitars Made in Japan (like the one I'm offering you to listen to as a demo) as well as instruments he still makes himself in the USA. Steve Klein
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Guitar builder Michihiro Matsuda (matsudaguitars.com) is without doubt one of the most inventive and creative craftsmen in the business. The instruments he makes are always extraordinary. For Sound Messe Osaka 2024, he came with a guitar based on a Yamaha SG 800 model, which he completely deconstructed to make a guitar truly his own. The
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The guitar builder Michihiro Matsuda presents an incredible guitar
Friday, 07 June 2024
Japanese-American luthier Michihiro Matsuda (matsudaguitars.com) was one of the exhibitors at Sound Messe Osaka 2024. He presented an incredible guitar. It's a Yamaha SG 800 model that he has completely rebuilt into an instrument completely apart. Bonus: an on site recorded demo of this luthier guitar. Michihiro Matsuda interview Until the next interview or gear
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Two Rock Amplifiers and Divided by 13 Eli Lester interview at the Sound Messe Osaka
Thursday, 06 June 2024
Eli Lester, head of American high-end tube amp brand Two Rock Amplifiers (two-rock.com), was present at Sound Messe Osaka as an exhibitor in tandem with Vemuram. I couldn't find the opening to interview him at last year's NAMM, but I did in Japan! Here's a man with a singular career path, since he was a
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Demo of the finest electric guitars at Sound Messe Osaka 2024 – Part 2
Thursday, 06 June 2024
One of the advantages of covering far-flung guitar shows like the Sound Messe Osaka is that you can hear instruments that can only be found there. Here are some awesome luthier guitars recorded with a simple Zoom UAC-232 audio interface and Blue Cat Audio's Axiom for amp and effects emulation. Guitars demoed in this article:
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Michael Sankey, boutique guitar builder interview at the Sound Messe Osaka & Demo
Tuesday, 04 June 2024
Canadian luthier Michael Sankey (sankeyguitars.com) was part of the Boutique Guitar Showcase at Sound Messe Osaka with two exceptional instruments, which he presents in this interview. Michael Sankey interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more info:Luthier InterviewsSound Messe Reports
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Sound Messe Osaka 2024, interview with the organizer Marr Takeda
Monday, 03 June 2024
This was the 3rd time La Chaîne Guitare had traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun to cover Sound Messe Osaka (sound-messe.com), arguably Japan's biggest guitar show. Here's an interview with show organizer Marr Takeda of Dolphin Guitars (dolphin-gt.co.jp). Marr Takeda interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar!
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Freak Guitar Lab, Mattias IA Eklundh interview in Japan for the launch
Saturday, 01 June 2024
Swedish musician Mattias IA Eklundh from Freak Kitchen was in Japan for Sound Messe Osaka to present his guitar brand Freak Guitar Lab (freakguitarlab.com). I was delighted to be able to interview him again, as it's always a great time spent with this ultra-talented musician. Mattias IA Eklundh interview Until the next interview or gear
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Demo of the finest electric guitars at Sound Messe Osaka 2024 – Part 1
Friday, 31 May 2024
One of the advantages of covering far-flung guitar shows like the Sound Messe Osaka is that you can hear instruments that can only be found there. Here are some awesome luthier guitars recorded with a simple Zoom UAC-232 audio interface and Blue Cat Audio's Axiom for amp and effects emulation. Guitars demoed in this article:
Here is the full report for Day 3 of the Sound Messe Osaka 2024 on this beautiful Sunday at the biggest guitar show in Japan. Interviews of the day: Guitars reviewed in the video: Sound Messe Osaka 2024 - Day 3 Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.
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Here is the full report for Day 2 of the Sound Messe Osaka 2024 on this beautiful Saturday at the biggest guitar show in Japan. Interviews of the day: Guitars reviewed in the video: Sound Messe Osaka 2024 - Day 2 Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel.
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Here's a more than one hour report from Sound Messe Osaka 2024. No less than 4 interviews to kick off the show, which opened in the afternoon for buyers only. The show will open to the public over the weekend, with an expected 10,000 visitors. Interviews of the day: Sound Messe Osaka 2024 - Day
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Switzerland, Japan, Italy: The Guitar Channel once again tours the world of guitar shows for its subscribers
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Spring is a busy time for guitar shows. As it happens, between the end of April and mid-May there are three major guitar shows taking place in Switzerland, Japan and Italy. The Guitar Channel will once again be out and about at these three events: The Guitar Channel, the guitar mediaoffering the best coverageof guitar
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Oopegg Guitars, Kazuma Tanabe interview at the Sound Messe in Osaka, Japan
Tuesday, 09 April 2024
Interview with guitar designer Kazuma "Kaz" Tanabe from Oopegg Guitars (oopegg.com) at the Sound Messe (sound-messe.com) in Osaka, Japan. As a bonus, following the interview, you'll get a demo of the Trailbreaker presented by the craftsman. Kazuma Tanabe interview Until the next interview or gear review, keep on playing the guitar! Pierre Journel. For more
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